Rick Martel clarifies WWE Hall of Fame denial rumor
It sounds like Rick Martel would be more than willing to go into the WWE Hall of Fame if a spot was offered.
On social media today, Martel sent out a tweet responding to a rumor that claimed he once turned down a WWE Hall of Fame induction. This supposedly happened in 2015 when WrestleMania 31 was held in Santa Clara, California. But what Martel actually declined was an offer to attend the ceremony and be a guest at that year’s WrestleMania Axxess.
“In 2015, I was offer to appear at Axxess in San Francisco and attends the Hall of Fame as a spectator. Flattered I still turned it down as I was not ready to go back to wrestling for appearances like I am now,” he wrote. “I didn’t turn down an offer to be inducted in the WWE HOF. Thank you!”
The clarification comes after comments Martel had made in two recent interviews, including one with former WWE broadcaster Sean Mooney. Bruce Prichard also claimed years ago that he believed Martel had been approached about going into the Hall of Fame.
Members of the 2015 WWE Hall of Fame class included Kevin Nash, Larry Zbyszko, Madusa/Alundra Blayze, Rikishi, The Bushwhackers, Tatsumi Fujinami, and the late “Macho Man” Randy Savage.
Born in Quebec, Canada, Martel went on to become a World Champion for the AWA and a multi-time WWF Tag Team Champion. The last run of his career was for WCW in the late 1990s. He was part of the tag team Strike Force in WWF and is also well-remembered for his “The Model” gimmick.
Martel, 70, is now back taking convention bookings after stepping away from the industry for a long time.
In 2015, I was offer to appear at Axxess in San Francisco and attends the Hall of Fame as a spectator. Flattered I still turned it down as I was not ready to go back to wrestling for appearances like I am now. I didn’t turn down an offer to be inducted in the WWE HOF. Thank you!
— Rick Martel (@RickMartel2021) June 8, 2026
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.