JBL Criticises Classic WWE Match Type, Calls Them “Horrible”

WWE Hall of Famer John Bradshaw Layfield has openly criticised the Iron Man match format, calling it “horrible.”

During an episode of the Something to Wrestle podcast, whilst discussing the famous WrestleMania 12 showdown between Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart for the WWF Championship, JBL agreed with co-host Conrad Thompson that the stipulation itself is flawed.

“I agree with you 100% about the Iron Man match; I think they’re horrible,” JBL remarked. “What do you do when you’re 35 minutes in, and you’ve got 25 minutes left before you have a winner? Thank God I was never in one. For one, I didn’t want to go 60 minutes by a clock, but I just think they’re terrible.”

Despite his criticism, JBL acknowledged the significance of the 1996 WrestleMania clash and admitted he enjoyed the match. However, he argued that the contest would have been better if it had exceeded an hour organically, rather than being structured to last at least 60 minutes.

The Iron Man match format, in which the winner is determined by securing the most falls within a set time limit, remains a rare and often debated stipulation in professional wrestling. The WrestleMania 12 encounter ended in a 0-0 draw after 60 minutes, prompting sudden-death overtime, where Michaels eventually defeated Hart to capture the championship.

While some fans and wrestlers appreciate the challenge and storytelling potential of Iron Man matches, others share JBL’s view that the format can lead to pacing issues and stretches of inaction.

Which Match Did JBL Say Was The Most Brutal He’s Ever Been In?

JBL spoke about a match that he believes was the most brutal he’s ever been in, but it wasn’t a professional wrestling match. Instead, JBL spoke about the time he wrestled a bear during his college years after boasting to friends on the football team that he would easily be able to wrestle one. His teammates took him at his word and signed him up to a bear wrestling contest at a local bar, and not wanting to back down from a challenge, Bradshaw agreed to wrestle the bear and was unceremoniously battered by said bear.

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