STILLWATER, Okla. – Each year, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum trumpets the legends of outstanding athletes, coaches and contributors as part of the permanent history of the sport of wrestling through our awards.

Nominations come from a diverse cross-section of the wrestling community, including the public.

Individuals MUST be nominated to be considered.

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame is accepting nominations for the Class of 2025, which will be inducted during the annual Honors Weekend on June 6 and June 7, 2025 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Criteria & Procedures

Nominations are being accepted for Distinguished Member, Meritorious Official, Order of Merit, Outstanding American and Medal of Courage.

All nominations are due by August 1.

Nomination forms are available by Clicking Here.

Distinguished Members can be a wrestler who has achieved extraordinary success in national and/or international competition; a coach who has demonstrated great leadership in the profession and who has compiled an outstanding record; or a contributor whose long-term activities have substantially enhanced the development and advancement of the sport. Please note that a wrestler MUST have been retired from active competition for a period of five years to be eligible for consideration as a Distinguished Member. The Distinguished Members Screening and Selection Committees are comprised of individuals who are knowledgeable about the sport of wrestling. Distinguished Members who are 59 years and younger are screened by the Modern Committee while nominees who are 60 years and older are screened by the Veterans Committee. After nominations are finalized, the respective screening committees will review and vote to pare the lists to at least 12 nominees for the final ballot. The final ballots are then submitted to the respective selection committees.

The Outstanding American award recognizes individuals who have used the disciplines of the sport to launch notable careers after concluding their wrestling career. Past recipients have included individuals who have excelled in science, technology, business, industry, government, military, and arts and humanities. The Hall of Fame Executive Committee prioritizes and submits a list of nominees in rank order to the Hall of Fame Executive Director, who contacts nominees in order until one confirms acceptance of award.

The Medal of Courage recipient is a wrestler or former wrestler who has overcome what appear to be insurmountable challenges, providing inspiration to others. Nominations are screened by the Hall of Fame Executive Committee and placed on a ballot that is voted on by the Board of Governors.

The Order of Merit is presented to an individual that has made a significant contribution to the sport of wrestling, other than success as an athlete or coach. The Order of Merit recipient is determined in a vote of Distinguished Members.

The Meritorious Official award recognizes outstanding service as a referee, judge or pairing official. Nominations are screened, placed on a ballot and voted on by the Meritorious Official Selection Committee, which is a combination of honorees and individuals knowledgeable about the sport.

Once all ballots have been tabulated, the individuals selected will be reviewed and approved by the Hall of Fame Board of Governors.

National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum

America’s shrine to the sport of wrestling, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum was founded as a nonprofit organization in 1976 to honor the sport of wrestling, preserve its history, recognize extraordinary individual achievements, and inspire future generations. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame has museums in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Waterloo, Iowa. The Stillwater, Oklahoma, location reopened in June 2016 following a $3.8 million renovation while the Waterloo, Iowa, location reopened in March 2019 after undergoing a $1.4 million renovation. Both museums now feature interactive exhibits and electronic kiosks, as well as the opportunity to watch NCAA Championship matches from the 1930s to present day. Stillwater also has the John T. Vaughan Hall of Honors where the greatest names in wrestling are recognized, including iconic granite plaques presented to Distinguished Members since the Hall of Fame opened in 1976. The museum has the largest collection of wrestling artifacts and memorabilia in the world, including the most collegiate and Olympic wrestling uniforms. Wrestling truly is for everyone and the diversity and accessibility of the sport continues to be highlighted through exhibits featuring females, African-Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and Latino Americans. There is also a library featuring historical documents, including NCAA guides and results, as well as books on the sport. For more information about the Hall of Fame, please visit www.NWHOF.org.

National Wrestling Hall of Fame calls for Class of 2025 Nominations

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