What’s the story?
Former WWE Champion Kevin Nash (aka Diesel) took to Twitter this week to defend fellow wrestler John Bradshaw Layfield, amid a torrent of controversy. Nash called the Texas native a “thoughtful on-air personality” and a “man’s man”, in response to numerous reports that Layfield has a history of bullying within the industry.
In case you didn’t know…
A recent string of reports and first-hand stories began circulating back in March after WWE Smackdown Live lead commentary Mauro Ranallo missed several weeks of television tapings. Speculation arose and was later substantiated by Ranallo’s long-time friend and podcast partner Bas Rutten, that his absence was at least in part due to bullying by John Bradshaw Layfield.
Mauro has a documentary history dealing with bipolar disorder and is an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness.
More stories about JBL’s alleged history of bullying within pro wrestling began to emerge shortly after, the most significant of which was a passage from a recent book written by former WWE announcer Justin Roberts.
In his book Best Seat in the House: Your Backstage Pass Through My WWE Journey, Roberts tells a story about how his passport was stolen while on a European tour with the company, resulting in him scrambling all over England to procure a new passport, and numerous trips from London to Boston, to Phoenix and finally Tuscon, AZ just to make a Smackdown television taping.
Former WWE star John Morrison later confirmed that Bradshaw had encouraged him and his tag team partner at the time, Joey Mercury, to steal the passport (although they allegedly did not).
Since then, the topic of JBL and bullying in WWE has received attention all over pro wrestling media, as well as mainstream media.
The heart of the matter
Kevin Nash, a former WWE and WCW world champion, who has been in the wrestling industry for nearly three decades, came to the aid of Bradshaw via Twitter this week.
In response to a fan, Nash later continued stating, “He’s an incredibly intelligent man. I can only go on my relationship. Haven’t seen the bully.”
What’s next?
It’s unclear right now what the fate of John Bradshaw Layfield will be, although at this point it is almost certain that Mauro Ranallo will not return to his post as Smackdown Live’s lead commentator.
The discussion has been brewing throughout wrestling media for weeks, and Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that WWE will likely be pursuing a settlement with Mauro that includes prohibiting him from publicly speaking about his departure as it pertains to Layfield.
Many within the company have stated they do not believe JBL will lose his job.
Author’s take
You can defend JBL as an “intelligent performer” or a man from a different era, but that doesn’t really address the point that dozens of personalities from within the industry have come out with claims that Layfield has a history of bullying backstage.
The “man’s man” implies that one is less of a man for not condoning that sort of behaviour, and doesn’t really hold water in an age where WWE itself runs an anti-bullying campaign.
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