Call him Sid Vicious, call him Sid Justice, call him Sycho Sid, but whatever name you prefer for the former WWE and WCW Champion, he must be called undeniably impactful in his craft. His impact on the industry was felt all the more when the world he ruled stopped to mourn Sid Eudy at age 63 following a battle with cancer.
As those in and out of the wrestling business contemplate the most respectful ways to honor The Master and the Ruler of the World, one no-brainer way to do so would be to induct him into the WWE Hall of Fame. While the legitimacy of the WWE Hall of Fame has been a topic of divisive conversation within the wrestling community, it is nonetheless a prompt way to preserve memories of wrestlers from the past in a way that allows the future generation to learn about them, all while honoring their names. Here's why Sid deserves the same treatment.
10 Accolades
Sid Had Multiple World Championship Wins
When considering who should and should not be in the Hall of Fame, people often point to the person's achievements, first and foremost. If achievements are a primary factor for deserving an honor, then Sid has plenty of accolades to his name that are worth praising. In WWE, he won the highest accolade - the World Title - on two separate occasions.
Meanwhile, if critics were to count his titles outside of WWE, then Mr. Justice is a former six-time World Champion, having won the World Heavyweight Championship another two times in USWA, and then an additional two times in WCW. Speaking of WCW, he also held the United States Title there.
9 Success Everywhere He Went
Sid's Accomplishments Went Beyond Just Titles
If we take the titles out of the equation, it's mighty impressive to think that in no matter what promotion he wrestled, Sid was always a part of the main event picture. Most wrestlers tend to stagnate across the crowd, rising and falling, but Sid always seemed to be promoted as a main attraction wherever he went regardless if he wrestled for titles or not. Even in his brief run in ECW, Sid managed to be a focal point in his appearances and was insanely over. Had he stuck around a little longer, there's no doubt that a title would have been in his future.
By the same sword, Sid also found success outside of wrestling itself. He's appeared in multiple movies, including Ready to Rumble and River of Darkness, as well as appearing as Sid Vicious in a 1990 episode of Family Feud. It's almost as if he really did rule the world wherever he went.
8 WrestleMania Main Eventer
Multiple Mania Main Events Under His Belt
Adding to the idea of in-ring success and accolades, WrestleMania makes legends out of WWE Superstars, and that legend status becomes undeniable once they close out the Show of Shows. Most wrestlers are lucky to have the opportunity to main event one WrestleMania, and Sid has the honor of main eventing two. Out of 40 WrestleMania, only 20-odd people have multiple WrestleMania main events under their belt, including legends such as Stone Cold Steve Austin, and Sid ranks among them.
First, he main evented WrestleMania VII against Hulk Hogan back when he was going under the Sid Justice moniker. Sid would lose by disqualification thanks to interference from Papa Shango, but because Papa Shango missed his cue in hitting the ring, Sid had to kick out of Hogan's Leg Drop, becoming the first man in WWE history to do so. Five years later, he'd walk into WrestleMania 13 as the WWE Champion, defending against The Undertaker in a losing effort.
7 His Influence on Future Generations
Sid's Impact on Other Wrestlers Is Understated
The August 26th episode of WWE Raw is a prime example of just how much Sid Eudy influenced other wrestlers, and how his death impacted not just those around him, but the wrestlers who loved his work. In the first episode of Monday Night Raw following his death, several wrestlers paid homage in some way or another to The Millennium Man.
It started early in the night with Damian Priest in a promo referring to himself and fellow former Judgement Day member Rhea Ripley as the "masters and rulers of this world." Meanwhile, Xavier Woods would fist-bump crowd in the same manner that SId would back in the day. In the same sense, multiple wrestlers (including Joe Hendry) have come out to talk about how they were inspired in some way or another by Sid. Any wrestler who has a profound impact on the future generation, understated or otherwise, deserves to be honored.
6 Sid's Aura In Unrivaled
Sid Had Undeniable Presence Inside the Ring and Outside
"Aura" refers to the sheer presence of someone that helps them stand out in the middle of a room full of people. Sid had such a presence in his wrestling career. If aura is the thing that separates a wrestler from a WWE Superstar, Sid certainly had an aura. It didn't matter if he was wrestling, main eventing, opening the show, cutting a promo, managing, or being someone's bodyguard. When Sid was onscreen, all eyes would shoot in his direction like a dagger and his presence alone was enough to demand everyone's attention.
It wouldn't just be because he stood tall at a noticeable 6'9 (though it certainly helps), but because he had an unquestionable "it factor" that explains exactly why he would be featured in main event spots wherever he went throughout his whole career.
5 One of the Most Intimidating Wrestlers of All Time
A Monster Among Monsters
For what it's worth, a universal definition of a great wrestler is someone who does the job he's asked to do exceptionally well each time. Night in and night out, Sid was asked to be the meanest, scariest son of a gun to ever be seen in a wrestling ring, and he delivered to perfection every time. That's another part of his aura, being wildly intimidating. Before he even got to the ring, he'd strike fear in the hearts of thousands of people in the crowd, especially children.
That was a major factor in itself as to why he fit so at home in the main event scene in every promotion. It's because no one could match the sheer ferocity or intensity that Sid brought to the ring every night.
4 The Nicest Guy Behind the Scenes
The Real Sid Was Very Different From His In-Ring Persona
What makes Sid's run as a scary, intimidating bad guy so impressive is that he could not be furthest from that outside of the ring. Outside of the ring, Sid has been documented as being the nicest wrestler that anyone could have the pleasure of meeting. One prime example of this is his friendship with a neighbor named Seth, a young man with Down syndrome. As they bonded, Sid promised Seth that whenever he was wrestling in town, he'd bring the boy with him to ringside as his manager and coach.
Sid would keep his word whether he was wrestling for WCW or USWA. It's the most humane side of Sid Vicious he allowed the world to see of himself. One of the most important things that a wrestler can do is go out of their way to leave an impression on their fans, and Sid did just that for devoted fans like Seth.
3 Sid Was a Major Star in a Dying Era
A Staple of the Golden Age and the New Generation
Sid entered the WWE at the tail end of the Hogan Era, or the Golden Age of WWE as some would call it. Initially, WWE (then WWF) struggled to survive following the departure of their biggest cash cow. Especially following Hogan's jump to WCW, skyrocketing their own prominence, it seemed as if the WWF was in its dying days during the New Generation Era. However, even as the promotion's popularity wanned, Sid's popularity certainly didn't as he stood out as one of the bigger stars of that era.
It is truly a testament to Sid's star power and his aforementioned aura that he maintained crowd interest in a time where there was little to no interest in the WWE. Case in point, his WrestleMania main events were six years apart, proving his enduring popularity.
2 Sid Was Surprisingly Important to Wrestling History
He Had an Impact on Wrestlers He Worked With
There are several instances where Sid Eudy's impact can be seen and heard across the wrestling world. Be it through his matches, his accolades, or even his utterly entertaining interviews that continue to be meme'd to death. Above all else, similar to how he influenced the future generation of wrestlers, Sid would help elevate the wrestlers he was directly involved with.
Booker T would express this sentiment on his Hall of Fame podcast, where he revealed how Sid helped him and his brother, Stevie Ray, get their first big break in the wrestling business. Back in their WCW days, before their careers took off, Sid gave Harlem Heat a place to stay at his apartment. He promised both of the brothers that he was going to do everything in his power to get them into WCW. Within six months, the brothers were indeed signed by the company, even teaming with Sid inside of WarGames for WCW Fall Brawl 1993 in Booker and Stevie's first PPV main event.
1 Sid Deserves a Happy Ending to His Career
WWE Could Give Sid's Memory What He Could Not Get It in Life
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t's well known among fans that Sid's career ended due to an unfortunate injury happening in a spot during WCW's Sin 2001, when he broke his leg after attempting a big boot from the top turnbuckle. According to Sid, he did not want to perform a dangerous move for a man of size, but, allegedly, WCW executive John Laurinaitis felt that he needed to broaden his arsenal. As a result, according to a recent interview released by Sid's close friend, fellow pro wrestler Carl Ouellet (PCO) to the Busted Open show, Sid struggled with physical pain and mental anguish for many years.
Sid allegedly attempted to the WWE many times to get a proper retirement match, as he did not want the leg injury to be the last thing that fans ed about him (he made a few appearances in minor promotions in later years, but nothing mainstream), but with no response. It would only be right, then, if the company gave Sid the tribute and closure he wanted, even after his ing.
There was always more to the Millennium Man than meets the eye, and his impact in WCW and WWE will never be forgotten, proving that Sid truly deserves a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame.
