Blast From the Past - WWE Backlash 2008 Fatal Four Way

JBL Talks Hazing Miz, Del Rio, Retirement and More

WWE: Top 25 Most Bizarre Matches

#1 Hollywood Backlot Brawl ("Rowdy" Roddy Piper vs. Goldust)
#2 Hogpen Match (Triple H vs. Henry Godwin)
#3 Boiler Room Brawl (The Undertaker vs. Mankind)
#4 Blindfold Match (Rick "The Model" Martel vs. Jake "The Snake" Roberts
#5 Bar Fight at Vengeance 2003 (Brother Love, Doink the Clown, The Brooklyn Brawler, Matt Hardy, Kung Fu Naki, Ron Simmons, JBL & The Easter Bunny)

The Father/Daughter "I Quit" match with Vince & Stephanie McMahon was #16. Click here for the rest of the list.

JBL Discusses the Vyper Fight League

JBL says the VFL is hoping to build a regional network, he says Dana White does a tremendous job and doesn’t think Dana White even knows who they are. He said there are some great fight clubs in Kentucky and Tennessee with some strong talent on the local market. He wants to give a market for these guys to get experience and eventually go out and make money....More?

source: fight network radio

JBL Addresses Rumors that he Left the WWE on Bad Terms

From JBL's latest WWE Universe blog:

My first Monday off in about 18 years, at least off at night and not due to injury. Really excited about just being a fan again. Looking forward to watching the draft tonight and seeing what is going to happen. There is always a surprise or two in these things, so should be a fun night of WWE viewing for me.

I heard rumors that I left on bad terms with the WWE, could not be further from the truth. In fact, I don't think I could have left on better terms. My wife not being at Mania had something to do with the fact that she is busy with her company, and in case you hadn't noticed a huge financial meltdown in the world.

My time was awesome, and I said you can never say never. But I am on to the next chapter in my life, I will always be a WWE supporter no matter where I am.

Click here to read the full blog.

JBL's New Job

Press Release from Vyper Fight League:

John “Bradshaw” Layfield & Layfield Energy Co. Join the Vyper Fight League

The Vyper Fight League and Vyper Productions are proud to announce the addition of John “Bradshaw” Layfield, formerly WWE’s “JBL,” and Layfield Energy Company to the VFL product. John Layfield, coming fresh off of his retirement from professional wrestling, will be joining the VFL broadcast team as one of its hosts. Layfield is a former WWE Champion; the longest reigning in Smackdown history, a former broadcaster on WWE Smackdown, regularly appears on Fox News Channel’s The Cost of Freedom, is a best-selling author, and is the president and owner of Layfield Energy Company. John Layfield joins the VFL at its inaugural event, Enter the Vypers Pit, on Friday April 24th, 2009, at 4400 Shepherdsville Road in Louisville, Kentucky...More?

JBL Officially Retires From WWE, Writes Farewell Blog

JBL officially reired from professional wrestling and wrote a farewell blog on his WWE Universe account. Here are some of the highlights:

I had wanted to make it to WM 25 for years, and when injuries cut my career short the one regret I had was that I wouldn't make the 25th anniversary of Wrestlemania-well, I made it. I never dreamed after I retired the first time that my back would get better and I would be allowed to return to wrestling.

Standing there last night in front of over 70,000 people in my home state ended a journey that was unreal to me. For a kid from Sweetwater, Texas to be able to travel all over the world and realize his dream is pretty cool.

I don't know what the future holds, never say never in life. But I have wrestled my last match. Months ago, I picked out this match. If Eddie Guerrero couldn't be here for it then my dear friend Rey was the obvious choice, and I'm proud he was.

I want to thank the WWE for a great career, for taking a chance on me and allowing me the keys to the car for a while. I will always represent the WWE wherever I go, I am proud of my 13 ½ years with the WWE. And, I am proud of the WWE for cleaning up a great sport to make it more healthy to everyone that is a part.

Thanks to all you guys out there for cheering me, booing me and making signs about me. It is a little overwhelming to think of the great fans the WWE has today. I have been a bad guy for so long, and when I started you were a bad guy 24/7, I carried that mindset probably too long-well no more, today I am just a normal guy going to work.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for allowing me to be a part of the great theater we call "sports entertainment", personally I just always considered myself a wrestler.

You can read the full blog here.

JBL Making History

With a quick counter and a Clothesline from Hell, John “Bradshaw” Layfield made WWE history on Raw last Monday, pinning CM Punk to become the new Intercontinental Champion.

Beyond his newfound Intercontinental status, Layfield boasts reigns as WWE Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion, European Champion, Hardcore Champion and United States Champion. It all adds up to an unparalleled résumé of accomplishments...More?

source: wwe.com

JBL a Good Guy?

A few weeks ago, WWE's former developmental promotion, Ohio Valley Wrestling, lost their television deal on the CW affiliate in their home base of Louisville, Kentucky because they were unable to pay the $2,000 per week fee for the Saturday night time slot. Fortunately for them, the company regained their time slot and are back on the air — all thanks to the generosity of WWE star John Bradshaw Layfield.

When JBL was at an autograph signing at OVW, the crew told him about the money problems and JBL said he would do everything he could to help. Ohio Valley Wrestling now has a new sponsor in Layfield Energy, JBL's dietary supplement.

Rumor Mill - Leaked WWE Script

According to a RAW script that was leaked from the March 2nd broadcast, there was a planned segment with JBL announcing his WrestleMania plans. JBL was going to challenge CM Punk for the Intercontinental Title. The match was going to end in disqualification with JBL picking up the win. The segment was scripted to happen after Shawn Michaels' backstage segment and before the Randy Orton in-ring segment. According to the script, the match was produced by Mike Rotunda.

WWE cut the entire segment out of RAW this week possibly due totime constraints. Neither Punk or JBL appeared on RAW this week and it is not known if they will continue the angle on this coming Monday night.

Click here for photos of the leaked script.

Orton's got the Edge in WWE

World Wrestling Entertainment has entered a new golden age. Never before has Vince McMahon and company been able to feature such compelling villains as WWE is able to present today...More?

source: the sun

JBL Comments on 'The Wrestler'

From JBL's WWE Universe blog:

"I thought it was awesome and extremely well written. This was the business I broke into many years ago. However, that business has changed - and for the better. In the last six months, I have had MRIs, concussion tests, HIV test, trauma test, drug test and even my cholesterol tested - which was the only one I failed...This business in WWE is really a corporate environment these days - it has changed for the better. I am glad for my old days, I wouldn’t change a thing. But the WWE has done so much to clean up the abuse that the business as I knew it was so known for. All that being said, I loved the movie. Even with all the negative stereotypes in the movie, this was a part of what I did to get to WWE and it was fun to watch. A little scary to watch, but fun."

Rumor Mill - HBK/JBL Storyline Inspiration

The Wrestling Observer is reporting that the JBL/Shawn Michaels storyline was inspired by the new movie, The Wrestler. Supposedly, the angle will see HBK playing a role similar to Mickey Rourke's character where he is an aging star who is having retirement and financial issues.

I think the storyline more resembles the relationship between Vince McMahon and Ric Flair.

JBL funds HBK's bailout

The “Showstopping” will go on, but unfortunately, it will now be made possible through the funding of John “Bradshaw” Layfield...More?

Rumor Mill - Vince McMahon Irate Over the Iraq Incident Leaking

The Wrestling Observer is reporting that Vince McMahon became irate when he learned that the incident between JBL and Joey Styles was leaked to the general public. Because only a small number of wrestlers from all three WWE brands were on the Iraq trip, Vince informed the talent that knew of the incident to keep their mouths closed so that it wouldn't spread to the rest of the locker room and most importantly to the media and/or wrestling fans.

Rumor Mill - Joey Styles Punches Out JBL in Iraq

PWinsider.com is reporting that a major backstage altercation that took place while the WWE crew was overseas in Iraq for Tribute to the Troops. Former ECW personality and WWE.com writer Joey Styles punched out former WWE Champion John Bradshaw Layfield, busting him open under the eye...More?

Interview with JBL

...JBL says he's going to pitch a plan to the WWE powers-that-be that sets him up for a Wrestlemania 25 program. But he has some wrestlers in mind as future opponents.

"I'm going to get the opportunity to go against Shawn Michaels hopefully for the next couple of pay-per-views. I've never wrestled him on a major stage. I'd still like another run with The Undertaker. And there's Batista, Rey Mysterio. Also, I've never had a run with Triple H."...More?

source: slam wrestling

Undertaker vs. JBL 11/03

More photos

No Mercy Results

Matt Hardy (c) vs. Mark Henry
Winner: Matt Hardy (c)

Beth Phoenix (c) vs. Candice Michelle
Winner: Beth Phoenix (c)

Rey Mysterio vs. Kane
Winner: No contest - Kane is disqualified

Batista vs. JBL
Winner: Batista

The Undertaker vs. Big Show
Winner: Big Show

Triple H (c) vs. Jeff Hardy
Winner: Triple H (c)

Chris Jericho (c) vs. Shawn Michaels
Winner: Chris Jericho (c)

Kaliqo's No Mercy Predictions, Picks & Speculations

WWE Champion Triple H vs. Jeff Hardy
A lot of different scenarios here, but I would like to see Jeff win the title and Hunter enter a different program. Koslov or Edge could interfere and cost Hunter the title.

Shawn Michaels v. Chris Jericho - World Heavyweight Championship Ladder Match
Jericho will retain, but HBK will put on another great show.

ECW Champion Matt Hardy vs. Mark Henry
As I have said many times, I do not like ECW. I'm glad they changed the belt. The new one is very nice. Hopefully Matt Hardy gets to keep it.

Batista v. JBL - World Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender Match
JBL should have stayed at the commentating table. There are lots of rumors going around that JBL would like one last title run and that Batista wants time off. Batista should win and then go after Chris Jericho. CM Punk could figure into that also.

Big Show vs. Undertaker
Two big guys wrestling and one of them is reportedly hurt. I'm expecting a lot of interference to make this interesting. Maybe the return of Edge. Undertaker's entrance is worth the price of admission alone.

Rey Mysterio vs. Kane
I'm guessing the WWE wants Rey Mysterio out of his mask. He wrestled without it when he was in WCW. Kane should win and force Mysterio to remove his mask. I would like to see Kane go back to wearing the mask.

Beth Phoenix v. Candice Michelle - Women's Championship Match:
Hopefully Candice Michelle has improved from that debacle she called a return match. I don't pay too much attention to the Divas, but Beth should retain the the title.