John Bradshaw Layfield | |
|---|---|
 Layfield in 2022 | |
| Born | John Charles Layfield (1966-11-29)November 29, 1966 (age 58)[1] Sweetwater, Texas, U.S.[2] |
| Alma mater | Abilene Christian University |
| Spouses | |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Blackjack Bradshaw[2] Bradshaw[2] Death Mask[2] JBL John "Bradshaw" Layfield[2][3] Johnny Hawk[2] Justin Hawk Bradshaw[2] Vampiro Americano[2] |
| Billed height | 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)[3] |
| Billed weight | 290 lb (132 kg)[3] |
| Billed from | Sweetwater, Texas (as Blackjack Bradshaw) New York City (as John Layfield) Bradshaw Ranch (as Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw) |
| Trained by | Black Bart[4] Brad Rheingans[2][4] |
| Debut | September 23, 1992[2][4][5] |
| Retired | April 5, 2009[6] |
| Football career | |
| No. 61 | |
| Positions | Offensive lineman,Right tackle |
| Career information | |
| High school | Sweetwater (TX) |
| College | Abilene Christian |
| NFL draft | 1990: undrafted |
| Career history | |
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
John Charles Layfield (born November 29, 1966),[1] better known by thering nameJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield,[2][3] is an American professional wrestlingcolor commentator, retiredprofessional wrestler and formerfootball player. He is signed toWWE, where he is an ambassador and commentator for the company.
Layfield rose to prominence in WWE during itsAttitude Era under the ring nameBradshaw, during which time he became a three-timeWWF Tag Team Champion withRon Simmons as part of theAcolytes Protection Agency (APA) or simply the Acolytes, a feared pair of strong and tough mercenaries who, aside from occasionally wrestling and doing "work" for "clients" spent most of their time sitting around in their "office" playing cards, drinking beer, fighting people backstage and then going out to bars and getting into bar fights. In 2004, Simmons retired and the APA separated, and Layfield was rebranded as the heel characterJBL— a rough-mannered, brawling, blustering, bad-tempered and bigmouthed Texas elite businessman, driven into the arena bylimousine. The gimmick was built off of Layfield's real-life accomplishments as astock market investor. Later that year, he captured theWWE Championship and held it for 280 days, at the time the longest reign sinceDiesel’s one year long reign from 1994 to 1995. A month before his in-ring retirement at 2009'sWrestleMania 25, he becameIntercontinental Champion, which made him the 20thTriple Crown Champion and the 10thGrand Slam Champion in WWE history.
After his retirement, Layfield became an on-air commentator for WWE programming. Layfield was inducted into the2021 WWE Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2020. Layfield is currently a finance commentator and is featured regularly onFox News andFox Business. He is also employed by Northeast Securities as its senior vice president.[7]
Layfield was born on November 29, 1966, inSweetwater, Texas.[1]
Layfield was a collegiateAmerican football player forTrinity Valley Community College and forAbilene Christian University.[8] At Abilene, Layfield was a two-year starter on theoffensive line and was named first-team All-Lone Star Conference as a junior and senior. Layfield signed with theLos Angeles Raiders as anundrafted free agent, but was released before the1990 season began. Layfield did play in theWorld League of American Football, starting all 10 games of the 1991 season atright tackle for theSan Antonio Riders, wearing jersey number 61. FutureDallas Cowboys head coachJason Garrett was the quarterback of that team.
Layfield was trained initially byBlack Bart andBrad Rheingans.[5] He debuted in September 1992 in theGlobal Wrestling Federation (GWF) in Texas. His firstgimmick was as "John Hawk," storyline cousin of the Windham brothers. He formed the tag team "Texas Mustangs" withBobby Duncum Jr.; they quickly won the GWF Tag Team Championship from Rough Riders (Black Bart and Johnny Mantell) on November 27[9] butdropped the titles toThe Bad Breed (Ian andAxl Rotten) on January 29, 1993.
In January 1993, Layfield went on his first overseas trip to Japan, wrestling forGeorge andShunji Takano's Network of Wrestling. Later that same year, he would also wrestle in Mexico forConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), wrestling under the name "Vampiro Americano" and frequently teamed withVampiro Canadiense. He would also wrestle for Federacion Internacional de Lucha Libre, where he won its Heavyweight Championship. Hawk won his second GWF Tag Team Championship with Black Bart on December 25, 1993, from Steve Dane and Chaz Taylor, eventually losing them toThe Fabulous Freebirds (Jimmy Garvin andTerry Gordy) on June 3, 1994.[9]
In June 1994, he went to Europe and toured Austria and Germany forOtto Wanz'sCatch Wrestling Association (CWA) for the remainder of the year. In January 1995, Layfield joined NWA Dallas. He won theNWA North American Heavyweight Championship on January 14, 1995, defeatingKevin Von Erich.[10] Two months later, he lost the NWA North American title toGreg Valentine. He wrestled for NWA Dallas until May 1995.
In June 1995, Layfield returned to Japan, but with NOW recently folded, he went toGenichiro Tenryu'sWAR, where he went by the name "Death Mask." From June to December 1995, he wrestled in Austria and Germany for the Catch Wrestling Association, where he won itsWorld Tag Team Championship withCannonball Grizzly in November 1995. He was set to joinSmoky Mountain Wrestling in December 1995, to wrestleBuddy Landel, but this did not happen due to the company closing in November. From December 1995 to February 1996, he performed for the Confederate Wrestling Alliance in Dallas, Texas.
In December 1995, Layfield (as "John Hawk") debuted in theWorld Wrestling Federation, losing toSavio Vega in adark match. He made his televised debut on the January 27, 1996, episode ofWWF Superstars as "Justin 'Hawk' Bradshaw," defeatingBob Holly.[2][11] His initialgimmick was that of a rough and tumble Texas cowboy (similar in terms of appearance and character toStan Hansen),[12] withUncle Zebakiah as his manager.[13] After victories, hebranded his opponents with the symbol "JB" in ink, rather than being seared into the flesh. Bradshaw remained undefeated for three months until a loss toThe Undertaker via disqualification on the April 1 episode ofRaw.[14] He lost a Caribbean Strap Match toSavio Vega on the September 22, 1996, PPVIn Your House 10: Mind Games. The character fizzled out by the end of the year, perhaps remembered only for afeud with Savio Vega and a match withFatu which he won in eight seconds. Following a handicap match loss to Jesse James on December 9, Bradshaw attacked Zebekiah, who accidentally cost them the match. Afterwards, Bradshaw would work in house shows until February 1997.
In February 1997, Layfield paired up with hisstoryline cousinBarry Windham to formThe New Blackjacks, Layfield cut off his long hair and completed with the traditional "Blackjack" handlebar mustaches and short, dyed black hair.[15] They competed in a four-way tag team match atWrestleMania 13, which was won byThe Headbangers. They then feuded withThe Godwinns. In late 1997 Bradshaw traveled to theUnited States Wrestling Association (USWA) where he competed as a singles wrestler (without Windham). During his time in the USWA he helped his former manager in the WWF, Dutch Mantel (also known in the WWF as Uncle Zebekiah) defeatJerry Lawler for theUSWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship.[16]
Windham's injuries piled up throughout 1997 and Layfield wrestled only occasionally on TV as Blackjack Bradshaw worked forAll Japan Pro Wrestling from November to December of that year. The team disbanded in January 1998. He earned a shot at theNWA North American Heavyweight Championship againstJeff Jarrett atNo Way Out of Texas: In Your House and won bydisqualification, but Jarrett retained the title because a title cannot change hands by a disqualification.[17] In 1998, he wrestled as amid-carder wrestling the likes ofMarc Mero at Mayhem in Manchester,[18]Kaientai (Funaki,Dick Togo, andMen's Teioh) withTaka Michinoku in ahandicap match atOver the Edge in which Michinoku was pinned.[19] Sometimes teaming with fellow TexanTerry Funk.[20] He defeatedVader in aFalls Count Anywhere Match atBreakdown .[21]
On Sunday Night Heat right before Survivor Series 1998, Bradshaw teamed alongside formerNation of Domination leaderFaarooq to form the tag team of the Acolytes, managed by theJackyl. Their main gimmick was that of a dark duo known for their unrepentant savagery against their opponents, occult symbols painted on their chest and theNecronomicon "gate ofYog-Sothoth" pentagram symbol on their black tights. Bradshaw would grow a goatee and let his hair go long. After the Jackyl left the WWF, Faarooq and Bradshaw joinedThe Undertaker's newMinistry of Darkness.[22] The Ministry went on to feud with theCorporation. As part of the Ministry, Bradshaw feuded withKen Shamrock. The twostables would soon unite as theCorporate Ministry, but disbanded afterStone Cold Steve Austin defeated the Undertaker atFully Loaded. When the Undertaker went on hiatus in September, Bradshaw and Faarooq's dark gimmick faded.
On the May 31, 1999, episode ofRaw Is War, the Acolytes (still with the Corporate Ministry) won their firstWWF Tag Team Championship by defeatingKane andX-Pac.[23] On the July 5 episode ofRaw Is War, they dropped the titles to theHardy Boyz (Matt andJeff)[24] before defeating the Hardyz and theirmanagerMichael "P.S." Hayes at Fully Loaded for their second WWF Tag Team Championship.[25] On the August 9 episode ofRaw Is War, they lost the titles to Kane and X-Pac.
The duo becamefan favorites and changed their gimmick to that of cigar-smoking bar brawlers for hire.[22] In jeans and T-shirts, Faarooq and Bradshaw became the Acolytes Protection Agency (APA), with a motto of "because we need beer money." The duo was often seen in the backrooms of arenas with a poker table and later a framed doorway comically in the middle of the often large, open aired hallways, which they insisted anyone who came to speak to them use.
The Acolytes earned a shot at the WWF Tag Title at theRoyal Rumble against theNew Age Outlaws (Road Dogg andBilly Gunn), but lost the match.[26] Their next shot at the title was atFully Loaded when they facedEdge and Christian. The Acolytes won the match by disqualification but did not become champions.[27] After unsuccessfully challenging for the tag title in 2000, APA won their third WWF Tag Team Championship on the July 9, 2001, episode ofRaw is War by defeating theDudley Boyz (Bubba Ray andD-Von).[28] On the August 9 episode ofSmackDown!, they lost the tag title toAlliance membersDiamond Dallas Page andChris Kanyon.[29]
On the October 22 episode ofRaw Is War, Bradshaw defeatedThe Hurricane to win theWWF European Championship, his first singles title in the WWF.[30] He lost the title to Christian on the November 1 episode ofSmackDown!.[31] AtNo Way Out in 2002, APA won aTag Team Turmoil match[32] and as a result, they challenged for the tag title atWrestleMania X8 along with Hardys and Dudleys, in aFour Corners Elimination match. The championsBilly and Chuck retained their title.[33]
Shortly after WrestleMania, Faarooq and Bradshaw split due to thebrand extension. Bradshaw wasdrafted toRaw where his gimmick had an increased emphasis on his Texas roots, which included him carrying acowbell to the ring and teaming up with fellow TexanStone Cold Steve Austin. Bradshaw helped Austin in Austin's feud against thenWo, teaming up with him against them and had a brief feud withScott Hall where he faced Hall atBacklash on April 21 in a losing effort due to interference by X-Pac.[34] Following Austin's walkout on the WWE, Bradshaw joined thehardcore division and won theWWE Hardcore Championship 17 times; his first title win coming overSteven Richards on the June 3 episode ofRaw.[35] He renamed the title the Texas Hardcore Championship. It was also during this time that his finishing move was briefly renamed from the "Clothesline From Hell" to the "Clothesline From Texas" or the "Clothesline From Deep in the Heart of Texas."Jim Ross often called the move as such during his commentary, although the name eventually reverted to the original "Clothesline From Hell."
In the hardcore division, Bradshaw feuded and exchanged the title with the likes of Richards,Shawn Stasiak,Raven,Christopher Nowinski,Big Show,Justin Credible,Johnny Stamboli,Crash Holly,Jeff Hardy, andTommy Dreamer,[35] before the title was unified byWWE Intercontinental ChampionRob Van Dam in August. In September, Bradshaw suffered a torn leftbiceps at ahouse show.[36] He was out of action for six months until returning toOhio Valley Wrestling and then a few weeks later to the active WWE roster.
Bradshaw returned on the June 19, 2003, episode ofSmackDown!, which saw him and Faarooq saving the Undertaker from the hands ofChuck Palumbo and Johnny Stamboli, reuniting the APA in the process.[37] Bradshaw returned with a new look, cutting his long hair, returning it to its natural color blonde, and going clean shaven. On the June 26 episode ofSmackDown!, the APA and the Undertaker defeated Stamboli, Palumbo andNunzio.[38] AtVengeance on July 27, Bradshaw won a bar room brawl match which featured Faarooq and a variety of mid-card superstars and other WWE employees.[39] The duo lost toThe Basham Brothers atNo Mercy on October 19.[40]
On the October 30 episode ofSmackDown!, the APA defeatedBig Show andBrock Lesnar by disqualification after Lesnar attacked Faarooq with a steel chair.[41] On the November 13 episode ofSmackDown!, Bradshaw defeatedA-Train.[42] AtSurvivor Series on November 16, Bradshaw was part ofKurt Angle's team, as they faced Brock Lesnar's team in a five-on-five tag team match. Bradshaw managed to eliminate A-Train, before he himself was eliminated by Big Show. His team eventually won the match.[43] Bradshaw was defeated by A-Train on the November 20 episode ofSmackDown!, ending their brief feud.[44] AtWWE Tribute to the Troops onDecember 25, the APA defeatedThe World's Greatest Tag Team.[45]
At theRoyal Rumble on January 25, 2004, Bradshaw entered into theRoyal Rumble match at entry number 5, but quickly was eliminated byChris Benoit.[46] AtNo Way Out on February 15, the APA faced the World's Greatest Tag Team in a losing effort.[47] AtWrestleMania XX on March 14, the APA unsuccessfully challenged for theWWE Tag Team Championship in afatal four-waytag team match.[48] The gimmick continued on-and-off until the March 18 episode ofSmackDown! until losing a tag team"You're Fired" match to WWE Tag Team ChampionsRikishiandScotty 2 Hotty for the tag team title.[49]general managerPaul Heyman, frustrated by an insult by the APA, told Faarooq that if he did not win the aforementioned match, then "You're Fired." After the match, Bradshaw led Faarooq back to Heyman's office to state they had not been fired, but had resigned. Then, Heyman cleared up the misunderstanding and pointed out that he said that if they did not win the titles, then he told Faarooq "You're fired." His reason for saying this directly to Faarooq was because it applied only to Faarooq because "WWE Management" still saw a lot of potential in Bradshaw. He left them after telling Bradshaw to think about his own future. Faarooq shouted after Heyman that he was not fired because they (Faarooq and Bradshaw) had quit. Bradshaw, however, hesitated. Faarooq took Bradshaw's hesitation to mean that he would not resign, and so Faarooq promptly disbanded the APA and left. This turned Bradshawheel. In reality, the WWE had decided to stop using Ron Simmons as an on-air performer due to health issues. He was initially released, but he was later re-hired to work behind the scenes in the WWE under various roles.
After the on air character of Faarooq disappeared from WWE television, Bradshaw proceeded to take on aJ. R. Ewing esque gimmick, complete with a suit, cowboy hat, and tie. He began his first main eventpush as Kurt Angle and Big Show were injured and Brock Lesnar left the company, with someone needed to face the current WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero.[50][51] He began referring to himself asJohn Bradshaw Layfield, orJBL. His finishing move's name was part of the overhaul, becoming theClothesline from Wall Street until he later changed it back to its original name.[52] His firstpromo was on the border between Texas and Mexico, where he hunted for incomingillegal immigrants to win a "Great American Award," which granted the winner number one contendership to theWWE Championship. He won, thanks to the then-SmackDown! general managerKurt Angle, and immediately challengedEddie Guerrero for the title.
AtJudgment Day on May 16, he defeated Guerrero via disqualification in a match for the WWE Championship, but since a title cannot change hands by disqualification, Guerrero retained the title.[53] JBL won his sole world championship, the WWE Championship from Guerrero in aTexas Bull Rope match atThe Great American Bash on June 27.[54][55] JBL won a rematch in asteel cage two weeks later on the July 15 episode ofSmackDown!, again with Angle's assistance.[56]
After claiming he would not be defending the title atSummerSlam on August 15, The Undertaker challenged JBL for the title. Around this time, JBL hiredOrlando Jordan to help him in title matches. At SummerSlam, JBL won the match by disqualification after The Undertaker hit him with the title belt.[57] After the match, The Undertakerchokeslammed JBL through the roof of his limousine.[57] While JBL wore ahalo complete with his cowboy hat on top for the next few weeks tosell his "injuries," SmackDown! general managerTheodore Long ultimatelybooked aLast Ride match for the title atNo Mercy on October 3. JBL retained the title with some help fromHeidenreich.[58]
Though JBL held the title for many months, most title matches were won controversially.[54][55] AtSurvivor Series on November 14, JBL defeatedBooker T to retain his WWE Championship by hitting Booker T in the face with the title belt when the referee was knocked out.[59] JBL defeated Eddie Guerrero, The Undertaker, and Booker T in a Fatal Four-Way atArmageddon on December 12 after arun-in by Heidenreich, who incapacitated The Undertaker, allowing JBL to take advantage and hit Booker T with the Clothesline From Hell to get the pinfall victory.[60]
During JBL's time as WWE Champion, he employed astable named "The Cabinet."[61] At its peak, the stable contained Orlando Jordan, who was JBL's "Chief-of-Staff" andDougandDanny Basham, who were his "Co-Secretaries of Defense" until quitting the Cabinet on the June 16, 2005, episode ofSmackDown!.[61]Amy Weber was also a member, being JBL's image consultant, but later left WWE. WWE explained Weber's absence by saying that JBL fired her after an episode ofSmackDown! taped in Japan. That episode saw Weber accidentally shoot JBL with a tranquilizer gun. Jordan is the only member not announced to have left the group, though mention of the term cabinet went on hiatus after SummerSlam and Orlando was released from WWE in May 2006.[61]
JBL defended the title at theRoyal Rumble on January 30, 2005, against Big Show and Kurt Angle in aTriple Threat match when he pinned Angle after the Clothesline From Hell[62] and against Big Show in aBarbed Wire Steel Cage match atNo Way Out on February 20, when Big Show chokeslammed JBL off the top rope through the ring and JBL later crawled out from under the ring apron, winning the match by escape.[63] On the next episode ofSmackDown!, JBL had a "Celebration of Excellence" in which he and his Cabinet celebrated the fact that he was the longest-reigning WWE Champion in 10 years, a party which was broken up and ruined by Big Show and newly crowned number one contenderJohn Cena.[64]
JBL lost the WWE Championship to John Cena atWrestleMania 21 on April 3.[65] JBL's unbroken nine-month reign was billed as the longest in a decade, lasting 280 days. On the April 28 episode ofSmackDown!, JBL defeated Big Show, Booker T, and Kurt Angle in a fatal four-way elimination match to earn a rematch for the WWE Championship,[66] but lost to Cena atJudgment Day on May 22 in an"I Quit" match.[67]
On June 12, JBL appeared at the WWE-promotedECW One Night Stand pay-per-view as an anti-ECW "crusader." In the course of the night, he attackedThe Blue Meanie in ashoot. WWE capitalized on the situation by resigning Meanie to a short-term contract. On the July 7 episode ofSmackDown!, Meanie was reunited with his oldThe Blue World Order associatesNova and Stevie Richards and he defeated JBL with the help of theWorld Heavyweight ChampionBatista, who was drafted toSmackDown! a few weeks after Cena was drafted toRaw.[68] JBL and Batista then met in a match atThe Great American Bash on July 24 for the World Heavyweight Championship. JBL won the match by disqualification, after Batista hit JBL with a steel chair, but since a title does not change hands by disqualification, Batista retained the title.[69] AtSummerSlam on August 21, Batista defeated JBL in a No Holds Barred match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.[70] JBL lost another rematch with Batista on the September 9 episode ofSmackDown! in a Texas Bullrope match, ending the feud.[71]
On the September 16 episode ofSmackDown!, JBL lost toRey Mysterio.[72] He hiredJillian Hall to "fix" his career. AtNo Mercy on October 9, JBL defeated Mysterio in a rematch.[73] JBL started a feud withThe Boogeyman who scared him many times. The two had a match at theRoyal Rumble on January 29, 2006, which the Boogeyman won.[74] His next opponent wasBobby Lashley, whom JBL defeated atNo Way Out on February 19.[75] On the February 24 episode ofSmackDown!, he suffered a broken hand at the hands ofChris Benoit in a six-man tag team match, and WWE.com announced that he underwent successful surgery.[76] JBL returned and feuded with Benoit, defeating him for hisUnited States Championship atWrestleMania 22 on April 2.[77][78] During this time, Jillian Hall remained at the side of JBL until the April 21 episode ofSmackDown! when JBL fired Hall, due to a mistake she made during a steel cage rematch between JBL and Benoit the week before[79] as well as her lack of putting together an "appropriate" celebration for him.[80]
JBL, while still United States Champion, challenged for the World Heavyweight Championship. JBL tried to weaken then champion Rey Mysterio in the weeks leading up to his title match as Mysterio faced off against any opponent of JBL's choosing, capitalizing on Mysterio claiming that he was "a man of his word," and would take on anyone. Mysterio was defeated byMark Henry and squashed byThe Great Khali in non-title singles matches before facing Raw'sKane in a match, that went to a no-contest. This was leading to their title match atJudgment Day on May 21, which Mysterio won and retained the title by pinning JBL after afrog splash.[81] On the May 26 episode ofSmackDown!, Mysterio turned the tables on JBL, making him take on Bobby Lashley with the United States Championship on the line, and JBL lost the title.[82] Infuriated, JBL went to SmackDown! general manager Theodore Long, telling Long that he wanted a rematch with Mysterio for the World Heavyweight Championship and that if JBL lost, he would quit. When he lost, the crowd at the arena began to sing"Na Na, Hey Hey, Goodbye".[82] JBL later stated that he did not have a formal contract with Long going into the match and that he did not intend to leaveSmackDown!. Thisangle was used to give JBL time off wrestling due to his serious back injury.
AtECW One Night Stand on June 11, JBL announced that he would takeTazz's place as the new color commentator forSmackDown!.[83] He made his debut as a color commentator on the June 16 episode ofSmackDown!.[84] JBL noted in a commentary on TheStreet.com that he was retiring from in-ring competition for good. In his final column on the website, JBL wrote, "I have also come to believe that you can't fight father time. A broken back suffered in a match in England, compounded by a herniated and bulged disc, finally made me realize my career as a professional wrestler was over. I since migrated to the color commentary position much in the way thatJesse Ventura did before me."[85]
JBL returned to the ring on November 13 in the main event of a WWE house show inDublin, Ireland. JBL teamed withMr. Kennedy andKing Booker againstThe Brothers of Destruction (Kane andThe Undertaker), and Batista.[86] On the December 22 episode ofSmackDown!, JBL cut a promo berating Theodore Long and cursing out the fans for cheering during the Inferno match atArmageddon on December 17 ("Rome didn't fall because of the gladiators in the ring. Rome fell because of the spectators in the stands.")[87]
On the October 12, 2007, episode ofSmackDown!, JBL was announced as one of the options WWE fans would be able to vote for to be the special guest referee atCyber Sunday on October 28 for the World Heavyweight Championship match between Batista and The Undertaker, but he lost the vote to Stone Cold Steve Austin.[88] At Cyber Sunday, he issued a heated altercation towards those running alongside him, ultimately receiving aStone Cold Stunner from Austin. After this, he became physical as a color commentator, attacking both Batista and The Undertaker in the middle of a match as revenge after he wasspeared by Batista and laterchokeslammed by The Undertaker after taunting them consecutively, in events leading up to Cyber Sunday. He justified these actions by explaining, "I am retired, not dead" (and that he [Layfield] should be respected).[89]
AtArmageddon on December 16, JBL was present at the SmackDown! announcer's table during the WWE Championship match. During this match, Randy Ortonwhipped a charging Chris Jericho over the announcer table where JBL was situated, and in the heat of the match, Jericho "pushed" JBL out of the way. Minutes later, an infuriated JBL kicked Jericho in the head, leading to a disqualification victory for Jericho meaning that Orton retained the title.[90]
On the December 17 episode ofRaw, JBL announced that he would resume his wrestling career in response to a challenge made by Jericho.[91] On the December 21 episode ofSmackDown!, JBL gave his farewell address from SmackDown!,[92] officially marking his return to Raw on December 31. Jericho was disqualified in their match at theRoyal Rumble on January 27, 2008, after hitting JBL with a chair.[93] The duo battled in a rematch on the February 11 episode ofRaw, which Jericho won.[94]
On February 18 onRaw, JBL interfered in the scheduled steel cage match betweenMr. McMahon and his storyline illegitimate son,Hornswoggle. After Vince whipped Hornswoggle with his belt, JBL attackedFinlay from behind and handcuffed him to the top rope. After Mr. McMahon left the ring, JBL proceeded to beat Hornswoggle throwing him against the sides of the cage.[95] JBL later revealed to McMahon that Hornswoggle was Finlay's storyline son, not McMahon's.[96] On March 29, JBL inducted theBrisco Brothers into theWWE Hall of Fame.[97][98] On March 30, JBL defeated Finlay in aBelfast Brawl atWrestleMania XXIV.[99]
JBL's first championship bid since returning to the ring came by challenging Randy Orton for the WWE Championship and participating in a Fatal Four-Way Elimination match atBacklash on April 27 that also included John Cena and Triple H. JBL was eliminated first in the match by tapping out to Cena'sSTFU, thus renewing their feud from 2005.[100] Cena defeated JBL atJudgment Day on May 18 and then atOne Night Stand on June 1 in aFirst Blood match. He managed to defeat Cena in a New York CityParking Lot Brawl atThe Great American Bash on July 20.[101]
JBL's next on-screen rivalry was withCM Punk, the reigningWorld Heavyweight Champion. During the feud, JBL insulted Punk'sstraight-edge lifestyle, calling it "boring." On the August 11 edition ofRaw, JBL challenged Punk to a contest he claimed that Punk would not be able to win, which was revealed to be analcohol drinking contest where he challenged Punk to drink a shot ofJack Daniel'swhiskey to prove that he would do anything to remain champion. Punk refused, not wanting to risk compromising his beliefs, before throwing the drink in JBL's face.[102] JBL faced Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship atSummerSlam on August 17, which he would lose after Punk hit him with his finishing move, theGo 2 Sleep.[103] On September 7 atUnforgiven, JBL faced Batista, Kane, Rey Mysterio and Chris Jericho (who replaced Punk in the match after he was attacked by Randy Orton) in aChampionship Scramble match for the World Heavyweight Championship. Jericho went on to win the match and the World Heavyweight Championship.[104] AtNo Mercy on October 5, JBL was defeated by Batista in a No. 1 Contender's match for the World Heavyweight Championship.[105]
Throughout late 2008 and early 2009, JBL had a short rivalry withShawn Michaels. AtSurvivor Series on November 23, JBL's team faced Michaels' team in a five on five tag team elimination tag team match in which Michaels' team emerged victorious.[106] Michaels had lost his family's personal savings due to the2008 financial crisis and would later become JBL's employee atArmageddon on December 14. After failing to secure JBL for the World Heavyweight Championship against John Cena at theRoyal Rumble on January 25, 2009, Michaels agreed to take part in an "All or Nothing" match atNo Way Out on February 15. Michaels won the match at No Way Out, after his wife (who was watching in the audience) punched JBL in the face and Michaels planted theSweet Chin Music. This ended any employment links between the two with Michaels still receiving the full payment owed to him and end the feud.
On the March 9 episode ofRaw, JBL defeated CM Punk to win theIntercontinental Championship, thus becoming the 10thGrand Slam Champion and 20thTriple Crown Champion.[107] He held the title for one month, losing the Intercontinental title atWrestleMania 25 on April 5 against Rey Mysterio in 21 seconds.[108] After the match, he grabbed a microphone and said "I quit!"; the next day he announced his retirement on hisWWE Universe blog.[6]
Layfield made his return to WWE on the March 7, 2011, episode ofRaw asMichael Cole's choice for special guest referee for his match againstJerry Lawler atWrestleMania XXVII on April 3. He cut a promo claiming he was starting his "journey back to the main event at WrestleMania," before being interrupted byStone Cold Steve Austin just as he was about to sign the contract. After a brief argument between the two, Austin hit Layfield with theStone Cold Stunner and signed the contract to be the special guest referee.
On March 31, 2012, Layfield inducted his former tag team partner and real life best friendRon Simmons into the2012 WWE Hall of Fame.[109] On July 23 Layfield returned with Simmons atRaw 1000 asthe APA, after being called for protection byLita. After aClothesline from Hell, Lita defeatedHeath Slater, thus turning face for the first time since 2004.
Starting atNight of Champions on September 16, Layfield returned to his JBL persona, and sporadically filled in as color commentator, replacing Jerry Lawler, who suffered a legitimateheart attack during theRaw episode preceding Night of Champions. Layfield later re-signed with WWE and returned to theSmackDown broadcast team on a full-time basis, alongsideJosh Mathews and eventuallyMichael Cole.[110] On April 1, 2013, JBL became the third commentator forRaw alongside Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler. JBL was also part of the commentary team atWWE pay-per-views and commentated atWrestleMania 29 on April 7. On September 12, JBL was named commissioner ofNXT, replacingDusty Rhodes. On January 26, 2014, at theRoyal Rumble, JBL wrestled in his first WWE match in nearly five years as a surprise entrant in theRoyal Rumble match. Having been on commentary the whole broadcast, JBL left the commentator's table when his number (#24) came up. However, JBL was quickly eliminated byRoman Reigns while trying to hand his jacket to Michael Cole and resumed his role as commentator for the rest of the broadcast. In July, JBL was retired asNXT general manager and succeeded byWilliam Regal.[111] On the January 19, 2015, episode ofRaw, JBL, along withRon Simmons (a fellow member ofThe Acolytes Protection Agency), theNew World Order andThe New Age Outlaws attackedThe Ascension and then, JBL would perform aClothesline from Hell onViktor. On the March 30 episode ofRaw, JBL, along withBooker T and Michael Cole, were injured byBrock Lesnar afterSeth Rollins refused Lesnar his WWE World Heavyweight Championship rematch.
Following the2016 WWE draft on July 19, WWE announced on their website that JBL would move to theSmackDown commentary team, joiningMauro Ranallo andDavid Otunga.[112] Layfield returned to his alma mater,Abilene Christian University, a color commentator for two radio broadcasts as theACU football team facedHouston Baptist University andStephen F. Austin State University in September 2016. He made his first appearance on theAmerican Sports Network on October 1, 2016, when ACU hosted theUniversity of Central Arkansas. On the January 17 episode ofSmackDown Live, JBL saved Jerry Lawler, after Lawler's interview withDolph Ziggler, who took credit for Lawler's real-life heart attack in September 2012, before Ziggler viciously kicked Lawler's chest and left the ring.
On September 1, 2017, JBL announced that he was stepping away from the SmackDown Live commentary team to focus on humanitarian work in and out of WWE, mainly as a Beyond Sport Global Ambassador.[113][114] The APA made an appearance at theRaw 25 Years show on January 22, 2018, playing poker with other legends and superstars.[115] Layfield occasionally works on commentary during the Tribute to the Troops events with the latest one occurred onDecember 4, 2018 (aired on December 20) in Fort Hood.[116]
On March 3, 2020, duringWWE Backstage it was officially announced that JBL would be inducted into theWWE Hall of Fame as part ofWrestleMania 36 week however the event was postponed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[117] On November 22, 2020, he made an appearance atSurvivor Series during The Undertaker's retirement ceremony.[118] DuringWrestleMania 37 week, JBL was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2020 during the 2021 ceremony following the delay the previous year, he was later a panelist on theWrestleMania 37 kick-off show, and provided commentary in the singles match betweenKevin Owens andSami Zayn.
From October 2022 until February 2023, Layfield worked as the manager ofBaron Corbin.[119][120]
On the November 21, 2023, episode ofNXT, JBL announced who will be in the qualifiers for the Iron Survivor Challenge atNXT Deadline.
On December 8, 2023, JBL served as a guest commentator for the 21st annual Tribute to the Troops episode on SmackDown.
On the January 20, 2025, episode ofRaw, JBL served as the guest commentator for the match betweenRey Mysterio andKofi Kingston.
Layfield, in his first non-WWE appearance since 1995, asJohn Layfield, accompaniedNic Nemeth (formerly Dolph Ziggler) to the ring atLucha Libre AAA Worldwide'sTriplemanía XXXII: Mexico City event on August 17, 2024, to defend theAAA Mega Championship, in which Nemeth lost toAlberto El Patrón.[121] During the following weeks, Layfield also appeared atGame Changer Wrestling's Homecoming and Dream On[122][123]Total Nonstop Action Wrestling'sEmergence,Bound for Glory andGenesis,[124][125]Major League Wrestling'sFightland.,[126] andJuggalo Championship Wrestling's Devil's Night[127]
WWE describes Layfield as a "self-made" millionaire.[128] In 2003, Layfield published a book on financial management titledHave More Money Now.[129] He and his wife, thenOppenheimer Holdings' financial analystMeredith Whitney, were featured in the August 2008 issue ofFortune magazine.[128]
Layfield is the founder of Layfield Energy. In 2008, Layfield Energy launched a drink called MamaJuana Energy.[51] In March 2009, Layfield Energy became the main sponsor and advertiser ofOhio Valley Wrestling, a former WWE developmental promotion based inLouisville, Kentucky.[130]
Layfield has lived full-time inBermuda since shortly after his retirement from in-ring activity.[131] Feeling confined living in New York City, he spent the summer of 2009 in Bermuda at his wife's encouragement, and the couple soon bought a full-time home there. As he acclimated to Bermuda, he noticed what he called "the almost predominant black-on-black violence that is unfortunately pervasive throughout the local neighborhoods",[132] and in 2011 created the nonprofit organization Beyond Rugby Bermuda, usingrugby union to provide young people with an alternative to gangs. The organization is an offshoot of Beyond Sport, a South African nonprofit that uses running for similar purposes; Layfield was introduced to that group's founder when he and his wife visited the country for the2010 FIFA World Cup. He spends much of his time outside of WWE with the organization, filling duties as varied as celebrity fundraising and mowing the rugby field. Beyond Rugby Bermuda began with six boys; as of February 2017, more than 400 boys and girls were involved. Layfield is now a global ambassador for Beyond Sport alongside figures such asTony Blair andDesmond Tutu.[132]
In the spring of 2018,Major League Rugby announced that they would start anexpansion team in New York City. In this announcement, it was announced that the co-founders of theRugby New York club would be James Kennedy and Layfield.[133]
In 2004, Layfield was hired byCNBC to be a contributor.[134] During a WWEhouse show in Munich, Germany, early in June 2004, in an attempt to drawheel heat, he gave the crowd severalNazi salutes whilegoose-stepping around the ring.[135] Such a display is illegal in Germany,[136] and CNBC fired Layfield as a result of the controversy. In an interview withThe Washington Post, Layfield explained "I'm a bad guy [on WWE TV]. I'm supposed to incite the crowd. I've done it for decades. I really didn't think anything of [the Nazi salute] – I know how bad it is, I've lived [in Germany]. I've been toDachau, seen those places where they exterminated millions of Jews. I draw the line between me and my character. That's like sayingAnthony Hopkins (who portraysHannibal Lecter) really enjoyscannibalism."[137]
Layfield left CNBC and was subsequently hired byFox News and sister network (and CNBC rival)Fox Business as a business commentator.[129]
In April 2009, following his departure from WWE,Ohio Valley Wrestling ownerDanny Davis announced in a press release that Layfield would be color commentator and host forVyper Fight League, which Layfield would also sponsor with Layfield Energy; however, the company folded the following year.[138]
In November 2012, Layfield started hosting a new show on WWE's YouTube channel alongsideMichael Cole andRenee Young calledThe JBL and Renee Show (formerly known asThe JBL Show andThe JBL and Cole Show). The series ended in May 2015.[139]
Layfield used to run the website Layfield Report which highlighted a variety of his views and opinions in numerous articles. The site was ended in September 2014.
Layfield has appeared as a playable character in a number of WWE video games. His first appearance as a playable character was inWWF Attitude, as well as being a playable character, inWWF WrestleMania 2000,WWF SmackDown!,WWF No Mercy,WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role,WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It,WWF Road to WrestleMania,WWF Raw,WWE WrestleMania X8,WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth,WWE Crush Hour,WWE Raw 2,WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw,WWE WrestleMania 21,WWE Day of Reckoning 2,WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006,WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007,WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008,WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009,WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010,WWE '13,WWE 2K14,WWE 2K15 as DLC,WWE 2K16,WWE 2K17,WWE 2K18,WWE 2K22,WWE 2K23,WWE 2K24 andWWE 2K25. Layfield also appears as a commentator for several games, includingWWE SmackDown vs Raw 2008,WWE 2K16 andWWE 2K17.[140][141]
Layfield began broadcastingAmerican football games in 2016, serving as analyst for a pair ofAbilene Christian University radio broadcasts and twoSouthland Conference games televised onAmerican Sports Network.[142] His ASN debut pitted theUniversity of Central Arkansas against Abilene Christian, followed by ACU's matchup atMcNeese State University.[143]
In 2021, Layfield began hosting apodcast series withGerald Brisco.[144]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–2015 | The JBL and Renee Show | Himself | Web series; main role | [139] |
| 2015–2017 | Legends with JBL | Himself (host) | WWE Network series | [145] |
His parents are Lavelle Layfield, who is aminister, and Mary Layfield.
Layfield married his second wife,Meredith Whitney, on February 11, 2005, inKey West, Florida.[129] He was previously married to Cindy Womack on June 6, 1994, but divorced in 2003.[129]
Sports Illustrated has said that Layfield "has been accused for years of being a locker room bully,"[146][147] whileDeadspin wrote that "backstage tales of Layfield'shazing andbullying have long been legend among hardcore wrestling fans."[148]Dayton Daily News described that "YouTube has dozens of interviews where former performers discuss harassment, bullying and taking real blows from Layfield while wrestling him in supposedly choreographed matches."[149]Le Journal de Montréal listedMark Henry,Matt Hardy,René Duprée,Daivari, andIvory, among others, as wrestlers who in interviews described Layfield as a bully.[150] In 2010,The Miz referenced Layfield in an onscreen promo about hazing he faced in the locker room early in his career. Layfield admitted to hazing Miz and said that he did not regret doing so.[151][152]
In April 2017, WWE commentatorMauro Ranallo took an absence from WWE, whichDave Meltzer reported had been triggered by hostilities with Layfield.[153][148][150] The allegations coincided with the release of former WWE ring announcerJustin Roberts' autobiography, in which he alleged that Layfield stole his passport. Layfield denied that he himself stole the passport, butJohn Morrison subsequently claimed that Layfield encouraged him andJoey Mercury to steal Roberts' passport, which they did not agree to.[148][146] Angered WWE fans subsequently called on WWE to fire Layfield.[154] On April 22,Newsweek reported that Ranallo and WWE "mutually agreed to part ways," and Ranallo released a statement in which he said his departure had "nothing to do with JBL."[153] Layfield released a statement of his own, stating: "Admittedly, I took part in locker room pranks that existed within the industry years ago. WWE addressed my behavior and I responded accordingly, yet my past is being brought up because of recent unfounded rumors. I apologize if anything I said playing 'the bad guy' on a TV show was misconstrued."[153]
Justin Bradshaw (w/ Uncle Zebakiah) pinned Bob Holly with the lariat (Bradshaw's debut)
The Undertaker defeated Justin Bradshaw by DQ
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