WWE legend lost confidence after real-life fight with WCW star, JBL says
John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL) was an emerging WWE talent in the mid-to-late 1990s. He recently opened up about working with one of wrestling's biggest names, Vader, during the early days of his career.
Vader won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship three times between 1990 and 1995. Toward the end of his WCW run, the powerhouse wrestler famously got involved in a real-life altercation backstage with co-worker Paul Orndorff.
JBL told host Conrad Thompson on Something to Wrestle that Vader was not the same person when he joined WWE in 1996:
"When he came [to WWE], he had lost a little bit. He lost a step. He had gotten into a fight with Orndorff, which I think hurt his confidence, but he also had to get off the gas. I think that hurt him as well. His shoulders were hurting. He couldn't take something to make himself feel better. He was miserable a lot. He was a grumpy guy, but I think a lot of that was because of pains." [6:32 – 6:53]
WWE creative team member Bruce Prichard discussed Orndorff and Vader's fight on a 2023 episode of Something to Wrestle. He said Orndorff "allegedly kicked his [Vader's] a** in flip-flops."
JBL wishes Vince McMahon hired Vader earlier
In the early 1990s, many viewed Vader as one of the world's most impressive wrestlers. The Hall of Famer, who passed away in 2018, also captured the IWGP Heavyweight Championship three times during his time in NJPW.
JBL would like to have seen former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon recruit Vader when he was in his prime:
"That wasn't the same Vader that WWE got that was the Vader from, say, four years before. We didn't get the same Vader. I think it is a big 'what if?' You wish Vince would have got him in '91 or '90." [6:53 – 7:05]
In 1998, JBL defeated Vader at Breakdown: In Your House to record one of his first big statement-making victories as a singles competitor.
What are your thoughts on Vader's WWE run? Hit the discuss button and let us know.
Please credit Something to Wrestle and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.