2007-03-13 05:18:28 · 11 answers · asked by acfahmy 7 in Sports ➔ Wrestling
Injuries forced JBL to make the transition from being in action in the ring to calling the action from the commentators’ booth, a move he resisted at first, but later recognized as a blessing in disguise.
“My plan was to keep going. I had nerve damage in my lower back… when WWE found out how bad it was, they pulled me out,” he said. “And I’m proud of that. The company cared enough about me to do that and [WWE] cares enough about me right now to not let me back in the ring, which I’m also proud of.”
JBL’s uneasiness in his new role led him to rethink his future in sports-entertainment. However, some Internet sources speculated that it was more materialistic reasons — namely, money and being allowed to fly on the WWE corporate jet – a charge JBL insists is untrue.
“The main factor was that I miss the business. I am flying on the corporate plane a lot; I do that anyway. That was never brought up in negotiations. I have asked for that, but it was never a determining factor. It was simply that I wanted to stay; that’s why I approached [WWE officials].”
JBL has taken a laissez-faire attitude towards “sloppy” Internet reporting, but that fact that such privelaged information was leaked to the web made him furious.
“Whoever in our company stooged us out, that person should be fired. It was a pretty close circle who knew I had actually come to an agreement to quit, so to have that out on the Internet, it came from someone in our company. That, to me, is tantamount to someone working for Microsoft and giving away software information. The guy who did that is a total piece of s*** and should be fired,” he said.
As far as money goes, JBL’s financial life as a senior vice president of a major investment bank paired with his success in WWE has given him the ability to work because he loves to, not because he has to. For JBL, that’s one of the most valuable assets a person can attain.
“I don’t brag — rich is relative. Vince is rich. Bill Gates is rich. I can choose to do other things to make a living and I make a great living doing what I’m doing,” he added. “I haven’t had to work financially in several years; I have to work mentally because that’s what I love doing.”
This isn’t the first time JBL has been forced to stop doing something he loves. Before his career in sports-entertainment, he played football, and when his gridiron career was cut short from injuries – much like his wrestling career – the anguish of being prematurely removed from playing the game he loved was too much to handle.
“I tried coaching one year and it bugged me too badly that I couldn’t play anymore. After that, I didn’t watch football for two or three years. It really bothered me psychologically and it’s the same with wrestling except I actually put more into wrestling than with football,” he said.
Now that he’s accepted his new role with WWE, JBL looking forward to continuing his commentating duties on SmackDown, especially now that the show has moved to the new CW Network.
“I’m happy with my decision to stay; I really wanted to stay all along, and I’m very happy with the CW Network. It’s a great network, and it’s a ton of exposure [for SmackDown]. But to me, staying with the WWE was the only deciding factor. It doesn’t matter if it’s on local cable.”
The desire to step back into the ring is still there, and probably always will be for JBL, but the Texas native understands the reality that his boots have most likely been hung up for good.
“I hope something happens so that I’m able to [wrestle again], but I would have to bet against it right now.”
JBL told WWE.com that when he first started in sports-entertainment, he worked for as little as three dollars per night, and there were times he didn’t get paid at all. But according to WWE veteran, his decision to enter the business was never for financial gain.
“A lot of people say they love this business, and I believe they say that because that’s what they think they’re supposed to say. I really do love this business. This is what I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid. I always swore I would be a wrestler. Unfortunately, that time has come and it’s over for me. But I still have an opportunity to be with the company and hopefully I’m going to be working with WWE for the rest of my life.”
2007-03-13 07:06:09 · answer #1 · answered by moose 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
JBL and Michaels will face at next week's Smackdown, and as far as I know, there's nothing severely wrong with his back.
2007-03-13 06:08:00 · answer #2 · answered by Candle 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
JBL has a hurt back and had to quite for a while.
They are switching Shawn and John's x wrestlemana opponents.
like cena faced jbl at wm21.
and shawn face beniot and HHH at wm20
2007-03-13 06:17:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is gonna wrestle I twas annouced on RAW that he will face HBK as a Wrestlemania Reverse.
2007-03-13 05:20:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
hes facing Shawn Michaels and he doesnt have a broken back.. he retired because he lost against rey mysterio and he had to retire because if he lost he had to retire. hes no a comentater on Smackdown! and ya... he will wrestle Shawn Micheals and Cena will face Benoit.. can;t wait!
2007-03-13 05:22:59 · answer #5 · answered by Yipen™ 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
JBL is now going through treatments for his back.
2007-03-13 05:24:58 · answer #6 · answered by shyvicki 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes jbl has had a messed upback and it was storyline that he retired because of rey beating him. but its possible that it may be just a short comeback to t he ring
2007-03-13 06:09:34 · answer #7 · answered by random at its finest 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i was surprised too, this match is gonna be great. just like the match they had had on RAW before Survivor Series 2005
2007-03-13 11:44:31 · answer #8 · answered by Dark Angel 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He is going to be destroyed with some sweet chin music
go hbk
2007-03-13 05:23:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Broke his back and still gonna wrestle? Helluva man.
2007-03-13 05:21:45 · answer #10 · answered by apocalypso blues 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋