Justin Roberts' sad/shocking bullying stories
Apr 6, 2017 14:54:29 GMT -5
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Post by Big Bad Kahuna on Apr 6, 2017 14:54:29 GMT -5
Firstly, the book is a terrific read. Obviously Justin has written it, so it's his point of view, but he comes across as a nice guy who tried as hard as he possibly could to make it into the industry he loved.
After reading, I had a lot more knowledge - and therefore respect - for what announcers do and the stress they are under.
His book is available here in the US, or the UK, or Canada, etc...
But I was genuinely shocked at the lengths to which some of the wrestlers went to torture him.
For instance:
Someone from Smackdown stole Justin's passport from his bag on the final night of a tour to the UK. It was never returned. He had to go to the US embassy in London to get it reissued. "Stealing a passport out of someone's bag is a pretty evil rib and not giving it back means it's no longer a rib".
When they were in Japan on a tour, there was two tour buses - faces and heels. "Bradshaw had both buses pull over". They wouldn't move until Justin was moved from the face bus to the heel one. JBL and his cronies then bullied Justin for the entire journey. "I was very comfortable working the RAW tours. I was scared for my life to work SmackDown tours".
"JBL would throw my bags down the street...he typically referred to me as dipshit and numbnuts despite my always trying to do a great job...every day I saw him, he asked me why I was still alive and told me to go kill myself".
JBL was being interviewed by a high-schooler and, after the kid dropped his notes, Bradshaw asked the mother if "she had any children who weren't mentally disabled".
HHH had a thing about trying to pull down Justin's pants
Jaime Noble and Chris Benoit once tackled Justin down to the ground in the airport and put him in a double crossface. He tapped instantly but they refused to release him. He could barely walk for days afterwards.
There's more - plenty more, especially about JBL - but I don't want to spoil his whole book.
In among that, people like William Regal and the Coach come across really well. Regal gave his phone number to a very young Justin, long before he ever got to the WWE, and told him to call if he wanted help. What a guy.
Batista also sounds like a lovely chap, and Jericho. Justin's father had cancer and Batista/Jericho/Coach all called to check on him.
He says a lot of the SmackDown problems changed when the crews joined up with ECW and Tommy Dreamer came on board. Dreamer, let's say, put a few people in their place.
The dark and light of Benoit is really there, too. He bullied Justin but then, at the same time, he would call Justin's father to check in (genuinely) about how the cancer treatment was going.
Again, I'd really recommend the book...but, man, the WWE sounds like it was (is?) a hard place to work. As for JBL...
(credit to reddit poster littlebossman)
After reading, I had a lot more knowledge - and therefore respect - for what announcers do and the stress they are under.
His book is available here in the US, or the UK, or Canada, etc...
But I was genuinely shocked at the lengths to which some of the wrestlers went to torture him.
For instance:
Someone from Smackdown stole Justin's passport from his bag on the final night of a tour to the UK. It was never returned. He had to go to the US embassy in London to get it reissued. "Stealing a passport out of someone's bag is a pretty evil rib and not giving it back means it's no longer a rib".
When they were in Japan on a tour, there was two tour buses - faces and heels. "Bradshaw had both buses pull over". They wouldn't move until Justin was moved from the face bus to the heel one. JBL and his cronies then bullied Justin for the entire journey. "I was very comfortable working the RAW tours. I was scared for my life to work SmackDown tours".
"JBL would throw my bags down the street...he typically referred to me as dipshit and numbnuts despite my always trying to do a great job...every day I saw him, he asked me why I was still alive and told me to go kill myself".
JBL was being interviewed by a high-schooler and, after the kid dropped his notes, Bradshaw asked the mother if "she had any children who weren't mentally disabled".
HHH had a thing about trying to pull down Justin's pants
Jaime Noble and Chris Benoit once tackled Justin down to the ground in the airport and put him in a double crossface. He tapped instantly but they refused to release him. He could barely walk for days afterwards.
There's more - plenty more, especially about JBL - but I don't want to spoil his whole book.
In among that, people like William Regal and the Coach come across really well. Regal gave his phone number to a very young Justin, long before he ever got to the WWE, and told him to call if he wanted help. What a guy.
Batista also sounds like a lovely chap, and Jericho. Justin's father had cancer and Batista/Jericho/Coach all called to check on him.
He says a lot of the SmackDown problems changed when the crews joined up with ECW and Tommy Dreamer came on board. Dreamer, let's say, put a few people in their place.
The dark and light of Benoit is really there, too. He bullied Justin but then, at the same time, he would call Justin's father to check in (genuinely) about how the cancer treatment was going.
Again, I'd really recommend the book...but, man, the WWE sounds like it was (is?) a hard place to work. As for JBL...
(credit to reddit poster littlebossman)