JBL Once Received A Warning For Performing While Intoxicated
Years before his acclaimed run as WWE Champion, JBL actually received a warning for cutting a backstage promo while drunk!
There have been numerous backstage stories over the years surrounding the behaviour of JBL but in-ring-wise, ‘The Wrestling God’ was largely respected. His mid-2000s run as WWE Champion is the reason behind this, with the WWE Hall of Famer delivering an incredible performance.
Things were different in the Attitude Era, though. JBL hadn’t yet established himself and was instead aligned with Faarooq in The APA. As he recalled on the latest Stories With Brisco & Bradshaw podcast, the heralded duo actually received a warning from ex-WWE writer Tommy Blacha for cutting a pre-taped promo under the influence of alcohol:
“He told us one time, ‘Guys, you gotta get this right’, I said, ‘Why, we going live?’ and he said, ‘Nah. You’re slurring your words’.”
Drinking beer was a key aspect of The APA’s persona, so much so that an APA Invitational Bar Room Brawl was held at the 2003 Vengeance pay-per-view.
Upon splitting from Faarooq, Bradshaw transformed into John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield, a narcissistical Texas businessman. He achieved incredible success under this moniker to such an extent that it was voted Gimmick of the Year for 2004 in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.