Demolition are heading into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class — and both Ax and Smash are clear-eyed about the fact that this moment very nearly never happened. Speaking on Busted Open Radio, the legendary tag team credited the fans for keeping pressure on WWE over the years while acknowledging that the current administration’s approach to their relationship made all the difference.
“It’s truly an honor. If it wasn’t for the fans, I really believe the pressure over the years — we really never thought we would be inducted. I don’t think we would have been under a different administration,” Ax said. “That’s changed, and our relationship with the company has changed drastically. It’s just an honor. To be inducted into the Hall of Fame in WWE is the main event.”
Demolition Describe How Signing a Legends Contract Transformed Their Relationship With WWE
Smash provided further context on how the relationship with WWE was rebuilt step by step, starting with the decision to sign a Legends contract. “We didn’t know if we were going to sign a contract with them. We debated, ‘Do we really want to get into this?’ Finally, we decided, let’s sign a Legends contract and see what happens. Once we signed that contract, they invited us to the Hall of Fame last year, and it was like everything changed.”
He also singled out CM Punk for making a particularly strong impression when Demolition attended last year’s ceremony. “CM Punk was unbelievable. What a gentleman. He was one of the first ones to come up and he talked to us for 10-15 minutes. Then Stone Cold Steve Austin and the Undertaker. It felt good to be part of that.” The 2026 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony takes place April 17 at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas as part of WrestleMania 42 weekend.
