Jim Ross has strongly criticized WWE’s decision to place Sycho Sid in the Legacy Wing of the 2026 Hall of Fame, making it clear he believes the former world champion deserved a full induction.

Sid was announced as part of the 2026 Hall of Fame class under the Legacy Wing banner. That designation meant he was honored with a video package instead of a full in-person ceremony. The decision quickly drew backlash, including from Sid’s son, Gunnar, who publicly questioned the presentation and said it did not properly reflect his father’s career.

Speaking on Grilling JR, Ross did not hold back when addressing the situation.

“If my daddy was going into the Hall of Fame, I would want them to have the biggest presentation that they could produce. Based on previous years’ criteria, by a variety of talents, Sid was overqualified to go into the Hall of Fame.”

Ross went further by criticizing the Legacy Wing concept itself, especially when used for a performer with Sid’s credentials.

“[The Legacy Wing] is a joke. It’s just one way to give somebody a payday or some recognition, I understand that, but a guy who headlined WrestleMania a couple of times, a multi-time champion, he deserved and earned…”

While acknowledging Sid’s reputation behind the scenes, Ross made it clear that it should not impact how his career is honored.

“Was Sid a pain in the ass? Yeah, sometimes. No doubt about it. He was moody. He had a lot of pride, and some who worked with him closely may say that he had too much pride because he became a pain in the ass to work with, but does that mean he doesn’t deserve to be in the regular Hall of Fame? No. He should’ve been in the regular Hall of Fame.”

Ross closed by emphasizing that Sid’s legacy is secure regardless of how WWE chose to recognize him.

“Sid’s legacy, whether he’s in the Hall of Fame of Legacy Wing, he’s never going to be forgotten.”

Sid’s career supports that argument. He headlined WrestleMania 8 and WrestleMania 13, won the WWE Championship twice, and also held the WCW World Heavyweight Championship on two occasions. Those accomplishments established him as one of the key main event stars of the 1990s.

The reaction from Ross adds to the ongoing discussion about how WWE handles Legacy Wing inductions, especially when it involves top-level names with major contributions to the company’s history.

AdvertisementAdvertisement