JBL Reveals Why He Stepped Away From WWE Commentary Role

WWE Hall of Famer John Bradshaw Layfield, also known as JBL, has revealed the real reason behind his decision to step away from his role as a commentator, pointing to the relentless travel demands as the main factor.

Speaking on the Something to Wrestle podcast, the former WWE Champion explained that the commentary itself wasn’t the issue; rather, it was the physical toll of flying back and forth nearly every week.

“I didn’t like the travel; it wasn’t the commentary, it was the travel,” he said. “I was living in Bermuda, and I was travelling two flights almost every week, sometimes all the way to the West Coast, and I just didn’t like the travel.”

JBL reflected fondly on the commentary work but admitted the grind of weekly flights eventually wore him down.

“I loved the commentary. If I could have done commentary in my house, I’d have done it forever,” he admitted.

While fans might hope for a more permanent return, JBL acknowledged that WWE’s current commentary team is excelling and no longer requires his presence.

“They’ve got great commentaries out there, and there’s not a spot for me, and there shouldn’t be because these guys are fantastic,” he said. “But the main thing was, it was just the travel. I got tired of getting on a plane every week. I have 6.3 million miles on American Airlines alone, and I’m just sick of getting on. To this day, getting on planes wears me out.”

Although no longer part of the regular broadcast team, JBL made a one-night return on the 20 January 2025 episode of Raw, where he provided guest commentary for the Rey Mysterio vs Kofi Kingston match. He has also appeared in non-commentary roles across promotions like TNA, AAA, and MLW.

Which Current Wrestlers Did JBL Pick For A Hypothetical 2025 Brawl For All Tournament?

JBL named three current wrestling stars he thinks would fare well in a modern-day WWE Brawl for All tournament. JBL first named Chad Gable as someone he thought would excel in the tournament due to his Olympic wrestling background. He then picked two stars based on their size and physicality, naming WWE’s Sheamus and AEW’s Bobby Lashley, stating that he would likely bet on Lashley if he was involved in the tournament.

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