JBL authorized for brief independent wrestling appearances

WWE authorized former champion JBL to make brief appearances at various independent wrestling promotions. These appearances, which occurred in the months leading up to September 2026, primarily consisted of JBL performing his signature clothesline before leaving the venue.

According to reports from Sean Ross Sapp, promoters such as MLW attempted to develop more substantial storylines. These included potential matches against Satoshi Kojima or an invasion storyline featuring a bitter cowboy character. However, JBL opted to keep his involvement limited to short, high-impact moments designed to generate social media attention rather than committing to full matches or extended programs.