Big news came out of this week’s episode of WWE Backstage where it was revealed that JBL is the latest inductee to the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020. The self-proclaimed “Wrestling God” will finally join his APA parter and brother in arms, Ron “Farooq” Simmons, in the coveted Hall of Fame during WrestleMania weekend in Tampa, Florida. JBL joins Batista, The Bella Twins, and nWo members Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, Sean Waltman, and Kevin Nash in the 2020 class.
JBL first debuted in 1995 with WWE as Justin “Hawk” Bradshaw a tough cowboy/mountain man but didn’t find his footing until three years later when he teamed up with WWE Hall of Famer Ron “Farooq” Simmons to form The Acolytes. The pair would go on to evolve into the Acolytes Protection Agency aka The APA, where they rented out their services as bodyguards and played many a poker game behind their notorious makeshift office door. JBL and Farooq would go on to hold three title reigns as the WWE World Tag Team Champions.
The former tag team wrestler would later evolve into the smooth talking and savvy wall street tycoon John “Bradshaw” Layfield. JBL was present on WWE Backstage when the news broke, watch as he gives credit to wrestling icon Eddie Guerrero for making his singles character work when no one else could.
"What defines JBL is Eddie Guerrero, what defines me is Ron Simmons." – @JCLayfield #WWEBackstage pic.twitter.com/qa4Om1psuG
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) March 4, 2020
JBL will take his place in wrestling history during the 2020 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Thursday, April 2, during WrestleMania 36 Week.
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