WWE Fans Shocked by Unprecedented Hall of Fame Twist in Stephanie McMahon’s Induction

Stephanie McMahon is officially heading to the WWE Hall of Fame — but the way it was announced has fans buzzing even louder than the induction itself.

On September 21, 2025, during Wrestlepalooza, The Undertaker stormed into the arena in his legendary “American Badass” persona. Instead of delivering a chokeslam, he delivered history — announcing Stephanie McMahon as the very first confirmed inductee for the Class of 2026.

The crowd in Indianapolis erupted as The Billion Dollar Princess was visibly emotional, standing in shock as The Deadman praised her decades of contributions — from her time in the ring to her role as a groundbreaking executive who championed women’s wrestling.

The announcement aired right before the night’s main event, where Cody Rhodes successfully defended his Undisputed WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre, making the moment even more unforgettable.

Why Stephanie’s Hall of Fame Announcement Has Everyone Talking

Stephanie’s induction will officially take place during WrestleMania 42 weekend in Las Vegas. But here’s the shocking part — WWE revealed the news a staggering seven months early.

On The Stevie Richards Show, both Richards and James Romero couldn’t believe it:

• “That was seven months in advance,” Romero pointed out. “This has got to be the earliest announcement ever.”
• Richards agreed, saying, “I’ve never seen anything earlier than around the Royal Rumble. This is wild — it’s September! What are we doing here?”

This unusual timing has left fans speculating that WWE might be planning something even bigger around Stephanie’s induction.

Stephanie McMahon’s Legacy in WWE

Stephanie began her WWE journey back in 1998, first behind the scenes before becoming one of WWE’s most memorable on-screen characters. She captured the WWF Women’s Championship once, ruled as SmackDown General Manager and Raw Commissioner, and later climbed the corporate ladder to become WWE’s Chief Brand Officer and even Co-CEO.

Her impact was massive, particularly during the Women’s Evolution, where she pushed for women’s wrestling to be taken seriously on the global stage.

Stephanie stepped down from her role as WWE Co-CEO and Chairwoman in January 2023 but has remained connected to the company while pursuing media and philanthropic projects.

Now, after nearly 25 years of service to WWE, she’s taking her rightful place in the Hall of Fame — in what might be the most talked-about induction announcement WWE has ever done.