William Shatner is known for many things (like Star Trek), but I'm not sure many would immediately associate him with pro wrestling. That could change, as the WWE is extending the actor an honor that has nothing to do with playing Captain Kirk. The organization announced that Shatner will be among its many inductees added to the Hall of Fame.
William Shatner will be inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame via its celebrity wing, which is reserved for celebrities that have appeared on WWE in the past or had a working relationship with the brand over the years. William Shatner has had a couple of memorable moments in the world of wrestling, one of which included a famous showdown in 1995 with Jerry "The King" Lawler. Shatner stood up to Lawler's insults in the ring and even managed to hit the notorious heel with a modified monkey flip.
William Shatner also hosted Monday Night Raw in 2010 and performed a memorable bit in which he sang the themes of WWE Superstars like Shawn Michaels and Triple H. Finally, Shatner also inducted Jerry Lawler into the WWE Hall of Fame, so it has really come full circle that he now will join the ranks of those within it himself.
While it's not entirely uncommon for the WWE to induct a celebrity in its ceremony, there haven't been a lot of celebrities inducted since the Hall of Fame's creation in 1993. William Shatner will join the likes of Snoop Dogg, Pete Rose, Donald Trump, and Kid Rock in the celebrity wing, and I'm assuming will have some entertaining things to say to fans on the eve of his induction.
William Shatner is the first Star Trek actor to join the WWE Hall of Fame, though it's fair to say he won't be the last. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is a no-brainer addition to the Hall of Fame, and while he certainly didn't have as meaty of a role as Shatner did in his series, he had a guest role as a fighter in Star Trek: Voyager.
Whether it was intentional or not, the WWE's induction news was a nice way to cap off William Shatner's recent 90th birthday. The actor had a great time reading fans' birthday wishes on Twitter recently, so I can only imagine an appearance at Raymond James Stadium to be honored at WrestleMania 37 would be a treat for him as well. Now if only he could be a late addition to a title match, I'm sure he'd love a shot at winning the WWE title while he's at it!
Fans can watch William Shatner's induction into the WWE Hall of Fame on Peacock, as it will stream on the platform Tuesday, April 6. For those hoping to tune into the event and all the festivities attached, be sure to read our handy guide that details all the big matchups and events that will go down in the epic 2-day event.
