It's time to honor the legends of wrestling again as the WrestleMania 41.

Also, for the first time, an 'Immortal Moment' will be included as a part of the Hall of Fame. The legendary WrestleMania 13 match between Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin will be honored. Many critics and historians point to that event as the night that The Rattlesnake truly became a superstar and helped kick off the Attitude Era. However, one of the most prominent names from that same era won't be recognized and won't be in attendance on Friday night. He won't be mentioned, and he certainly won't be inducted, possibly ever. He has been pushed to the sidelines, blacklisted, and almost discarded into the dustbin of history.

Former WWE head writer Vince Russo, the early architect of the Attitude Era and one of the most polarizing figures that has ever existed in the wrestling industry, helped create many of the matches and memories that signified the promotion's incredible comeback in their Monday Night War against World Championship Wrestling. With his company on the ropes and even struggling financially, Vince McMahon essentially followed Russo's lead when it came to changing the organization's overall personality. And the roller-coaster ride started from there.

Suddenly, the promotion went from being kid-friendly and cartoonish to an almost R-rated broadcast. Cursing, sex, and blood became the company's new trademark. Which, in turn, drew new viewership. Adults who had abandoned WWE suddenly began watching again, as Russo's brand of Crash TV turned the company into the hottest thing on cable television.

So, why would someone who had so much influence over such an important time in the company go unrecognized? There are a ton of reasons why, over the year,s WWE has chosen to distance itself from Russo, and they're all relatively valid. However, there's also an argument to be made that he does deserve to be honored for his contributions to WWE and its overall product.

6 OUT: His Later Career Was a Flop

Away From WWE, Russo Found Little Success

Russo famously departed WWE in 1999, bolting for a lucrative offer from WCW in an attempt to turn that company's fortunes around. After a short tenure as the lead writer there, he was eventually sent home. He would return a few months later to team with former World Championship Wrestling President Eric Bischoff. That would ultimately prove to be a failure as well, leading to Russo's notorious shoot interview directed at Hollywood Hulk Hogan.

While he did have a long tenure with Dixie Carter's TNA Wrestling, his booking became hit-or-miss. Mostly, it was a miss, as Total Non-Stop Action struggled to find its identity in a wrestling landscape dominated by WWE. Russo even had a 'blink-and-you'll miss it' return to World Wrestling Entertainment in 2002. Within a day or two, it was deemed that his ideas were outdated and that he was irrelevant to the company's product, and he was let go quickly.

5 IN: He Helped Make WWE the King of Cable

TV Ratings in the Attitude Era Were Almost Unbelievable

Without a doubt, the Attitude Era is not only one of the greatest eras in not only pro wrestling history, but in television. Never before had a basic cable station like the USA Network achieved the staggering viewership numbers that RAW is WAR garnered.

That impact helped push WWE not only into the mainstream but also made it the darling of rs and investors. One could argue that this period helped facilitate the promotion's move into becoming a publicly-traded company and helped re-establish the brand when it came to Madison Avenue.

4 OUT: He's Burned Too Many Bridges

He's Been Discarded By Those in Mainstream Pro Wrestling

Since he departed from pro wrestling, Russo has been hosting a podcast, and he certainly doesn't hold back much when it comes to giving his opinion. Especially when it involves today's modernized version of the industry. He has said things to offend wrestlers, promoters, and fans with his shock-jock approach to analyzing sports entertainment. Because of that, he's gotten blowback on social media from some of the biggest names in the business.

At the same time, he's also gained a legion of fans who have longed for the return of WWE 'Attitude' for years. Even now, the followers of The Russo Brand will argue that - despite the organization's current success - it's still not quite edgy enough. That irritates the people who are in power now, and it's well-known that high-ranking officials in World Wrestling Entertainment are no fans of Vinny Ru. That includes those at the very top of the pecking order, like Triple H and Shawn Michaels. Without the of his contemporaries, he has absolutely no shot at ever walking on the red carpet.

3 IN: Time Heals All Wounds

Eventually, EVERYONE Returns To WWE

There's an old belief that, despite anything that's happened in the past, everyone eventually finds their way back to WWE. With a few exceptions, almost everyone who has been fired, quit, or was just disgruntled will soften their stance as the promotion softens theirs. Perhaps it's a nostalgia thing, but it seems as if there is an internal need in pro wrestling to reconcile the past.

Even legendary world champions Bret Hart and Bruno Sammartino came back home to WWE, despite years of criticism and swearing they would never step foot in the door again. The company's position continues to be that - if it's best for business - then anything is possible. While that may not extend to Vince Russo in their minds, it certainly does to many fans who grew up watching The Attitude Era.

2 OUT: He Says He Doesn't Want It

He Has Stated That He Wouldn't Accept a Nomination

Although he has offered to go back to WWE as a writer, Russo has said that even if the company offered him a spot in the Hall of Fame, he would not accept it. That may be true, or it might just be lip service, but he claims that, out of principle, he would not return for the honor. Whether that's true or not, that position has to be considered valid unless he decides to change his mind.

Many of his haters have laughed at this notion, saying it's merely a way for the former writer to stay relevant and that he would jump at the chance. At the same time, why would WWE extend an invitation to someone who has already said they would thumb their nose at it? They are the top wrestling promotion in the world, so there's no reason to believe they would jump through hoops to coerce Russo for a one-night comeback.

1 IN: He Helped Develop Legendary Names and Angles

Russo Was Instrumental in the Creation of Growth of Massive Stars

Whether it was 'Austin 3:16' or the Montreal Screwjob, the WWE Attitude Era kicked off under Russo's watch. And while it seems like we're belaboring the point, it changed the face of the industry forever. In the eyes of many observers, Russo was the mastermind of the moment. While it's easy to chuckle at some of his stories that flopped (see: Beaver Cleavage), he found great success in scripting storylines for D-Generation X, Goldust, and Sable. In fact, many of the ideas and identities he assigned to the wrestlers carried on long after he was gone from WWE.

Even today, some of those stars still appear under the gimmicks that he created for them. So, his impact is still being felt in the industry, even when it goes unrecognized. Should he receive ALL the credit for that success? Of course not, and anyone who made that argument would be foolish. World Wrestling Entertainment has always been a collaborative effort, from the creative department to the production team to the performers themselves. Russo was simply a part of that.

But in hindsight, no one could say that he wasn't a gigantic influence on that. No matter how people view his vision of professional wrestling, it was dynamic and left an indelible mark on the industry forever. For those reasons, many fans will argue that Vince Russo does deserve to be honored as a member of the Hall of Fame.