WWE Announces Batista and the NWO as First Inductees of 2020 Hall of Fame Class

The WWE announced the first two inductees into the 2020 Hall of Fame class.

Batista and the nWo — the faction that led World Championship Wrestling (WCW) to battle with the WWE during the Monday Night Wars will enter the promotion's growing list of Hall of Fame performers and athletes.

Dave Bautista, better known to fans as simply Batista, was a multi-time world heavyweight champion with the company. He had his first televised WWE appearance in 2002, and he would go on to become a dominant force in the company. Not only was he a successful singles competitor, he was a crucial part of the group Evolution.

That group consisted of Batista, Triple H, Ric Flair and Randy Orton.

Batista would leave and return to the WWE on multiple occasions while also pursuing an acting career. Many non-WWE fans know "The Animal" from his roles in the Guardians of the Galaxy films where he played Drax.

This past April, Batista wrestled for the final time when he went up against Triple H at WrestleMania 35 a match he would lose.

The nWo was formed in July of 1996 with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall — formerly Diesel and Razor Ramon in the WWE — and "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan. The faction would grow in size and power within WCW.

WWE confirms that "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash Scott Hall and Sean Waltman will represent the group when they are inducted in 2020. Waltman was not an original member of the faction, but joined in September of 1996 under the name Syxx.

"Batista was one of the fastest rising stars ever in WWE with an incredible list of accolades, and the success of the nWo changed the course of sports entertainment history," said Paul "Triple H" Levesque, WWE Executive Vice President, Talent, Live Events & Creative in a press release. "It is only fitting that they all take their rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame."

This induction makes Nash, Hall, Waltman and Hogan two-time inductees. Hall was inducted in 2014 while Nash made it in the following year. Waltman had his first WWE Hall of Fame induction in 2019 as a part of D-Generation X.

Hogan was inducted in 2005 and next year's ceremony will mark his second appearance at the Hall of Fame in as many years. Hogan delivered a speech for Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake's induction in 2019.

The 2020 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will take place Thursday, April 2 at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay as part of WrestleMania Week. Tickets for the 2020 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony are available this Friday, December 13 at 12 Noon EST through all Ticketmaster outlets, or at ReliaQuest Ticket Office at Amalie Arena.