JBL done after Mania?

[Juan]

source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

WWE Intercontinental Champion John Bradshaw Layfield, 42, has been telling people backstage that he will likely be retiring from the ring by May. His back problems that caused him to originally retire in 2006 have resurfaced and his retirement from WWE appears imminent. Layfield is not listed in the May house show bookings that have been released.

As noted earlier, Layfield recently claimed he would be doing something historical that would shock the wrestling world at Wrestlemania XXV. Regarding his claim, it's been speculated that JBL will retire as the Intercontinental Champion, something nobody with the exception of Trish Stratus as WWE Women's Champion at the 2006 Unforgiven pay-per-view has ever done.

In a strange pairing, Layfield will be teaming up with Vladimir Kozlov against the team of Undertaker and Shawn Michaels next week on Raw. It's interesting to note that in a blog post yesterday, Jim Ross actually speculated on a Layfield vs. Kozlov feud. While this is only speculation, Dave Meltzer believes the strange pairing could indicate a quick Kozlov/JBL break-up, allowing JBL to go to his home state of Texas at WrestleMania XXV as the babyface and face "The Moscow Mauler" with the Intercontinental Championship on the line. It would cast JBL in the right atmosphere for a retirement ceremony/moment.

Considering CM Punk is already tied to the Money in the Bank Match, he will definitely not be facing JBL at WrestleMania — so there's not many candidates left. With the exception of Kozlov, the highest slotted candidate not already accounted for on the lineup at "The 25th Anniversary of Wrestlemania" is Rey Mysterio. However, nothing has been done to even start anything in that direction, and time is running short. Following next week's show, there will only be two weeks left to build towards WrestleMania.

What do you guys think of a potential JBL face run to end his career?

[BigDaddyCool]

Been a long times since he was a face. I'll pass judgement after it happens.

[Hornicane]

I would enjoy it. Dude is gold on the mic, and I don't think it would take long to get people behind him. I just hope that if he does retire, he stays in some kind of on-air role again.

[St. Jimmy]

I'd mark out.

[RGWhat316]

I would absolutely love for the old "Bradshaw" to return. The drunken guy that loved to have fun, drink, and play cards was fun to watch. But he would almost need the long black hair and goatee back for it to really work.

[Dorkchop]

JBL will make history at Wrestlemania 25 (the 24th anniversary of Wrestlemania) by being the first person in 7 years to defend the IC belt at Wrestlemania.

[Volare]

I think he deserves it. The man has been around awhile, and has been entertaining to the fans as either heel or face. It will be sad that one of the great heels will be gone, but it had to happen sooner or later.

[CSL]

Wrestlemania 25 (the 24th anniversary of Wrestlemania)

I'm delighted somebody pointed that out. Again. As for JBL, good luck to him. I hope he sticks around after he's retired. He'd be gold as just about anything else. Love to see him manage, be a mouthpiece, maybe a financial backer type for a group of young heels. Stick him on RAW with Cole. Lawler can replace Tazz on Smackdown. Make him GM of RAW. Etc etc.

[Kane Knight]

Didn't they report this last year, too?

Also, people have been pointing out the 25th/24th anniversarry thing for a while. There was even a thread about it where we learned the true meaning of "chairmanual."

[abec]

I'd only enjoy this if he reformed APA, but that wont happen.

[Afterlife]

I don't care. The quicker he's gone, the better.

[Dorkchop]

JBL doesn't deserve to retire as the IC champ. No one does. This business is built around guys putting over other guys. JBL has been IC champ for 2 days now. At least the womens' division was built around Trish. Can you imagine if Foley retired with the heavyweight belt?

JBL is a heel that everyone wants to see beat. A great storyline ' angle for him would be for him lose at the end of a big feud saying if he can't win at whatever PPV he'll never wrestle again. You have him wrestle someone who you think he might actually beat (no Cena or HHH). JBL could even get extra cocky and put up a lot of money in the match too.

This could also work if he wasn't IC champ and was chasing the world title. After getting frustrated from a few close calls he can say he'll never wrestle again if he doesn't win the title within a certain amount of time.

Or have him feud with young face like Bourne or Kofi. He could feud with them for a couple of months, but never lose. They keep challenging him, but always lose. Eventually he'll grow tired of beating them all the time and say no. Somehow they convince him for one more match and cocky JBL puts his career on the line while the other guy puts their contract on the line and will have to work for JBL if they lose.

[Krimzon7]

So long as he goes back to the booth, any booth really I'll be happy

[Kane86]

Great I can't wait for the moment he finally does.

[Theo Dious]

This business is built around guys putting over other guys.

I'm so sick of hearing this. Sometimes that's the case. Other times it's built on great, emotional, gripping matches and storylines. Not everything it about putting someone over. A grand sendoff with a massive spectacle will add far more to the title than him handing it off to some snivelling peon like Punk.

[Theo Dious]

And he better end up back in the booth or I'm kicking someone in the face.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Didn't they report this last year, too?

Also, people have been pointing out the 25th/24th anniversarry thing for a while. There was even a thread about it where we learned the true meaning of "chairmanual."

The word isn't "chairmanual." :roll:

[Mr. Nerfect]

I would love to see a face JBL, but not just for the hell of it. A face turn back when he started his shit with Shawn Michaels would have been awesome. The fans were willing to bite for it, too. A face turn just because he is retiring seems too contrived to me. There's not enough time to really get people invested, I think, although JBL could cut a promo and talk about what the title means, yadda yadda. It's still a rush job.

I'd much rather see JBL talk about how great his legacy is, being the first man to have held the WWE Championship, Intercontinental Championship, European Championship, World Tag Team Championship and United States Championship; and talking about how he will end the seven-year itch over the IC Title by defending it in WrestleMania, and giving the belt some glory.

Have him put the belt and his career on the line against Rey Mysterio, much like he did when Rey retired him on SmackDown!. Why he'd put his career on the line is the problem, but Mysterio could goad JBL into it and get back some smart points for being a stupid face all these years. 619, springboard splash, and we have a new IC Champion, and JBL can become the new color commentator for WWE Superstars, still officially part of the RAW roster.

The only good thing JBL retiring with the Intercontinental Title would achieve, is that we'd likely get a tournament for it afterwards. But that means we might have to sacrifice King of the Ring for it.

[CSL]

Would mean that KOTR actually means something though

[Lock Jaw]

I'd like to see JBL World Champ again before he retires, but that's probably not gonna happen.

[Funky Fly]

If he retires with the belt it means a tourney, like Noid said, but it also means a slight increase in prestige for the title as the last 3 of the 5 guys to hold the title were world champions (2 of them rather recently) and 1 is the current King of the Ring. They have an opportunity to elevate the belt by making the tourney involve upper midcarders and main eventers only.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Would mean that KOTR actually means something though

What do you mean? By not holding it?

[CSL]

I only flicked through what you wrote, for some reason I thought you said have the KOTR tournament be for the IC title

[Mr. Nerfect]

I only flicked through what you wrote, for some reason I thought you said have the KOTR tournament be for the IC title

Ah, OK. Well that's one possibility, but making someone the King of the Ring and Intercontinental Champion might be a bit much for one event. Too much like TNA?

[Inadequacy]

So long as he goes back to the booth, any booth really I'll be happy

I hear there's an opening at the kissing booth

[Mr. Nerfect]

Actually, I've changed my mind. Send Jerry Lawler to Superstars, and make JBL the color guy on RAW. There's your money.

[Kane Knight]

The word isn't "chairmanual." :roll:

It was as accurate as your etymology. :p

[legendkillerRKO]

really? after all JBL has done...his final match will be with Kozlov the blow job? I never really liked JBL but he deserves a better last match.

[Afterlife]

If he goes back to commentating, I'll be muting the show.

[jerichoholicninja]

I never really liked JBL but his mic work in the HBM fued really sold me on the guy. If he retires with the belt and their is a tournament does that really do anything to the belt. We just had a tournament for the #1 contender for it and after Punk won it he defended it what, once or twice.

I think it would be great for JBL as a manager to start buying wrestlers into a stable to take on Legacy after the Orton/Trips angle is over and JBL starts talking about trying to buy his own Legacy. He is just such a great talker I don't know if he should be wasted commentating. Maybe he could commentate and still manage the group.

[Krimzon7]

Dude, that is too much. JBL should either commentate, or manage. I think a JBL ran Raw would be fun...

[CSL]

really? after all JBL has done...his final match will be with Kozlov the blow job? I never really liked JBL but he deserves a better last match.

Blows jobs good. Kozlov not.

[SIDRA]

Blows jobs good. Kozlov not.

:lol: KOZLOV BAD, BEER GOOD :lol:

It's too bad he's retiring, I would of loved to see that HHH/JBL feud the two where hinting at a few years back.

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[#1-norm-fan]

I remember thinking back when Muhammad Hassan was about to have his world title run how JBL turning patriotic face and feuding with Hassan over the title could be amazing.

Now if done right, this could be great. Especially with Kozlov as the Drago to JBL's Rocky. It could just be an epic build and an amazing atmosphere for a freakin' IC Title match at Mania. It would also easily be the best the title has looked in years.

[interforce]

I gotta agree if he does retire from the ring he needs to be doing some mic work. He is gold on it. However i can see those bitchtits getting bigger if he stops his ring work ;)

[Mr. Nerfect]

It was as accurate as your etymology. :p

Not quite.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Maybe JBL will also do commentary on OVW, or do some work down there? He's bought into it, so he might try and lend it some "star presence."

I still think JBL vs. Rey Mysterio at WrestleMania is the way to go, with Vladimir Kozlov possibly playing JBL's hired muscle for the bout, to make it all the more impressive when Mysterio triumphs and wins his first Intercontinental Championship.

If they do turn JBL face, however, I hope they have him stay in roughly the same character. Make him a smart face. JBL and Kozlov defeat The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels next week, when JBL pins The Undertaker after HBK turns on Taker, building to their match. On SmackDown!, Vickie Guerrero brings out JBL, who has been challenged by Vladimir Kozlov, who wants an IC Title shot. JBL says that he admires how good Kozlov is, but Kozlov does not want him as an enemy, blah blah, a few patriotic points here and there, with little hints of arrogance in there. JBL then denies Kozlov his title shot, because he's not stupid, and he's part of the RAW roster, so he doesn't want to risk losing the belt to SmackDown!, because that's just not smart business...but he's guessing Vickie Guerrero hasn't left him with a choice -- to which Vickie confirms that the match is set.

[Juan]

I'll pass judgement after it happens.

That's a nice change.

[Rammsteinmad]

To be honest I haven't cared anything about JBL since his return. I was a huge fan of his Title run in 2004, and was really excited when I heard he'd return to the ring a couple years ago, but since his return I haven't cared about him or any of his rivalries.

[Kane Knight]

Not quite.

Yeah, it's unfair to compare the two. I was just mocking you; that etymology was ripped straight from your ass.

[Impeccable]

He's doing something "historic"? At wrestlemania?

He might be interfering in 'Taker's match, costing him his first loss. Sets up a feud with 'Taker where eventually, can be a loser leaves match, or something similar.

Just an idea.

[Nicky Fives]

He needs to either commentate or be a heel GM on a show, otherwise WWE is losing a true piece of talent.... he could become the best heel commentator since Bobby Heenan

[Anybody Thrilla]

I hate JBL as a face.

[Kane86]

Can't wait until the Mid Card god is gone.
I thought Layfield energy was supposed to help the Lard ass lose weight. Does not seem to be working to well.

[Afterlife]

I hate JBL.

[thedamndest]

JBL's comeback was good during his feud against face Jericho. After that he's sucked because he's just been Kane'd out as the guy that isn't going to win the title, but putting him in the mid-card really isn't the right place for him either. I think Smackdown would have been a better fit, in retrospect, since it was where he originated as champion, and since Raw's roster was already so jam packed, but that's all hindsight.

I won't really miss him as an active wrestler as it will give someone else the chance to step up. I hope he goes back to announcing though. He would be much better than Lawler.

[Afterlife]

Lawler isn't quite so grating.

[RatedGSuperstar]

I wouldn't be opposed to reuniting the old announce teams -- put JBL with Cole in Raw, move Lawler to Smackdown. The only problem is that leaves Tazz without a show, since you can't take Striker off of ECW. Maybe Tazz goes on to do some work on Superstars (maybe with someone like Joey Styles if he's still around)?

We still have that loose end of JBL having to "do something" for Vickie in the coming weeks in return for getting the IC title match. It'll be interesting to see what that is, but we do know the best way to guarantee that someone gets face pops is to put someone up against Vickie Guerrero. If they want him to do a quick face turn before Mania, they could set up a mini-angle where she tries to strip him of the title or something.

Or they could just do something similar to what they did when Regal won the IC title in England, by only really making him a face in Texas. I don't know if they'd want to take the risk of JBL still possibly getting booed, though.

I don't really care how they do it, though, just as long as he sticks to his word and quits by May. If they do hold the draft shortly after Mania, they could easily just draft an extra guy over to Raw to take his place in the upper midcard (maybe the biggest non-Raw name that doesn't win the MITB).

[DAMN iNATOR]

IMHO, I could do just fine with no JBL anywhere on/in WWE if he does retire. Nothing against him, I just don't think there are any non-wrestling roles that would be suitable for him.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Yeah, it's unfair to compare the two. I was just mocking you; that etymology was ripped straight from your ass.

Wait, I pull something incredible out of my ass, and you're mocking me? Find something to mock first.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Truthfully, I fear that the favour he owes Vickie Guerrero will be to defend the IC Title against a SmackDown! Superstar at WrestleMania. I'd prefer fucking R-Truth over Vladimir Kozlov, though.

The favour should involve JBL making sure that one of Vickie Guerrero's boys walks out of WrestleMania as the World Heavyweight Champion, which the mystery being whether he is there to help Edge or Big Show.

[Skippord]

wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

JBL sucks