Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham, known collectively as The U.S. Express, are the latest names announced for the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2024.
The news was first broken by The Ringer, where Rotunda said the following about the accolade:
“It’s an honor to be chosen for induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. Not everyone gets to go in. Of course, it would have been a far nicer experience if Windham had been here to see it along with my other kids and my grandkids.”
In 1983 Dusty Rhodes, who was the booker for Championship Wrestling from Florida, was in need of a babyface. Calling Jim Crockett, Rotunda was the wrestler sent to Florida. Rhodes was the one responsible for pairing up Windham and Rotunda, leading to their debut in September that year and feuding with The Zambuie Express and later Hector Guerrero and Chavo Guerrero Sr.
One of the pioneering tag teams in professional wrestling, The U.S. Express would debut for WWE in 1984 and used the Bruce Springsteen Track Born in the USA as their entrance theme. Rick Derringer would originally write the song Real American for the team, but this was instead given to Hulk Hogan following the team’s split and Windham’s departure from the company.
The U.S Express held the Tag Team Championships on 2 separate occasions and famously were the champions heading into the first WrestleMania. Rotunda and Windham would lose the titles to The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff at the event but would win the titles back once again on an episode of WWF Championship Wrestling in June 1985. They would lose the titles once more to The Dream Team composed of Greg “The Hammer” Valentine and Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake.
Extending their partnership beyond the wrestling world, Rotunda and Windham would become brothers-in-law when Rotunda married Windham’s sister. Rotunda would have 2 sons who also had notable careers in the wrestling world, Bo Dallas and Bray Wyatt.
Triple H has uploaded footage of The U.S. Express being informed of the news on social media:
From the very first #WrestleMania… to the WWE Hall of Fame.
Mike Rotunda & Barry Windham are a legendary tag team with deep family ties to our business, and their influence will be felt for generations to come.
It was an honor to tell the US Express that they’re #WWEHOF bound. pic.twitter.com/PT4m7rQVIt
— Triple H (@TripleH) March 8, 2024
Windham is the 9th wrestler to become a 2-time Hall of Famer, having previously been inducted as part of The Four Horsemen in 2012. The ceremony will take place on April 5th the night before WrestleMania 40.
The U.S. Express Joins Bull Nakano & Paul Heyman In 2024 WWE Hall Of Fame Class
The U.S. Express are the third act to be confirmed for the 2024 Class. The line-up kicked off on March 4th with Paul Heyman being announced for the class on March 4th and Bull Nakano being announced as the second inductee on March 6th.
Inside The Ropes would like to congratulate Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda on the upcoming Hall of Fame induction.
