This is the second part of the WWE Hall of Fame report, which recaps the one-hour USA Network special.

-A Hall of Fame video opened with various WWE logos and then featured shots of this year's inductees and other legends. The show is presented by the "Legends of WrestleMania" video game...

A shot aired from inside the Toyota Center. Todd Grisham welcomed viewers to the show and introduced Jerry Lawler as the host. Lawler walked out wearing a tuxedo and was greeted with "Jerry" chants from the live crowd. Lawler said the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony has become his favorite night of the year. He introduced Ric Flair as "the original party animal."

-Flair walked onto the stage and was greeted with a standing ovation from his peers and the live crowd. He took a deep breath and then pointed to his wristwatch. The camera showed Shawn Michaels pointing to his wristwatch.

Powell's POV: So much for the storyline that Chris Jericho stomped on Flair's WrestleMania 24 watch.

Flair briefly discussed his own induction before introducing the Ricky Steamboat video. The video package also featured modern footage of Steamboat skydiving, and of Flair and Steve Austin raving about Steamboat as a performer. [C]

-After the break, a WrestleMania video package aired and focussed heavily on the first event at Madison Square Garden and then featured modern footage...

-A shot aired of Roddy Piper sitting in the crowd...

-Flair said he always tells people that his greatest opponent was Steamboat. He said he embodied what a true good guy should be. "I have to say this and it gets heat, but the girls loved Steamboat," he said. "I'll put him up against the Von Erichs any night and that's saying a lot."

Flair said he probably wrestled Steamboat 2,000 times. "And I can tell you that I never had one bad match with Ricky Steamboat." He said that as good as their matches were in 1989, some of their matches in the '70s were in better. "Working with Ricky Steamboat was as good as it got," Flair said.

Flair said they now have sons who started competing with each other 15 years ago, and he hopes they follow in their footsteps and deliver the next chapter of Flair vs. Steamboat. Flair said Ricky is the "purest good guy that ever walked the aisle."

-Ricky Steamboat walked onto the stage and was greeted by a clapping Flair... [C] Another WrestleMania 25 commercial aired...

After the break, Steamboat and Flair were embracing. Steamboat backed off and pretended to be upset. They locked up briefly to a pop from the crowd. Steamboat wiped his eyes and approached the podium as the crowd chanted his last name.

Steamboat spoke about being humbled when he looks back on the last 35 years in the business. He recalled young talent asking him to watch his match. He also recalled sitting next to a very polite Triple H on a flight. He said he was impressed by the questions he asked and he knew that he had it. A shot aired of Hunter bowing to Steamboat.

Ricky spoke about working with Flair. "That man took me to school every night, every time we locked up," he said. He also listed other legends he worked with, including Jimmy Snuka and Roddy Piper. He paused and said that the three of them will take Chris Jericho "to school tomorrow." Jericho played along by standing up.

Steamboat listed additional opponents including Randy Savage and Arn Anderson. He also mentioned that he had his final match with Steve Austin. He thanked Jim Ross for calling his matches. Steamboat pointed to Mickey Rourke, who was seated with the wrestlers, and said, "Tonight, this is my Oscar." Steamboat wrapped up his speech by thanking the fans...

Powell's POV: Very nice speech with a fun shout out for his match with Jericho tomorrow. Flair was even more emotional than Steamboat. Are you surprised? Me neither.

-The narrator teased a look at the other HOF inductees for after the break... [C]

-After the break, Lawler hyped WrestleMania 25. He pointed out Shawn Michaels and said it would be "Mr. WrestleMania vs. The Streak." Lawler introduced a clip of Shawn vs. Taker from the Legends of WrestleMania game. After the clip aired, Lawler said HBK and Taker are going to create some memories tomorrow night...

Powell's POV: I've heard mixed reviews of the game play, but the graphics looked great. They just sold some video games.

-Lawler introduced Gene Okerlund, who introduced footage of the inductees who were honored earlier in the night...

Powell's POV: By the way, it will be interesting to see whether Bill Watts saying he and Bruno Sammartino were pressing over 500 lbs. before steroids will be edited from the DVD. I don't think he meant any harm with that comment, but you don't hear the word steroids on WWE programming.

-Lawler said the next presenter doesn't need any introduction, but he'd be fired if he didn't introduce him. The King introduced Vince McMahon as the best boss a person could ask for. A shot aired of Triple H cracking up. Edge could also be seen laughing behind him. Stephanie McMahon shot out of her chair and appeared to be the first person in the building to stand up and applaud her father. Vince walked onto the stage wearing a tux with a lavender tie... [C]

-A shot aired of Mickey Rourke sitting in the crowd.

-Vince McMahon stood at the podium and said he has an "unusual relationship" with Steve Austin. Vince said he loves Austin, but Austin hates him. He ran through a fun list of things that Austin has done to him over the years. A shot aired of Stephanie laughing harder than anyone else in the building. Vince introduced a video of Steve Austin...

-The Austin featured a clip of Jim Ross referring to Austin as the greatest WWE Champion of all time. The video also featured John Cena, Edge, Ric Flair, and other current stars. Cena said Austin should have his own wing in the HOF. This led into the great Living Colour video they've been showing on television. After the video, they showed the fans applauding and then cut to commercial... [C]

Powell's POV: I can't get over how great the Living Colour video is. I've seen it several times and I always stop typing and watch the video. Tremendous.

-After the break, Vince introduced Austin as "the toughest SOB." Austin walked onto the stage wearing a black tux with a black tie. The crowd popped huge and gave him a long standing ovation. Austin took his spot at the podium and raised a fist in the air. "Austin, Austin, Austin," chanted the crowd. Austin stepped away from the podium and saluted them again (no, not his old school salute).

"Thank you, Austin," the crowd chanted. Awesome. Austin laughed and thanked the fans again, but they continued to chant until he said: "Alright, guys, thank you very much for that. Thank you very much."

Austin said everyone knows he doesn't like getting dressed up very often. He said he went to the Men's Wearhouse to have his tux made. He complained that he had a button missing and blamed the Men's Wearhouse. Funny. Take that, George Zimmer.

Austin got serious and said thanks to anyone who has ever watched WWE programming. He said whether he was having neck surgery, knee surgery, getting divorced, having another surgery, or taking his ball and going home, the fans always welcomed him back with open arms.

The fans chanted, "One more match." Austin blushed and said, "Well, I don't know about that." Good for him. He said there are not many things he's good at. He thought back to when he was in high school and he took an aptitude test, which revealed that "I'd make a real swell park ranger." He said that wouldn't work for him.

Austin said he's met some great people in the business. He said he's also met some bad people too, but he has nothing to complain about. "I've got a big smile on my face and I'm here to say thank you for all of it," he said. "I want to close the door on my wrestling career, but I don't want to close the door on you. I want to say thank you. As I move away from professional wrestling and into the movie industry or that line of work, I just want you to be able to continue to support me and know that I'll do whatever I can to try and entertain you the best I can."

Austin said he could continue to talk for an hour and he didn't even look at his notes. He asked if the fans were ready for WrestleMania and asked for a Hell Yeah. The crowd obliged. He said he wants the wrestlers and divas to get some rest. He said it's going to be a good night in Houston. "And that's the bottom line because..."

-Austin's music played. He motioned to someone in the crowd, who tossed him a couple cans of beer. He slammed his beers and spilled most of them all over his Men's Wearhouse tuxedo. He slammed a couple more beers as confetti dropped from the ceiling. A shot aired of Cena slamming a beer, and then Austin saluted the crowd from the stage to close the show...

Powell's POV: Great special. Austin's speech was cool. I was surprised he used it to close the door on his pro wrestling career. A lot of guys would have played to the crowd when they were chanting for one more match, but Austin shot them down and made it clear that his in-ring career is finished. Will we get a Stunner or two at WrestleMania 25 tomorrow? I hope so. Did the Hall of Fame make me anticipate WrestleMania 25 more than I had been? Oh hell yeah.

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