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Dennis Rodman is headed into the WWE Hall of Fame
Dennis the Menace is headed into the WWE Hall of Fame.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that NBA legend Dennis Rodman will be enshrined in the WWE Hall of Fame next month during WrestleMania week in Las Vegas.
“Crossover: Basketball Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in April, per ESPN sources. Rodman made his WCW debut in 1997 and famously skipped a practice during the 1998 NBA Finals for a wrestling match alongside Hulk Hogan. Two HOFs for Rodman,” writes Shams.
Rodman, who was one of the NBA’s most polarizing and intense figures during the Chicago Bulls dynasty in the 1990s, helped popularize World Championship Wrestling and the New World Order alongside the late Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
The rebounding specialist had one of the most infamous appearances in the wrestling business back in 1998. That year, Rodman skipped an NBA Finals practice to appear on WCW. The Chicago Bulls fined him $20,000 for his absence.
The appearance was a promo for a tag team match the next month between Rodman and Hogan and Diamond Dallas Page and Karl Malone, whose Utah Jazz lost the NBA Finals to Rodman and the Bulls.
Rodman Joins 2026 WWE Hall of Fame Class
GettyDennis Rodman will be enshrined in the WWE Hall of Fame next month during WrestleMania week in Las Vegas
During his heyday with the Pistons and Bulls, Rodman was known for his relentless motor and physicality.
Those skills transferred well to the wrestling ring, where Rodman competed in three WCW matches.
Rodman joined the nWo faction alongside Hulk Hogan during professional wrestling’s “Monday Night Wars.”
Hollywood Hogan & Dennis Rodman vs Diamond Dallas Page & Karl Malone – WCW Bash at the Beach 1998 t.co/hrMSoe5okp
The two-time All-Star made several appearances alongside Hogan in the 1990s. His final WCW match was at the Road Wild event in August 1999, where he took on Macho Man.
His most recent in-ring appearance came in 2023 with All Elite Wrestling.
Oddly enough, Rodman has never appeared on WWE programming.
Still, Rodzilla pushed the needle enough to earn Hall of Fame honors next month.
Rodman was a key figure in the nWo — New World Order — a faction started by Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and Hulk Hogan that gave WCW the juice to overtake WWE in the Monday night ratings for 82 straight weeks.
Unlike most celebrities who are relegated to mere cameos, Rodman took action as a wrestler.
He took bumps, puffed cigars with Hulk Hogan and even got blasted with a garbage can at a pay-per-view event.
Fun Fact: Randy Savage’s Final Televised Singles Opponent in WCW was Dennis Rodman at Road Wild 1999
Insane lmao
His swagger and confidence with nWo helped generate some of the most memorable moments in WCW history.
Now he’s being recognized for that work.
Rodman will be inducted along with Stephanie McMahon, Demolition and AJ Styles.
The ceremony will take place on Friday, April 17, in Las Vegas, the night before WrestleMania 42.
Other sports figures to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame include Pete Rose, Mike Tyson, Bob Uecker, William “The Fridge” Perry, Mr. T, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Rodman, a five-time NBA champion, was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.
Fifteen years later, Rodman will be immortalized once more.
Jalyn Smoot Jalyn Smoot is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has nearly 10 years of experience in local and national media, including print and digital. He previously covered the Texas Rangers for MLB.com and the Philadelphia 76ers for Metro Philadelphia. Smoot is a St. Louis born writer that now resides in Dallas. More about Jalyn Smoot
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