WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017 inductee Theodore Long describes the long and winding road that led him to a leadership role on SmackDown. Courtesy of WWE Network.

One of the squared circle’s most dynamic managers and SmackDown’s incompletable General Manager dances his way into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017.

Long was inducted by longtime friends, The APA’s JBL and Ron Simmons. The tough pair began by joking about how the WWE Hall of Fame inductee was one of the cheapest individuals ever, as well as one of the worst drivers. They soon got serious, however, and spoke about how Long had had just about every job there is to have in wrestling. They also talked about how Long grew up in extremely tough circumstances in the racially charged south and how he stands as an example of how you can do anything if you are willing to work hard.

Teddy Long then took the stage. After contradicting a story that JBL and Simmons had told in swift fashion, he began talking about his career. In the start, he did whatever he could behind the scenes just to be a part of it. He spoke of becoming a referee, eventually transitioning to manager, growing in WWE and becoming the longest-reigning General Manager in SmackDown history. He thanked, among others, God, WWE, the McMahon family, Jim Ross, his son, his wife and the WWE Universe.