WWE Hall of Famer JBL discusses industry impact and past altercations

WWE Hall of Famer John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL) recently shared insights regarding the professional wrestling industry and personal anecdotes from his career.

Discussing the program WWE: Unreal, JBL expressed his disapproval of the content, despite acknowledging its entertainment value. He argued that revealing the behind-the-scenes mechanics of the industry “spoils things” and “spoils your stars.” JBL compared the desire for wrestling mystique to sports like baseball, noting that fans want to see superhuman feats rather than seeing the industry as a manipulated product. He suggested that when the curtain is pulled back, it can hurt the ability of performers like Brock Lesnar or AJ Styles to draw money as larger-than-life characters.

In a separate recollection, JBL detailed a real-life physical altercation with former colleague Steve Blackman. He described an incident at an airport baggage claim where, after being prompted by unnamed Hall of Famers to tease Blackman, JBL pinched him. This resulted in Blackman punching him approximately 18 times. JBL noted that the situation could have resulted in legal consequences had the altercation occurred in a post-9/11 security environment.