WWE’s new “Immortal Moment” category for the Hall of Fame Class of 2025 might feel fresh—but the inspiration behind it isn’t coming from Stamford. It’s straight outta the UFC’s playbook.
On the March 28 episode of SmackDown, WWE dropped the bombshell that Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Bret Hitman Hart’s legendary WrestleMania 13 clash will be the first match inducted into the Hall of Fame under the new category. The iconic 1997 “I Quit” showdown is often credited for launching Austin into superstardom and flipping Hart into a heel role—thanks to that unforgettable moment where Austin passed out in the Sharpshooter, never quitting.
But why now? Why create an entirely new Hall of Fame lane just for a match? According to Dave Meltzer in the latest Daily Update, WWE borrowed the concept from UFC. “Credit this one to Ant Evans at UFC,” Meltzer wrote. “When Evans took over the UFC Hall of Fame years ago, in an attempt to make it credible after Stephan Bonnar… he came up with the idea to induct legendary matches.”
Evans needed a way to justify Bonnar’s inclusion after his legendary 2005 brawl with Forrest Griffin—so UFC started honoring fights instead of just fighters. The format worked, giving fans a new way to celebrate epic showdowns. WWE clearly took notice and decided to bring that strategy to the squared circle.
With names like Triple H, Michelle McCool, Lex Luger, and The Natural Disasters already confirmed for this year’s Hall of Fame, adding Austin vs. Hart as the first “Immortal Moment” brings a whole new level of historic credibility—and a reminder that sometimes the matches are just as legendary as the people in them.
Should more classic matches be inducted into the Hall of Fame? What showdown would you crown as WWE’s next “Immortal Moment”? Sound off in the comments below.