WWE Hall of Fame 2016: Sting announced as year's first inductee
Wrestling legend is a six-time WCW Champion
Last Updated: 12/01/16 2:07pm
Sting has been announced as the first inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2016.
The Icon won the first of his six WCW Championships by beating Ric Flair in 1990, while he also captured the United States Championship and Tag Team Championships on multiple occasions.
Sting, noted for his face paint as well as wielding a black baseball bat, competed in the final match on WCW Nitro in March 2001, defeating long-term rival Flair.
The grappling legend would wait 14 years before making his in-ring debut in WWE, a clash with Triple H at WrestleMania 31 in Santa Clara, California in March 2015.
"His contributions to our industry are unprecedented, and we look forward to celebrating his incredible career with fans all over the world."
Triple H on Sting
Sting's most recent encounter came at the Night of Champions event in September when he unsuccessfully challenged then-champion Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Title.
"We are truly honored to have Sting take his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame," said WWE's Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative, Paul Levesque aka Triple H.
"His contributions to our industry are unprecedented, and we look forward to celebrating his incredible career with fans all over the world."
Basketball star LeBron James said on Instagram: "S/O a LEGEND! One of my fav of all time! Congratulations!"
Sting will enter the WWE Hall of Fame at the 2016 induction ceremony on Saturday, April 2, a night before WrestleMania 32 takes place at Arlington Stadium in Texas.
