I know some people here love JBL - Page 3

**Juan** · 04-19-2007, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The One

For what it's worth, JBL has a long and storied history (mainly reported by Dave "I invented truthiness beore Colbert gave it a name" Meltzer) of bullying other people.

**darkpower** · 04-19-2007, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdrianM

Whose stephen colbert?

PLEASE tell me you're kidding?

**The Fugitive** · 04-19-2007, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The One

I was always a big fan of the simply things. Pushing a penny down the hall with your noise wearing a dress, things that are funny, but didn't put anyone in danger. That was my style.

Now see, I don't have a problem with that. That's harmless, but I'll be tempted to knock the shit out of someone if they locked me in a trunk with a snake.

**AdrianM** · 04-19-2007, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkpower

PLEASE tell me you're kidding?

ok, so he has his own show on the comedy channel (which i don't have) and was one of time magazines 100 most influential people of 2006 (which I don't read).

so, yeah, never heard of him until i did that search of him on wikipedia

**BigDaddyCool** · 04-19-2007, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The One

I would never be able to watch TV again after that moment, infact I might go blind and deaf considering I would have seen and heard quite possibly the single greatest thing that could have ever happened in the history of mankind.

And who is to say these people didn't deserve it?

**Theo Dious** · 04-19-2007, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDaddyCool

And who is to say these people didn't deserve it?

I think he was talking about the magnificence of JBL being interviewed by Colbert.

**BigDaddyCool** · 04-19-2007, 01:40 PM

Yeah, I quoted the wrong thing. I ment to get the one about JBL bullying other people.

**Theo Dious** · 04-19-2007, 01:52 PM

Ok then.

Seriously, the thing about him ramming soap up Brian Christopher's arse, wasn't that supposed to be some sort of retaliation against him for harassing some of the chicks in the locker room or something? I may be having the story sideways, but there you go. Harrass ladies backstage -> get sodomized with soap. Fair play, far as I'm concerned.

**The One** · 04-19-2007, 01:54 PM

JBL - The fair but firm arm of the moral law.

**Theo Dious** · 04-19-2007, 01:57 PM

Yeah the man might not be the most likable, but he's worked his tail off over the years and spent most of it in the midcard with little complaint. And he's definitely less of an ass than Bob Holly. I'm not sure I've heard any backstage stories of him that are totally inexcusable. I will happily accept correction on that one if someone has.

**Jeritron** · 04-19-2007, 02:09 PM

Let me preface this by saying, I enjoy JBL.

But to say that because he worked his ass off in the midcard he deserves some kind of main event status isn't true. Just like Bob Holly, you either have it or you don't and it doesn't matter how hard you work if you can't cut the cake. Doesn't mean anyone who falls into this category is any less or a worker or loyal to the company. Either way, just because somebody busts their ass off and works harder and is more loyal than say, Manny Ramirez, doesn't mean they should be hitting clean up for the Boston Red Sox.
There's some things that dedication, hard work and loyalty don't produce and I'm sorry to say, wrestling is full of them. Just ask Brian Hilldenbrand. Or on the flip side, just ask Ultimate Warrior.

As for JBL, he made it work. He earned a shot I suppose. At the time I didn't agree with his sudden, untested and alltogether risky/likely political rise to the top of the WWE, and I probably still don't.
But he had what it took, at least as an entertainer and a character/performer. He took the ball and ran with it in a lot of ways, even if they had no business handing it to him.
He succeeded and he's damn entertaining, but just because you're a company guy, a tough guy and have respect with the people that matter backstage doesn't make you main event material.

**The One** · 04-19-2007, 02:13 PM

JBL deserved his run. The only thing that made his run with the WWE Title weak was how he was booked, other than that, he did a damn fine job. Remember, Brock up and left and Angle was injured. SmackDown's pervious "go to" guys were gone. Eddie was good, but simply couldn't personally handel the stress of carrying the belt. JBL had an INCREDIBLE turn, and really grew into his character very well. He earned his run, he deserved his run, and he did a damn fine job with his run.

**Jeritron** · 04-19-2007, 02:16 PM

I think he did a damn fine job with his run, and he certainly paid his dues to get it. So yes, he earned and deserved it. But I still think that it was out of thin air. I know they needed stars quickly, but he was a member of the APA and 2 months later his new gimmick was holding the belt for the longest time period since 1995.
I'm sorry, but thats out of the clear blue and I think caused a lot of head scratching

**Theo Dious** · 04-19-2007, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeritron

But to say that because he worked his ass off in the midcard he deserves some kind of main event status isn't true. Just like Bob Holly, you either have it or you don't and it doesn't matter how hard you work if you can't cut the cake. Doesn't mean anyone who falls into this category is any less or a worker or loyal to the company. Either way, just because somebody busts their ass off and works harder and is more loyal than say, Manny Ramirez, doesn't mean they should be hitting clean up for the Boston Red Sox.

Whoa whoa whoa, I never said that he deserved a shot in the main event scene because he worked his ass off in the midcard. I just pointed out that he did work for a long time there without any real main event exposure, and doesn't seem to have complained about it. Working in the midcard for an extended period doesn't earn you a main event slot, it just makes you a solid and reliable guy.

**Theo Dious** · 04-19-2007, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeritron

I think he did a damn fine job with his run, and he certainly paid his dues to get it. So yes, he earned and deserved it. But I still think that it was out of thin air. I know they needed stars quickly, but he was a member of the APA and 2 months later his new gimmick was holding the belt for the longest time period since 1995.
I'm sorry, but thats out of the clear blue and I think caused a lot of head scratching

Yeah, and one minute Bret Hart was jobbing the IC title to the Bulldog, the next minute he was beating Ric Flair for the WWF title. I know that made me scratch my head. That sort of thing happens sometimes when a change is needed in a hurry.

**Jeritron** · 04-19-2007, 02:21 PM

That is very true. i.e Bob Holly.

I just want to know what made them push JBL to the title with a new gimmick, before any progressive singles push, within 2 months. Especially since he was half of a midcard tag team and never really successful in singles, and had been in a floundering version of the APA months before his title win.
I liked JBLs title reign, it just seems like WTF. At the time it wasn't very credible and if it weren't for his accomplishments with such a huge gift, it would have been looked at as one of the biggest WTF were they thinking moments of all time.

**Theo Dious** · 04-19-2007, 02:30 PM

Basically, Smackdown had a champion who was overworking himself and a very thin main event scene, especially for heels. They had just spent two years building a guy who could be a mega-monster heel, who suddenly up and left the company. You're looking for a guy to build as champion who will seem fresh to the crowd, so you need someone with a new gimmick. And you need someone who isn't likely to up and walk out on you. So you pick a guy like Bradshaw and repackage him a bit. Honestly, given the way things panned out, could they have done any better?

**Jeritron** · 04-19-2007, 02:34 PM

Well it's easy to say in hindsight that it was a perfectly sound decision, but you have to judge it for the time it was made.

Yes, it worked out. Yes, they needed a new star/heel. Yes, he was loyal enough to stay and work his ass off. Was he the best candiate? perhaps in hindsight. Did it work out? Probably as good as it could have.
But of all the talent to push to the title, including a wealth of untapped uppermidcarders/established talent with singles credibility, AT THE TIME the decision was pretty crazy.

Like I've said, perhaps it was the right decision in hindsight, but I think a lot of that was luck and JBLs credit, making it a huge risk. You're gonna tell me moving Jericho, Booker T, or Edge or somebody over to Smackdown, at the time, wouldn't have been a more sound and logical choice that would be more understandable and accepted?

**Theo Dious** · 04-19-2007, 02:36 PM

Well looking at the SD roster at the time, who could be both fresher to the main event AND less likely to leave the company than Bradshaw?

**Jeritron** · 04-19-2007, 02:42 PM

How about looking at the WWE roster. That show was lacking talent for a long time before Brock left and JBL got his push. And it was lacking star power even when he did.
Once again, he was damn good but where's the logic in that push? What was the buildup and credibility going into it?
And the freshness factor..well I guess the drawing ability will tell on that, even if we hardcore fans liked him. If I plucked Bob Holly out of the midcard and stuck him with a new gimmick and put the title on him by June, it'd sure as hell be "fresh", but would you encourage me to do so? And are fans gonna like something just because it's new?

All I'm trying to say is that even though JBL was amazing, it was pretty fucking absurd at the time and even took a little getting used to for fans who didn't change the title, and to take a lower card guy and put the title on him for a year is BOLD. I'm not saying pushing an RVD or a Booker T or a Jericho would have panned out to be fresher or better, I'm just saying at the time it was the wiser choice.

**Theo Dious** · 04-19-2007, 02:49 PM

Yeah, from our point of view it was seriously out of left field and pretty absurd. I doubt anyone even expected him to win the title when he did (at least anyone without access to spoilerage.) Looking at it from the POV of the backstage guys, it makes sense. Though yes, to the audience it was very sudden. But they needed to get the belt off of Eddie before he worked himself into serious health issues. I don't want to trivialize Eddie's death, but can you imagine the mess WWE would have faced if their champion had died with the belt on him? (Look at that one from the point of view where Eddie was alive and working himself nuts, mind you. I'm not suggesting that I or anyone ever said "well at least he wasn't champion when he died.) You're talking about a guy who had over-bladed and over-worked himself into two weeks of dizziness and fatigue already. When you decide that that belt has to come off of him for those reasons, you do it now, and you don't worry about buildup and reasons.

**.44 Magdalene** · 04-19-2007, 02:53 PM

Being a fan of neither the Miz nor JBL (though I do think he's the best color man active today), I can honestly say I have nothing to contribute to this thread.

Good day sirs.

**BigDaddyCool** · 04-19-2007, 03:43 PM

JBL is a wrestling and commentating God. You don't question what a God does. So fuck the miz.

**AdrianM** · 04-20-2007, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarthTedious

Basically, Smackdown had a champion who was overworking himself and a very thin main event scene, especially for heels. They had just spent two years building a guy who could be a mega-monster heel, who suddenly up and left the company. You're looking for a guy to build as champion who will seem fresh to the crowd, so you need someone with a new gimmick. And you need someone who isn't likely to up and walk out on you. So you pick a guy like Bradshaw and repackage him a bit. Honestly, given the way things panned out, could they have done any better?

yes.

they could've have:
a) kept the title on Eddie longer
b) pushed RVD, Booker (who had just moved to smackdown), the fact is thaey were very over @ the time but were just wasted.
c) built up sean o'haire (altho he may have already been gone by then)
d) moved jericho(who had nothing going once christian had got injured other than a PPV match with Tyson Tomko.)

Basically, i'm not saying JBL had a bad run, I'm just denying ur opinion that they couldn't have done any better

**Jeritron** · 04-20-2007, 05:21 PM

Very true AdrainM.

Booker T and RVD had just come to smackdown, weren't doing anything, had been main event players on Raw and for a while, had never gotten a run or a big break, and were way over and credible. Most importantly, the fans of all kinds bought them. They bought them as main eventers in the making, or one step away from it, and they had the tools to be over huge and move merchandise. At least on smackdown where things were falling apart.
Booker could have been a big heel. Or RVD could have pulled of top heel with GM Paul Heyman as his evil mouthpeice.
And yes Jericho could have carried the show as a heel or a face and had great matches with Eddie.

JBL worked out, but at the time there were much safer and logical options to fall back on.

**Funky Fly** · 04-20-2007, 05:27 PM

I dunno, if someone locked me in the trunk of a car with what I feared the most, I'm pretty sure I'd chop them up with a rusty axe.

04-19-2007, 02:34 PM	#98
Jeritron Get a poke on Posts: 35,234	Well it's easy to say in hindsight that it was a perfectly sound decision, but you have to judge it for the time it was made. Yes, it worked out. Yes, they needed a new star/heel. Yes, he was loyal enough to stay and work his ass off. Was he the best candiate? perhaps in hindsight. Did it work out? Probably as good as it could have. But of all the talent to push to the title, including a wealth of untapped uppermidcarders/established talent with singles credibility, AT THE TIME the decision was pretty crazy. Like I've said, perhaps it was the right decision in hindsight, but I think a lot of that was luck and JBLs credit, making it a huge risk. You're gonna tell me moving Jericho, Booker T, or Edge or somebody over to Smackdown, at the time, wouldn't have been a more sound and logical choice that would be more understandable and accepted? Last edited by Jeritron; 04-19-2007 at 02:36 PM.

04-19-2007, 01:40 PM	#87
BigDaddyCool Pelvic Sorcerer Posts: 64,762	Yeah, I quoted the wrong thing. I ment to get the one about JBL bullying other people.

04-19-2007, 01:52 PM	#88
Theo Dious EATER OF HOT POCKETS Posts: 14,340	Ok then. Seriously, the thing about him ramming soap up Brian Christopher's arse, wasn't that supposed to be some sort of retaliation against him for harassing some of the chicks in the locker room or something? I may be having the story sideways, but there you go. Harrass ladies backstage -> get sodomized with soap. Fair play, far as I'm concerned.

04-19-2007, 01:54 PM	#89
The One Boss Posts: 17,611	JBL - The fair but firm arm of the moral law.

04-19-2007, 01:57 PM	#90
Theo Dious EATER OF HOT POCKETS Posts: 14,340	Yeah the man might not be the most likable, but he's worked his tail off over the years and spent most of it in the midcard with little complaint. And he's definitely less of an ass than Bob Holly. I'm not sure I've heard any backstage stories of him that are totally inexcusable. I will happily accept correction on that one if someone has.

04-19-2007, 02:09 PM	#91
Jeritron Get a poke on Posts: 35,234	Let me preface this by saying, I enjoy JBL. But to say that because he worked his ass off in the midcard he deserves some kind of main event status isn't true. Just like Bob Holly, you either have it or you don't and it doesn't matter how hard you work if you can't cut the cake. Doesn't mean anyone who falls into this category is any less or a worker or loyal to the company. Either way, just because somebody busts their ass off and works harder and is more loyal than say, Manny Ramirez, doesn't mean they should be hitting clean up for the Boston Red Sox. There's some things that dedication, hard work and loyalty don't produce and I'm sorry to say, wrestling is full of them. Just ask Brian Hilldenbrand. Or on the flip side, just ask Ultimate Warrior. As for JBL, he made it work. He earned a shot I suppose. At the time I didn't agree with his sudden, untested and alltogether risky/likely political rise to the top of the WWE, and I probably still don't. But he had what it took, at least as an entertainer and a character/performer. He took the ball and ran with it in a lot of ways, even if they had no business handing it to him. He succeeded and he's damn entertaining, but just because you're a company guy, a tough guy and have respect with the people that matter backstage doesn't make you main event material.

04-19-2007, 02:13 PM	#92
The One Boss Posts: 17,611	JBL deserved his run. The only thing that made his run with the WWE Title weak was how he was booked, other than that, he did a damn fine job. Remember, Brock up and left and Angle was injured. SmackDown's pervious "go to" guys were gone. Eddie was good, but simply couldn't personally handel the stress of carrying the belt. JBL had an INCREDIBLE turn, and really grew into his character very well. He earned his run, he deserved his run, and he did a damn fine job with his run.

04-19-2007, 02:16 PM	#93
Jeritron Get a poke on Posts: 35,234	I think he did a damn fine job with his run, and he certainly paid his dues to get it. So yes, he earned and deserved it. But I still think that it was out of thin air. I know they needed stars quickly, but he was a member of the APA and 2 months later his new gimmick was holding the belt for the longest time period since 1995. I'm sorry, but thats out of the clear blue and I think caused a lot of head scratching

04-19-2007, 02:21 PM	#96
Jeritron Get a poke on Posts: 35,234	That is very true. i.e Bob Holly. I just want to know what made them push JBL to the title with a new gimmick, before any progressive singles push, within 2 months. Especially since he was half of a midcard tag team and never really successful in singles, and had been in a floundering version of the APA months before his title win. I liked JBLs title reign, it just seems like WTF. At the time it wasn't very credible and if it weren't for his accomplishments with such a huge gift, it would have been looked at as one of the biggest WTF were they thinking moments of all time.

04-19-2007, 02:30 PM	#97
Theo Dious EATER OF HOT POCKETS Posts: 14,340	Basically, Smackdown had a champion who was overworking himself and a very thin main event scene, especially for heels. They had just spent two years building a guy who could be a mega-monster heel, who suddenly up and left the company. You're looking for a guy to build as champion who will seem fresh to the crowd, so you need someone with a new gimmick. And you need someone who isn't likely to up and walk out on you. So you pick a guy like Bradshaw and repackage him a bit. Honestly, given the way things panned out, could they have done any better?

04-19-2007, 02:36 PM	#99
Theo Dious EATER OF HOT POCKETS Posts: 14,340	Well looking at the SD roster at the time, who could be both fresher to the main event AND less likely to leave the company than Bradshaw?

04-19-2007, 02:42 PM	#100
Jeritron Get a poke on Posts: 35,234	How about looking at the WWE roster. That show was lacking talent for a long time before Brock left and JBL got his push. And it was lacking star power even when he did. Once again, he was damn good but where's the logic in that push? What was the buildup and credibility going into it? And the freshness factor..well I guess the drawing ability will tell on that, even if we hardcore fans liked him. If I plucked Bob Holly out of the midcard and stuck him with a new gimmick and put the title on him by June, it'd sure as hell be "fresh", but would you encourage me to do so? And are fans gonna like something just because it's new? All I'm trying to say is that even though JBL was amazing, it was pretty fucking absurd at the time and even took a little getting used to for fans who didn't change the title, and to take a lower card guy and put the title on him for a year is BOLD. I'm not saying pushing an RVD or a Booker T or a Jericho would have panned out to be fresher or better, I'm just saying at the time it was the wiser choice.

04-19-2007, 02:49 PM	#101
Theo Dious EATER OF HOT POCKETS Posts: 14,340	Yeah, from our point of view it was seriously out of left field and pretty absurd. I doubt anyone even expected him to win the title when he did (at least anyone without access to spoilerage.) Looking at it from the POV of the backstage guys, it makes sense. Though yes, to the audience it was very sudden. But they needed to get the belt off of Eddie before he worked himself into serious health issues. I don't want to trivialize Eddie's death, but can you imagine the mess WWE would have faced if their champion had died with the belt on him? (Look at that one from the point of view where Eddie was alive and working himself nuts, mind you. I'm not suggesting that I or anyone ever said "well at least he wasn't champion when he died.) You're talking about a guy who had over-bladed and over-worked himself into two weeks of dizziness and fatigue already. When you decide that that belt has to come off of him for those reasons, you do it now, and you don't worry about buildup and reasons.

04-19-2007, 02:53 PM	#102
.44 Magdalene Smitten for Kittens Posts: 3,814	Being a fan of neither the Miz nor JBL (though I do think he's the best color man active today), I can honestly say I have nothing to contribute to this thread. Good day sirs.

04-19-2007, 03:43 PM	#103
BigDaddyCool Pelvic Sorcerer Posts: 64,762	JBL is a wrestling and commentating God. You don't question what a God does. So fuck the miz.

04-20-2007, 05:21 PM	#105
Jeritron Get a poke on Posts: 35,234	Very true AdrainM. Booker T and RVD had just come to smackdown, weren't doing anything, had been main event players on Raw and for a while, had never gotten a run or a big break, and were way over and credible. Most importantly, the fans of all kinds bought them. They bought them as main eventers in the making, or one step away from it, and they had the tools to be over huge and move merchandise. At least on smackdown where things were falling apart. Booker could have been a big heel. Or RVD could have pulled of top heel with GM Paul Heyman as his evil mouthpeice. And yes Jericho could have carried the show as a heel or a face and had great matches with Eddie. JBL worked out, but at the time there were much safer and logical options to fall back on.

04-20-2007, 05:27 PM	#106
Funky Fly The Satanic Mechanic Posts: 52,521	I dunno, if someone locked me in the trunk of a car with what I feared the most, I'm pretty sure I'd chop them up with a rusty axe.