Tony Chimel also voiced strong frustration over WWE’s unwillingness to recognize behind-the-scenes employees in the Hall of Fame during his discussion on the All Axxess Podcast. Having spent 38 years with the company in multiple roles, Chimel was blunt about the lack of acknowledgment for the countless crew members who helped build WWE but were never given the same spotlight as on-screen performers.
He said, “People don’t realize you know they have this Hall of Fame with all these wrestlers and other people you know Drew Carey or whatever the section it is and all that, but there are so many people that need to be in there that help build that company and do things for that company that they just poo poo.”
Chimel emphasized that camera operators, referees, production workers, and countless others played vital roles in WWE’s success for decades but remain overlooked because they are not seen as ticket-sellers. When asked whether WWE might eventually include more non-talent contributors, Chimel dismissed the idea outright: “I don’t know. Probably not because, you know, they’re all about making the money. You know, they were when Vince (McMahon) was there and now it’s probably even worse.”
He pointed specifically to backstage names that fans would never recognize but who were responsible for the company’s stability and growth. Despite their contributions, Chimel believes WWE has little incentive to induct them, saying, “Putting a Rambo in the Hall of Fame which is well-deserved is not going to sell tickets to anybody and that’s all they’re worried about really.”
To underline how many people he felt were overlooked, Chimel explained, “I got a list of probably about a hundred people that deserve to be in.” He described how many of these individuals dedicated over 25 or 30 years to the company yet never received public recognition. These workers, according to him, were foundational to WWE’s success but were ignored because their contributions happened away from cameras.
Chimel’s critique reflects a deeper frustration shared by many longtime employees who watched wrestlers and celebrities receive Hall of Fame inductions while the people responsible for building and maintaining WWE’s infrastructure went unmentioned. For Chimel, the Hall of Fame’s value is diminished when it excludes the people who kept the company running: stagehands, ring crew, timekeepers, production staff, and other essential personnel.
Having worked among them for nearly four decades, his perspective carries the weight of personal experience. In his view, WWE’s refusal to honor crew members says less about their importance and more about the company’s priorities – recognition only matters when it sells.
Chimel made it clear that if the Hall of Fame truly represented all who built WWE, the list would look very different. But as long as the company remains driven by business considerations over historical accuracy or fairness, he does not expect that to change.
Also Read: WWE Fired Mark Yeaton in a “Sh*tty Way” and Deserves Hall of Fame, Says Tony Chimel
