WWE has confirmed the latest inductee for this year’s Hall of Fame.
JBL was officially confirmed as the latest inductee for the upcoming Class of 2020 ceremony taking place during WrestleMania 36 weekend.
JBL joined WWE in 1995 and was a singles competitor before joining forces with Ron Simmons to form what became the APA. In 2004, he would transition to the JBL character, capturing the WWE Championship once. JBL would hold a number of titles throughout his career before retiring in 2009 and becoming a color commentator.
Here is an excerpt from WWE’s announcement:
“The road to the WWE Hall of Fame began for JBL in 1995, when he arrived as Justin “Hawk” Bradshaw, an ornery Texan with a propensity for taking his opponents’ heads off with a lariat so devastating that it would go on to be known as the Clothesline from Hell.
“But it was when he joined forces with another hard-hitting Superstar, fellow WWE Hall of Famer Ron Simmons, that his career truly began to take off. Known as The Acolytes, Bradshaw and Simmons served as the ruthless enforcers for The Undertaker’s Ministry of Darkness, ensuring The Phenom’s will was done and bulldozing anyone who stood in their way.
“But when The Ministry disbanded, Bradshaw and Simmons stuck together, showing a little entrepreneurship in the process. The two opened The Acolytes Protection Agency, renting out their services as bodyguards to anyone who could pony up the cash to keep the cold ones coming. The APA always had a line out of their makeshift office door, whether it was Superstars looking for protection or someone looking to get in on their rowdy poker games. The two heavy hitters also racked up three reigns as World Tag Team Champions along the way.
“But when The APA closed its doors for good, Bradshaw did not ride off into the sunset. No, instead, he showed us that underneath his gruff exterior lied one of the most cunning competitors in WWE history. Embracing his success on the stock market, John “Bradshaw” Layfield traded in his sleeveless tee and jeans for a white cowboy hat and suit, along with a limousine with bull horns attached to the hood. Though the WWE Universe was not thrilled with the shocking change, it proved to be the jolt that the Texan needed. The tycoon became an immediate contender for the WWE Championship, and defeated Eddie Guerrero at The Great American Bash 2004 in a Texas Bull Rope Match to win the title. JBL held onto the championship until WrestleMania the following year, where he was dethroned by John Cena.”
This year’s Hall of Fame ceremony will be held on Thursday, April 2 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, with Friday Night SmackDown and NXT TakeOver: Tampa Bay taking place Over the following two days in the arena.
The Bella Twins, Batista, and the nWo (Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and Sean Waltman) were all announced as inductees prior.