AEW Figure “Wouldn’t Be Surprised” To See Owen Hart In WWE Hall Of Fame

Legendary AEW commentator Jim Ross believes a WWE Hall Of Fame induction for Owen Hart could still happen in the coming years.

Sadness befell the world of wrestling on 23rd May 1999 when Owen Hart tragically passed away due to injuries sustained from a fall after a safety harness malfunctioned when being lowered to the ring from the ceiling.

Hart, performing under his Blue Blazer moniker, was making a spectacular entrance for a WWE Intercontinental Title bout with The Godfather at the Over The Edge pay-per-view. He was just 34 years old.

The incident at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri would drive a wedge between the Hart family and WWE, with Owen’s widow Martha Hart pursuing multiple lawsuits against the company in the ensuing years. The legal action included a wrongful death suit that would eventually be settled out of court for a sum believed to be in the region of $18 million dollars.

Martha Hart would subsequently set up the Owen Hart Foundation in December 2000 and surprised many by partnering with AEW in September 2021 to launch the ‘Owen Hart Cup’.

Owen Hart’s potential induction into the WWE Hall Of Fame has always felt unlikely given his widows previous stance on the company then-led by Vince McMahon. However with McMahon now no longer part of WWE, top AEW announcer Jim Ross believes that the late ‘King Of Harts’ could yet be honoured with a posthumous induction.

Ross, who was handed the unenviable task of delivering the news of Hart’s passing to the global pay-per-view audience that evening, shared his views during a recent edition of his popular podcast ‘Grilling JR‘:

“Good question. Time will tell. I can see it being able to be worked out a lot easier now that [Vince] McMahon is out of the picture. That was her roadblock, so we’ll see.”

Owen Hart WWE Hall Of Fame Nod Would Not Surprise Jim Ross

Ross would go on to elaborate on his views, suggesting that relations between Martha Hart and WWE could thaw significantly with McMahon no longer at the helm of WWE:

“Put it this way, it wouldn’t surprise me whatsoever. God knows he’s deserving. That’s never been an issue.

If Martha likes it, and feels good about then comfort zone then why not? I think it’s great. She’s such a pleasure to work with. She’s not angry at pro wrestling anymore, doesn’t seem to me like.

I mean, she’s heartbroken with how things happened to Owen like they did and as we all are. But I’d say that the odds of Owen being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame have increased immensely since Vince McMahon resigned his post”

H/T: 411Mania for the above transcription.