Post by Shadow on Oct 21, 2005 20:50:16 GMT -5
A self proclaimed "Wrestling God" and Wall Street tycoon, John Bradshaw Layfield (also known as "JBL") is notorious for his brash personality, politicking and intimidation. Flaunting his wealth and legacy as the longest reigning WWE Champion in close to a decade, few can argue with JBL's track record in the past few years as one of the most successful Smackdown Superstars around.
Undergoing a drastic career makeover in March 2004, the ruthless JBL had been a beer-swilling Texan as part of the popular tag team called the APA with long time friend Ron Simmons. However, the friendship and tag team ended suddenly when JBL betrayed Simmons during a dispute with then Smackdown General Manager Paul Heyman which led to Simmons being fired.
Shortly thereafter, JBL made some calculated decisions that changed the path of his career forever. Thanks in part to some shrewd financial investments that saw JBL's career and bank account soar as well as getting a few opportunities and betraying his long-time partner, JBL was a new man with designs on the WWE Championship.
With JBL's reversal of fortune, the one time barroom brawler traded in his muscle shirts and jeans for pinstripe suits and a thousand dollar Resitol traveling city to city and arena to arena in a customized white limousine -- complete with long horns on the hood. It was also during this transition that JBL, a man of culture, relocated from his native Texas to a posh penthouse in New York, officially starting the new era of the debonair city slicker known as JBL.
Shortly after his career makeover, JBL defeated a who's who list of Smackdown Superstars while making it clear he was coming after Eddie Guerrero's WWE Championship. Picking up many wins and a great deal of momentum, JBL's stock was at an all-time high as he defeated Eddie Guerrero in a Bull Rope Match to win the WWE Championship at the 2004 Great American Bash on June 27, 2004.
Once on top, JBL began to organize a Cabinet, enlisting the help of Orlando Jordan, a one-time United States Champion, as his Chief of Staff. The Basham Brothers, former WWE Tag Team Champions, served as JBL's Co-Secretaries of Defense until parting ways with JBL's administration in June 2005. As a unit dedicated to protecting JBL's interest, JBL spent eight-plus months defending his WWE Championship with some assistance from the Cabinet.
Claiming to be the "champion of the people," JBL shook hands with ringside fans and kissed babies, but the SmackDown audience always knew that JBL was insincere in his words and actions. But what wasn't denied was the impressive feats JBL accomplished during his days as the WWE Champion as he became the longest reigning champ in nearly ten years by defeating the likes of Kurt Angle, Booker T, Eddie Guerrero and the Undertaker to retain the coveted prize.
JBL lost the WWE Championship to John Cena at WrestleMania 21, still his work ethic, intelligence and savvy have never been sharper, and a rise back to the top could not be denied. With the 2005 Draft Lottery kicking off in June, opportunity knocked for JBL when WWE Champion John Cena was drafted to RAW, leaving the status of the Smackdown championship in limbo for weeks. Campaigning that he was the face of Smackdown and the rightful champion, JBL won a 6-man elimination match to determine what was supposed to be for the new Smackdown Championship.
Enter World Heavyweight Champion Batista -- the final Smackdown draftee of the 2005 Draft Lottery. With the emergence of the World Heavyweight Champion on Smackdown, Theodore Long declared the need for a new Smackdown Championship unnecessary. Infuriated by this, JBL set his sights on Batista in a war that has gone on through the summer, including a No Holds Barred clash for the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam.
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