The WWE has announced today the third inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2023. The late comedic genius Andy Kaufman will be inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside Rey Mysterio Jr. and the Great Muta. WWE confirmed via social media that Andy Kaufman is joining the Hall of Fame.
BREAKING: @ndykaufman will be inducted into the #WWEHOF Class of 2023, as first reported by @Variety! pic.twitter.com/8emfaH5dhm
— WWE (@WWE) March 20, 2023
Andy Kaufman is most famous for his role as Latka on the TV show Taxi from 1978-1983. He was a huge pro-wrestling fan as well and had a program with Jerry “The King” Lawler which stirred up a lot of controversy in the era of kayfabe. Kaufman was a comedian who liked to create and perform elaborate hoaxes. During their feud, in a match on April 5th in 1984, Lawler gave Kaufman a piledriver which Kaufman played up like he had a broken neck for a time following. At all appearances he would wear a neck brace and on a 1982 episode of Late Night with David Letterman they worked the world with a great heated interaction that even Letterman was not in on.
Kaufman would continue to defend his self proclaimed “Inter-Gender Wrestling Championship of the World” challenging women and offering a prize of $1000 to any woman who could pin him. More than 10 years after his death in 1984, it was finally revealed that Kaufman and Lawler were really friends and that it was all a work.
Kaufman died in 1984 of lung cancer. He was played by Jim Carrey in the movie Man on the Moon which immortalized him. Lawler and Letterman played themselves in the movie. The WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will air on March 31st at 10pm Eastern Time on Peacock.
What do you think of Andy Kaufman being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame? Who else do you think should be inducted in 2023? Let us know in the comments below or hit us up on our Twitter account by clicking here. Stay tuned to Culture Splat for more content coming your way!
