Chicago Sun-Times: Vince may expand Hall of Fame

With the 2004 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremonies such a huge success, the company has decided to put a much greater emphasis on them in the future. The problems are that the induction has not been an annual event, and also that some of the biggest names in WWE history are not Hall of Fame members.

There have been some rumblings that Vince McMahon is closer to handing over the power in the WWE and wants to right the wrongs of the past and open the doors to some ousted past stars. The names at the top of that list are Bret Hart, Hulk Hogan and Bruno Sammartino.

Hogan certainly will have one final WWE run and will be inducted into the hall in short order. Hart has had discussions about making a final appearance on a 'Raw" or PPV broadcast. As difficult as it may have been at the time, the Vince-screwed-Bret-in-Montreal angle still is one of the most memorable, and the two sides need to put the past to bed. Hart may be the greatest WWE champion of all time.

Sammartino has been on the outs with the WWE for more than a decade, but he is a link to the past the WWE is missing. The longest- running champion in the federation's history is one of the most recognizable names in wrestling lore.

If the WWE wants to legitimize its Hall of Fame, the organization needs to induct these three.

AROUND THE RING: Kurt Angle quietly made his in-ring return last week, teaming up with John Bradshaw Layfield in tag-team matches vs. Eddie Guerrero and the Undertaker. Angle is expected to begin a heated feud with Eddie over the coming weeks with a big return match at "SummerSlam." ... From the wake-me-when-it's-over department: HHH will face Chris Benoit yet again (how many times is this now, 10 or 20?) for the "Raw" title at "SummerSlam" with Edge giving Randy Orton an IC title rematch. ... Ken Shamrock has told NWA he is available on a part-time basis.