It was loud.
That’s the first thing you notice when you rewatch the WWE Hall of Fame 2022. Not just a normal wrestling crowd cheer, but a heavy, rhythmic wall of sound that lasted for nearly ten minutes before the headliner even said a word.
Honestly, it’s rare to see a moment in sports entertainment where everyone—from the corporate suits in the front row to the fans in the nosebleeds of the American Airlines Center—is actually on the same page. But when The Undertaker stood there in Dallas, crying behind those dark sunglasses, the reality of three decades of work finally hit the floor.
The Night the Deadman Finally Spoke
We spent thirty years thinking we knew Mark Calaway. We didn’t.
For the WWE Hall of Fame 2022, Vince McMahon did something he almost never does anymore: he got in the ring to personally induct someone. He looked genuinely rattled. You’ve gotta realize, Vince and Taker weren’t just boss and employee; they were the last two survivors of a specific era of wrestling. Vince called him the most "revered" superstar in history.
Basically, the speech was a masterclass in "taking off the hat."
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Calaway talked about the "BSK" (Bone Street Krew), his backstage loyalty, and the physical toll of being the Phenom. He didn't just thank people. He gave us "Mental Move 1" and "Mental Move 2," life philosophies about respect and perception.
One of the funniest, and honestly most human, parts was when he admitted he was a bit of an "asshole" early on. Vince had to sit him down and tell him that perception is reality. If everyone thinks you’re a jerk, you’re a jerk. He took that to heart. It’s why he became the locker room leader everyone feared and respected.
The Class That Nobody Expected
While Taker was the sun that the whole night orbited around, the rest of the WWE Hall of Fame 2022 inductees brought a weird, beautiful mix of nostalgia and closure.
The Steiner Brothers: This was a miracle. Period. For years, Scott Steiner was persona non grata in WWE. He’d said things about the company that would usually get a person banned for life. But seeing Rick and Scott stand there, introduced by Rick’s son Bron Breakker, felt like a massive bridge being rebuilt. Scott was surprisingly well-behaved, though you could tell the crowd was half-expecting him to grab the mic and go "full Steiner."
Vader: Leon White was one of the most terrifying human beings to ever step in a ring. He’d passed away in 2018, so his son Jesse and widow Debra accepted the honor. Seeing the big red mask on the podium was a reminder that the "Mastodon" was way ahead of his time. He was a 450-pound guy doing moonsaults. People don't do that.
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Queen Sharmell: Some fans were skeptical about this one, but if you lived through the "King Booker" era, you know she was the engine. She was a Nitro Girl who became one of the most effective heels in the business. Her "All Hail King Booker" screech is burned into the brains of anyone who watched SmackDown in 2006.
The Warrior Award and a Hero's Legacy
The most emotional part of the night wasn't a wrestling promo. It was the tribute to Shad Gaspard.
If you don't remember, Shad died in 2020. He was swimming with his son in Venice Beach when they got caught in a rip current. When the lifeguards reached them, Shad told them to save his son first. He was swept away shortly after.
Giving him the Warrior Award wasn't just corporate PR. It felt heavy. His wife Siliana and son Aryeh were there to take the trophy. It reminded everyone that while the "tough guy" acts in the ring are fun, real strength is what Shad did in those last few minutes of his life.
Why the 2022 Ceremony Was Different
Usually, these things are long, bloated, and full of inside jokes. But WWE Hall of Fame 2022 felt tight. Part of that was the format change—they did it right after Friday Night SmackDown.
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This meant the fans were already "up." They weren't tired from a long week of conventions. They were ready for a show.
There’s a nuance here most people miss: The Undertaker’s speech wasn't just a goodbye. It was a transition. At the very end, he put the leather jacket back on, looked at the camera, and said, "Never say never."
It sent the internet into a tailspin. Was he coming back? No, probably not. But it was the perfect "pro wrestling" ending to a night that felt surprisingly real.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Historians
If you're looking back at this class to understand the business, here's what you should actually pay attention to:
- Watch the Steiner Brothers' WCW run before you judge their WWE stint. Their 2022 induction was a nod to their entire career, specifically their dominance in Japan and the NWA.
- Analyze Taker's "Mental Moves." His speech is actually used by some people as a motivational tool now because it's so grounded in accountability.
- Look at the production. The 2022 ceremony proved that the "SmackDown + Hall of Fame" double-header works better for crowd energy than a standalone Saturday night event.
The 2022 class wasn't just about the names; it was about the stories that finally got a period at the end of the sentence. Whether it was Scott Steiner making peace or the world finally saying thank you to Mark Calaway, it’s a ceremony that won’t be topped for a long time.
To fully appreciate the scope of this class, go back and watch The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 25. It was a major talking point in Taker's speech and highlights exactly why he deserved that record-breaking ovation in Dallas. You can find the full ceremony on Peacock if you want to see the unedited version of the Steiner's return.