Batista
Dave "The Animal" Batista quit the WWE in the middle of "Monday Night Raw" after Triple H refused to grant his "Evolution" stablemate a shot at the WWE World Heavyweight title. Reuters

KEY POINTS

  • Batista, nWo will be inducted to WWE Hall of Fame
  • nWo and WWE had a rift years ago
  • Batista retired last year

World Wrestling Entertainment announced that six-time former world champion Batista and the core members of New World Order will be the first inductees in the promotion’s Hall of Fame class of 2020.

Posted on their official website, the six-time world champion and nWo’s team of Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, Sean Waltman, and Kevin Nash will be given their rightful place by the WWE as part of week-long Wrestlemania 36 in Tampa Bay, FL.

Now known as a Hollywood star who appeared on “Avengers” movies and “Guardians of the Galaxy”, Batista was well-loved by the fans and was a certified crowd-drawer. He was also known for his rivalries with some of the best in the business such as The Undertaker, John Cena, and Triple H. The company also shared the former bodybuilder’s adversaries during his tenure.

Outside of wrestling, Batista – Dave Bautista in real life – also competed in MMA via Strikeforce promotion in 2012 against Vince Lucero. Billed as “Brass Body”, he beat Lucero via TKO due to punches in the first round. He never fought again as he focused more on his Hollywood career.

Each member of nWo was already inducted in the Hall of Fame as individuals. Waltman was part of the D-Generation-X that was inducted earlier this year, Nash in 2015, Hall in 2014, and Hulk Hogan in 2005, ESPN says. All four of them brought their acts and huge following to WCW, who became WWE’s rival during the mid-1990s.

With all the issues surrounding them all over the bridge, it looks like their recognition will bury the hatchet forever. Considered as the “epicenter of the Attitude Era” per Nash, he credited WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon for bringing the Attitude Era on to a higher level.

“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 WWE Executive Vice President Paul “Triple H” Levesque. They will be inducted on April 2020 during next year’s WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies.