Rick Martel says WWE has already offered him a spot in its Hall of Fame, and he turned it down. The longtime fan campaign to get “The Model” inducted has always centered on whether WWE wanted him, but according to Martel, the company has already made the call. The real question now is whether he will say yes the next time.
Martel revealed the past offer during an interview on Prime Time with Sean Mooney. When Mooney brought up how many fans believe Martel belongs in the Hall of Fame, Martel said he had received the call before but passed on it.
“I did a while back, you know. I got a call, but I wasn’t ready,” Martel said.
Martel did not slam the door on a future induction. He made it clear he is enjoying his life right now and would want to weigh the full situation before committing to anything.
“I’m not sure if I would go, or right now I’m enjoying myself. I’m enjoying with all of this, and we’ll see,” Martel said.
The admission recontextualizes the years of fan support and Martel’s own public push for a WWE Hall of Fame induction. The interest, it turns out, has not been one-sided.
A Resume Built For The Hall Of Fame
Martel’s credentials make a strong case for enshrinement. He is a former AWA World Heavyweight Champion and a multiple-time WWF Tag Team Champion, and he became one of the company’s most memorable heels in the late 1980s and early 1990s with his arrogant “Model” character.
He has been away from the wrestling spotlight for decades, which makes his recent return to public appearances stand out. Martel said he began doing conventions and signings again after reconnecting with fans, and he is enjoying catching up with people he had not seen in years.
That does not mean a full-time return is on the table. Martel made clear the road is no longer realistic for him, and for now he seems content doing things on his own terms while leaving the Hall of Fame door open.
