Inaugural Induction Class of 2021
2021 Special Honors
Rocky Johnson Medal of Mettle
Drew Hale
A huge wrestling fan from Johnstown, NY, it is very possible that Drew Hale might just be the toughest person in this Hall of Fame at age just ten years old. Drew has faced a long battle with a brain tumor and has undergone bouts of chemotherapy treatment. There is no question that Drew was a deserving winner of our first-ever Rocky Johnson Medal of Mettle Award in 2021, which is issued to a person associated with wrestling who has displayed tremendous toughness against adversity.
Trailblazer Award
Rita Marie Chatterton
Rita Marie Chatterton helped break down barriers for equality within the mainstream professional wrestling landscape, by becoming the first-ever female referee in the World Wrestling Federation. She received the 2021 IPWHF Trailblazer Award. This award is given to individuals from the world of professional wrestling who have helped promote positive change or innovation in the industry. As the sport of professional wrestling has grown to reflect our changing world, the IPWHF board was pleased to recognize Rita Marie for her outstanding contributions that include her body of work as a respective official of the squared circle. Employed during the global expansion of the WWF in the mid-1980s, Chatterton was a prominent on-air talent from a golden era for the company.
Excelsior Award
Andy Kaufman
An honor to recognize an individual from another discipline whose contributions elevated the art of professional wrestling, the 2021 Excelsior Award will be given to the late comedian Andy Kaufman.
Kaufman's legendary rivalry with Jerry "The King" Lawler was key in propelling professional wrestling into the mainstream and into more American households than ever before. From Andy's famous promos and matches to the infamous "Letterman Incident", his performance led to one of the most famous rivalries in wrestling history.
