The JBL Transformation in Retrospect.

[chunkylover53]

Around 4 years ago today, perennial midcarder Bradshaw ditched his former partner Ron Simmons and became John Bradshaw Layfield - a conservative New York businessman. Not only was the transformation sudden, but he was also rushed into a feud with then WWE champion Eddie Guerrero to the dismay of the fans(moreso the IWC). Even at the time I thought it was a stupid move, because for 9 years, The Texas native was a tag team specialist/lower midcarder who occasionally won a match.

Instead of saying it was "traditional" heel heat, we labeled it as "X-pac Heat(go away heat)". However, after doing some thinking on X-pac heat and placing it into the debatable folder, it was traditional heel heat all along from me and the other fans. I mean think about it, the JBL character is meant to grate with fans, and what a better way to do that then cut in line into the main event.

Granted, they could've built him up into the US title scene and then win the big one, but what they did was just as good from a booking perspective.

A few months into his championship reign, he grew on me, I figured that he was a great heel for the way he acts. But after thinking about it, for me to realize what makes a great heel is for me to hate him first, then he's doing his job. So in hindsight it was never "go away" heat, it was moreso "who died and made you champ" heat. And thats the problem, the IWC(including me) favors heels so much that they sometimes forget how to truly hate a heel, and JBL did just that. Any thoughts?

[Slammywinner]

I agree. I never had a problem with JBL as champ, thought it took a while for me to see how good a champ he was. By the time Mania rolled around he was totally credible to me.

[odor31]

I was there live for the transformation. I was pissed. In retrospect...I was part of history. Haha. As well as being there for Cena's first rap...

[Tyfo]

I loved the JBL transformation when it happened. I was however VERY surprised when he won the WWE title. I thought he would probably have a few shots and just make Eddie look good until Angle was healthy again, I never thought he would win it. I wasn't opposed to it, I just didn't expect it at all.

That promo he did early on at the Mexican border is one of the most hilarious things I've ever seen.

[wrestlecrapcrap]

Apr 17, 2008 12:26:04 GMT -5 chunkylover53 said:

Around 4 years ago today, perennial midcarder Bradshaw ditched his former partner Ron Simmons and became John Bradshaw Layfield - a conservative New York businessman. Not only was the transformation sudden, but he was also rushed into a fued with then WWE champion Eddie Guerrero to the dismay of the fans(moreso the IWC). Even at the time I thought it was a stupid move, because for 9 years, The Texas native was a tag team specialist/lower midcarder who occasionally won a match.

Instead of saying it was "traditional" heel heat, we labeled it as "X-pac Heat(go away heat)". However, after doing some thinking on X-pac heat and placing it into the debatable folder, it was traditional heel heat all along from me and the other fans. I mean think about it, the JBL character is meant to grate with fans, and what a better way to do that then cut in line into the main event.

Granted, they could've built him up into the US title scene and then win the big one, but what they did was just as good from a booking perspective.

A few months into his championship reign, he grew on me, I figured that he was a great heel for the way he acts. But after thinking about it, for me to realize what makes a great heel is for me to hate him first, then he's doing his job. So in hindsight it was never "go away" heat, it was moreso "who died and made you champ" heat. And thats the problem, the IWC(including me) favors heels so much that they sometimes forget how to truly hate a heel, and JBL did just that. Any thoughts?

Totally agree. 'Smart' fans do tend to favour heels, so if a heel doesn't act in a typically entertaining way, and acts like a TRUE heel that even the 'smart' fans don't like then they'll try and say that they don't like him because he's a good heel, but because they just don't like him. Well he's doing his job all along, brilliantly infact.

[@TenaciousBe]

I disagree. JBL The Wrestler coiuld go away forever and ever and I would not miss him one bit. JBL The Smackdown Announcer, I could stand to have come back. But you take his shirt off and put him in the ring, and all of a sudden he grates on my nerves like you would not believe -- like, literally almost makes my skin crawl, I hate him that much. That's not "traditional" heat.

[VeggieOverlord]

It took about 6 months for him to grow on me, but he eventually gelled into a great main event heel. Once he became more of a "politician" type character, that's when he really started to take off. It was different and entertaining. Once he lost the title, I then realized how much I enjoyed his run, and I kind of wish it would've went longer.

[Marvelously Mediocre]

I ordered Great American Bash 2004 (I know, silly me) and after two hours of absolutely nothing happening I marked out to see JBL win the title to end a boring Eddie Guerrero title reign. I just loved that they built up that JBL was gonna lose in every title match then he cheats his way to victory. He was a traditional heel and he was great as champion to me. Then he lost to Cena and lost all momentum. Ever since then i didn't care about him at all until he stepped behind the announce table. When he left to go to Raw i stopped caring again

[wrestlecrapcrap]

Apr 17, 2008 14:12:10 GMT -5 @TenaciousBe said:

I disagree. JBL The Wrestler coiuld go away forever and ever and I would not miss him one bit. JBL The Smackdown Announcer, I could stand to have come back. But you take his shirt off and put him in the ring, and all of a sudden he grates on my nerves like you would not believe -- like, literally almost makes my skin crawl, I hate him that much. That's not "traditional" heat.

So because he does such a good job at playing his role, it's not good?

Why can't smarks accept that even they can sometimes by subjected to the work of wrestling, that they may sometimes indeed really hate the heel. They don't have to 'appreciate' the heel and see past it every single time.

[James McCloud IS John Godot]

I LOVED when he won at Armageddon. The build up, the promos, the before-match scenes with JBL and his Cabinet were all perfect.

And then he retained anyway! Against 'Taker, Eddie and Booker. Hooray!

And let's not forget, the Undertaker has never beaten Bradshaw. ;D

["Sweet & Sour" ImSoFudginGreat]

To be fair the transformation wasn't sudden, it had been aluded to many times that Bradshaw was a stock market mogul.

[chunkylover53]

Apr 17, 2008 16:10:49 GMT -5 "Sweet & Sour" ImSoFudginGreat said:

To be fair the transformation wasn't sudden, it had been aluded to many times that Bradshaw was a stock market mogul.

True, but its not like anybody saw the transformation happen like that at the time.

[BorneAgain]

He turned into a solid heel, though I still think he should have had U.S. title run first before putting the WWE title on him.

[wrestledelaneya]

I remember at the time, when the first JBL/Eddie match was set for the WWE title thinking 'Jeez the crisis of credible mainevent challengers is at an all time high'. I really thought this would be a one or two month elevation for JBL, a failed attempt at the title and then back to midcard status with your new gimmick.

When he actually won the championship I was fairly dismayed as in my mind, even though JBL had longevity in the company, Eddie deserved the reign far more. I actually dont remember the JBL character growing on me until after he had lost the title to Cena so during his title reign I was extremely indifferent. However around the time of his US Title reign and feud with Rey Mysterio suddenly I came to like his character, and I was a huge JBL as announcer fan. He would actually make me care to tune into Smackdown regardless of the show's content, and did an amazing job of making the matches and the talent seem important while retaining his heelish JBL 'I'm better and richer than you' edge. I was hugely dismayed when he left his announcer's position (especially seeing how bad Cole and Coach are stinking up the joint now).

Now, I am of the opinion that he aids the company more as an announcer than a wrestler as nothing he has done since his comeback save for beating on Hornswoggle in the cage has made much of an impact with me. Hopefully his run does not last overly long and he can go back to announcing and saving my ears on Friday nights.

[maxx420]

Eddie's mother's fake heart attack was terrible, as was all the racist crap in his promos. WWE had to resort to these desparation tactics due to the fact that Bradshaw wasn't generating any "good" heat. The fact that he's totally dire in the ring didn't help either.

In time he ditched the racist stuff & actually became decently entertaining on the mic. He was still pretty terrible in the ring.

[Hulkshi Tanahashi]

Kiss my ass. This show sucks! ;D

[bigdaddyfive]

Hey, anyone who has the guts to do the old Nazi-salute in Germany (where it's banned) is ok in my book.

[Albino Heat]

I liked him OK at first, but I really started to dig him when he changed from "wrestling politician" with the hand sanitizer and shaking hands to "wrestling god."

[cruiserfan]

Wasn't JBL quite vocal about the IWC during his run at the top? He baited all the smarks into hating him even more, just as much as all the marks did. That's pretty smart of him in retrospect, because there are good heels, but never one so good that EVERYBODY hates them. He had the willingness to be a total dick of a heel instead of a cool heel who people really want to cheer.

As for in-ring stuff, I remember him having his share of good PPV matches, with Taker especially. I enjoy his rough style, it fits his less than buff yet imposing look well... Like he's not the most disciplined fighter, but he could still knock out whoever he wanted with a totally savage boot to the face. Bradshaw has always had the reputation of being one of the legit tough guys of the business, so adding the "rich, smart, ruthless businessman" just added to that without taking the tough edge away from him.

So yeah, like pretty much everyone else, I used to hate him as champion cos he came out of the lower-midcard and had the belt within a month, but that was almost neccessary to boost him to the main event as a heel from where he was. And I like seeing him on RAW nowadays, although Trips does'nt put him over enough and it hurts the thing they have going (I was glad when he finally nailed him with the Lariat on RAW).

[bigdaddyfive]

Apr 17, 2008 17:24:06 GMT -5 Albino Heat said:

I liked him OK at first, but I really started to dig him when he changed from "wrestling politician" with the hand sanitizer and shaking hands to "wrestling god."

Whilst I mainly agree, the handcream has got to be responsible for the greatest saying in history:

"It's nothing personal, just personal hygiene!"