Jonathan Coachman Criticizes WWE Hall of Fame for Being More About “Checking Boxes” Than Merit

WWE has inducted many legends into their Hall of Fame, but there is no physical building. There were talks of a physical Hall of Fame in WWE but nothing concrete was done. With that said, Jonathan Coachman has now criticized the WWE Hall of Fame for only being about ”checking boxes.”

Coachman spent nearly a decade with WWE in various roles before leaving in 2008 to explore other opportunities. He returned for a second stint a decade later, but it ended poorly in 2021 when he accused former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon of owing him money.

While speaking during a recent interview with Cafe de Rene, Coachman was asked if he would accept an induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. He expressed his reluctance, stating there isn’t a true Hall of Fame since there’s no physical location to visit or see one’s bust.

Coachman criticized how inductees are chosen, arguing that the selection often includes a required female, a manager, and a star from the 1970s rather than those who truly deserve it. Coachman felt the process often prioritizes fulfilling these categories over honoring true merit, leading him to conclude that he has no interest in being inducted.

“Nope, I would not. And it’s not just about how things ended because you get over money. Money comes and goes. I’ll never take money problems to my grave. But I look at how they do the WWE induction. First of all, invest in a building. There is no Hall of Fame, right? There’s no Hall of Fame. Like, there’s no place for you to go and look at your bust. There’s no way for you to go.

If you look at every single class, you’re like, ‘Well, they had to have a female, well, they had to have a manager, well, they had to have a guy from the 1970s.’ Instead of asking, ‘Is it really guys that have earned it and ladies that have earned it?

And when you look at some of the names, you’re like, what are we doing? The Hall of Fame is supposed to be the absolute very best at what they do whether it’s a manager, talent, whatever. And that’s not what they do. They check boxes every year so they can have a good show. That’s what they do and it’s obvious that’s what they do. So, no, I would have no interest in being in the WWE Hall of Fame.”

It remains to be seen whether a physical Hall of Fame will become a reality somewhere down the line as fans would certainly love, but Jonathan Coachman certainly has no interest in being part of the WWE Hall of Fame and fans have simply accepted that fact.

What do you think of what Jonathan Coachman had to say when it comes to the WWE Hall of Fame being about ”checking boxes”? Sound off in the comments section below!