Teddy Longs Joins WWE Hall Of Fame Class Of 2017

Former manager, WWE referee and SmackDown GM Teddy Long will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, the company announced Monday.

Teddy Long To Be Inducted Into WWE Hall Of Fame Class Of 2017

The Class of 2017 — which includes Kurt Angle and The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express — will be honored two nights before WrestleMania 33 on March 31 in Orlando.

Long, 69, admitted he was surprised by his induction in an exclusive interview with Fox Sports.

“Well, I was really surprised, you know? I had thought about being inducted into the Hall of Fame and I thought ‘well, if they’re going to do that, I’m pretty sure my time will come one day.’ And that’s what did happen. I was real excited, it’s such an honor to be a part of something like this. To go into the 2017 WWE Hall of Fame… man, it’s just great. It don’t get no better than that.”

Long continued: “I just want to thank Vince McMahon and the McMahon family, and the WWE Universe, and all the people that just hung out with me and wanted some more Teddy Long. I’m just excited right now so I’m kind of lost for words.”

Long first entered the WWE in the 1980s, during which he managed Butch Reed and WWE Hall of Famer Ron Simmons to a tag team title win at Capital Combat in May 1990:

Most WWE fans will likely remember Long for his time in charge of SmackDown from 2008 to 2012. Long returned last June and suggested a tag team match in order to make his case to become SmackDown’s live general manager.

He cited The Undertaker, Mark Callous, Kevin Sullivan, and Eddie Gilbert as some of his greatest career influences.