The Wrestling Observer Newsletter announced its Hall of Fame Class of 2025 on Friday, inducting eight new members.
The inductees for the Class of 2025 are:
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Spyros Arion (Rest of the World): 78.0%
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Gran Hamada (Mexico): 75.2%
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Dorrell Dixon (Mexico): 74.8%
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C.M. Punk (Modern US and Canada): 65.5%
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Cody Rhodes (Modern US and Canada): 64.4%
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Sabu (Modern US and Canada): 64.1%
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Bobby Bruns (Japan): 62.7%
- Raoul Paoli (Promoter): Observer choice
Full details of this year’s class, along with profiles of those who gained entry, can be found in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (membership required).
The Hall of Fame is voted on by reporters, historians, and current and former industry professionals. Induction requires inductees to receive 60 percent of the vote to gain entry.
Arion led the voting in the “Rest in the World” category, gathering 78.0 percent of the vote. This was his 15th year on the ballot, and he would have been removed if he failed to reach 50 percent this year. Arion was a major star in Australia, Greece, and the U.S. during his career.
C.M. Punk and Cody Rhodes entered the Hall from the “Modern U.S. and Canada” category. The Observer noted strong combination voting for the two. Sabu, who passed away earlier in the year, also gained induction in this category.
Gran Hamada and Dorrell Dixon topped the Mexico ballot. Bobby Bruns, credited as the “Godfather of Japanese wrestling” for his role in Rikidozan’s career, entered from the Japan ballot. Promoter Raoul Paoli, active in France from the 1930s to 1950s, also joins the class as the Observer’s choice.
Several candidates came close to induction this year. Jose Tarres was two votes shy, while Hayabusa and Junkyard Dog both missed by four votes. June Byers was eight votes short, and Jesse Ventura missed by nine.
