10 Most Surprising WWE Hall Of Famers

9. Rikishi

Rikishi had surprising longevity in WWE, lasting over a decade and seeing in many gimmick changes during his time in the company. 

As a Headshrinker, he was a typical 'Samoan savage' and a decent addition to the mid-90's tag team scene. His turn trying to 'Make a Difference' was brief and unremarkable, as was a run as The Sultan (though he did get an Intercontinental Title WrestleMania match with The Rock out of it). 

It was as Rikishi, the backside-bearing, bleach-blonde pseudo sumo that he really caught on. His peak came in 2000, when paired with Too Cool, as his Stinkface and their post-match dance routine regularly brought the house down and made them one of the most popular acts on the show. 

A heel turn and subsequent dalliance with the main event was fleeting, before he found his niche as a fun-loving staple of the midcard, before being released in 2004. 

Though he showed up once in a blue moon as a talking head on a documentary or to work a quick match on special occasions, Rikishi was basically absent from WWE for over a decade before getting inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015. 

Rikishi was very over and certainly a memorable character, but a few people questioned his HOF credentials at the time of the announcement. 

As a former Intercontinental and three-time Tag Team Champion, he has championship accomplishments to his name, but his time as a headliner is often viewed as a flop and he really cooled off once the Attitude Era drew to a close. 

Rikishi was a soldier for WWE, though, going above and beyond for the company while crafting a persona that was hard to forget. He (obviously) deserves his place in the Hall of Fame and, perhaps one day, he can return the favour and induct his sons the Uso's.