Rick Martel WWE Hall of Fame: Manager Denies Rejection, Calls for Induction
For years, rumors have circulated that Rick Martel declined an offer to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. However, according to his manager, Bertrand Hebert, those rumors are simply untrue. In a recent appearance on the Wrestling Nostalgia podcast with Dave Dynasty, Hebert stated definitively that Martel has never been offered a place in the WWE Hall of Fame, and if the opportunity arises, he will personally ensure Martel accepts.
The confusion, Hebert explained, likely stems from Martel’s past decisions to decline appearances at WrestleMania Axxess signing events. Specifically, he turned down an opportunity in San Francisco, a decision Hebert attributes to the logistical and financial impracticality of traveling from Quebec City for a limited engagement with no accompanying official recognition. “The idea of traveling to sign autographs, maybe for a few hours, for not a lot of money, and do all that traveling from Quebec City to San Francisco, was the big no-no for him,” Hebert said. “And especially to return and to be asked to just sit around and have no official role or no invitation to the Hall of Fame. He didn’t think it was the right timing.”
Hebert passionately argued that Martel’s contributions to professional wrestling, spanning multiple promotions now owned by WWE, more than warrant Hall of Fame consideration. “He should be there,” Hebert asserted. “Three-time Tag Team Champion, The Model, one of the most memorable gimmicks in their history….” He further emphasized Martel’s accomplishments in the American Wrestling Association (AWA), noting his AWA World Heavyweight Championship reign – a period where he stood alongside Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair as one of the sport’s top champions. “Compared to some of the guys already in the Hall of Fame, if he doesn’t deserve it, I don’t know who does.”
The fact that WWE owns the tape libraries of the AWA, WWE, and WCW – all promotions where Martel made significant contributions – further strengthens the case for his induction, according to Hebert. He pointed to potential inductors already within the WWE orbit, such as Tony Garea and Tito Santana, who shared the ring with Martel during his successful tag team runs. “They own everything,” Hebert stated. “For the AWA, WWE, and WCW. And they have Tony Garea and Tito Santana that can induct him. I think it’s a no brainer to send that invitation.”
The upcoming WWE Hall of Fame induction of Demolition, Hebert noted, only underscores the strength of Martel’s case, given the notable feud between Strike Force (Martel’s tag team with Santana) and Demolition. Host Dave Dynasty made this very point during the podcast conversation.
Hebert also shed light on a factor often misunderstood regarding Martel’s limited public appearances in recent years: financial independence. Unlike many wrestlers who rely on convention appearances and autograph signings for income, Martel invested wisely during his career and is financially secure. “He doesn’t need to do those appearances. And that’s hard for people in the business to understand,” Hebert explained. “But for the guys outside of the business, not doing shows every weekend, being recognized by WWE means something. He was there. He worked there. He helped build the company to where it was and is. For him, it’s a recognition that means something.”
With Martel recently turning 70 on , Hebert stressed the importance of a timely induction. “I think it should be done in the next few years,” he said. “Because obviously at 70 years classic, he’s not getting any younger. Let’s do it while he can still attend and enjoy and appreciate everything.”
Hebert believes Martel’s legacy is often undervalued, with many fans remembering him primarily as a mid-card heel or tag team specialist in WWE, overlooking his accomplishments as the AWA World Heavyweight Champion. He lamented that even the WWE’s own AWA DVD largely glosses over this crucial period in Martel’s career, presenting a “revisionist history” that downplays his significance. “They barely mention it, because for WWE fans, Rick was just the middle of the card and a tag team wrestler. But he had been AWA World Champion.”
Martel is scheduled to make a rare public appearance at the Big Event convention in Brentwood, New York, on , during WrestleMania week, alongside Tito Santana and Tony Garea. This appearance marks his first major public engagement in over a decade, offering fans a chance to connect with a wrestling icon whose contributions, according to his manager, deserve to be formally recognized by the WWE.