STILLWATER, Okla. – Continuing its 50th Anniversary celebration, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is launching “What It Means Wednesdays,” a new weekly video series featuring national honorees reflecting on what it means to be recognized by the Hall of Fame.
The series is made possible through a generous gift from longtime wrestling and Hall of Fame supporter Dr. Robert Garrett.
The first video, featuring 2023 Distinguished Member Rich Bender, will premiere Wednesday, August 5, at 12 p.m. CT across the Hall of Fame’s social media channels.
A new video will be released each Wednesday, with more than 50 national honorees scheduled to be featured throughout the series.
In addition to Distinguished Members, the series will feature recipients of the Medal of Courage, Meritorious Official, Order of Merit and Outstanding American honors.
The videos are produced by prominent wrestling content creator Mike Malinconico, who previously created the Hall of Fame’s popular series featuring three-time and four-time NCAA champions. A media personality and host of The Athletor podcast, Malinconico uses footage from the Hall of Fame’s national honoree videos, produced for many years by Order of Merit recipient Dave “Doc” Bennett and, more recently, by Skooter Schultz.
The Hall of Fame invites the wrestling community to follow along each Wednesday and celebrate the remarkable individuals whose achievements and contributions have helped shape the sport.
As it celebrates its 50th anniversary, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame continues its mission to preserve history, recognize extraordinary achievement and inspire greatness while serving as the definitive steward and champion of wrestling history and achievement.
National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum
America’s shrine to the sport of wrestling, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum was founded in 1976 as a nonprofit organization and serves as the definitive steward and champion of wrestling history and achievement. The Hall of Fame’s mission is to preserve wrestling history, recognize extraordinary achievement, and inspire greatness. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame operates museums in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Waterloo, Iowa. The Stillwater museum underwent a $3.8 million renovation in 2016 and features interactive exhibits, electronic kiosks, and the opportunity to watch NCAA Championship matches from the 1930s to the present day. The museum is also home to the John T. Vaughan Hall of Honors, where the greatest names in wrestling are permanently recognized through iconic granite plaques, beginning with the induction of the Charter Class in 1976. The Hall of Fame houses the largest collection of wrestling artifacts and memorabilia in the world, including the most extensive collection of collegiate and Olympic wrestling uniforms. Wrestling’s diversity and accessibility are highlighted through exhibits that celebrate the contributions of women, African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and Latino Americans. The museum also includes a library featuring historical documents, NCAA guides and results, and an extensive collection of wrestling literature.
For more information about the Hall of Fame, please visit www.NWHOF.org.
