WWE official behind JBL's big comeback revealed; surprises planned
JBL is currently finding success with his 32nd year in the pro wrestling industry. The former WWE Champion surprisingly reinvented himself for an unexpected comeback, but he had help from a certain wrestling genius. New details are being revealed on JBL's return, as well as what major happenings he has planned.
The Wrestling God officially retired from active competition in 2009, but he has made several special appearances in recent years. JBL began showing up at non-WWE events this past August, working with and laying out top stars such as Alberto El Patron and Nic Nemeth. JBL has made multiple appearances for AAA, TNA, GCW, MLW, OVW, and Juggalo Championship Wrestling. His WWE contract status was addressed amid rumors of the indie appearances.
JBL recently filled in for Bruce Prichard as host of his Something To Wrestle podcast. Layfield credited WWE's Executive Director of the Creative Writing Team with being behind the whole game plan for his ongoing comeback. He recalled telling Prichard how bored he was and how he wanted to make some kind of return. Prichard ended up laying out an entire plan, but Layfield hasn't updated Bruce because he's so busy with life and WWE duties.
Bradshaw credited co-hosts Gerald Brisco and Conrad Thompson with making phone calls to get him into other places, but he continued to praise Prichard for the whole game plan. Layfield then revealed what's planned for the final stretch and confessed how much he loves the business and how much fun he's having.
"All this stuff I’m doing on the independents, the stuff I’m doing on social media, I’ve got some stuff coming up I think is pretty cool... and we’re gonna have a lot more things, and there is an endgame to this. But it all came from Bruce; Bruce gave me this game plan a while back. He doesn’t know what I’m doing now, he doesn’t ask, but a lot of it came directly from Bruce," John Bradshaw Layfield said. [From 1:31:39 to 1:31:56]
Layfield continued:
"I’m having the most fun I’ve ever had in my life. I love this business so much, and I have missed being in the business. It’s so fun just to be around the guys, and it’s so fun just to be in arenas, be around wrestling rings, be around fans. I love this business and am not ready to go off into the sunset yet. So, [I'm] having a lot of fun, but a lot of this came from Bruce," John Bradshaw Layfield said. [From 1:31:57 to 1:32:22]
Layfield's last match on record is the 2014 Royal Rumble, where he left commentary to enter at #24. He lasted 49 seconds before Roman Reigns dumped him as the 15th elimination. Before that, JBL dropped the Intercontinental Championship to Rey Mysterio at WrestleMania 25. Furious at the 21-second loss, Layfield stormed off and essentially retired.
JBL names the worst match in WWE history
Pro wrestling has had many awful matches over the years, but WWE Hall of Famers JBL and Gerald Brisco have decided on the worst. The revelation was made during a discussion on Sportskeeda Wrestling's What Were They Thinking with JBL & Brisco series.
Ring announcer Howard Finkel and manager Harvey Wippleman began feuding in 1992, which led to a series of Tuxedo Matches. The January 9, 1995 RAW episode saw The Fink defeat Wippleman in a Tuxedo Match to end the series.
Brisco declared this the "God-awfulest" match ever, while Layfield detailed why he sees this as the worst match in wrestling history, so bad that it was entertaining.
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Please credit Something to Wrestle and give an H/T Sportskeeda for the transcription if you use any quotes from this article.