
John Layfield
Acting
1966-11-29 - Present
John Charles Layfield is an American retired professional wrestler and current wrestling commentator/host for WWE, where he performs under the ring name John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL). Outside of his WWE work, Layfield is a financial analyst for Fox News. Within WWE, he was previously known by the ring name Bradshaw, and prior to that, the variations Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw and Blackjack Bradshaw (as half of The New Blackjacks with Blackjack Windham). As JBL, Layfield was WWE Champion for 280 days. Layfield's main gimmick as JBL—a wealthy, gladhanding, big-mouthed, fiery-tempered businessman—was based on Layfield's real-life accomplishments as a stock market investor. Layfield is a guest panelist on Fox News Channel's The Cost of Freedom, has appeared on CNBC, and has written a best-selling book on financial planning called Have More Money Now. Layfield also hosts a weekend talk radio program, syndicated nationally by Talk Radio Network, in which he discusses his conservative political views. Layfield is also employed by Northeast Securities as its Senior Vice President. In WWE, Layfield won 24 total championships including one reign as WWE Champion, one reign as United States Champion, one reign as European Champion, seventeen reigns as Hardcore Champion, one reign as Intercontinental Champion, and three reigns as World Tag Team Champion with Faarooq as part of the Acolytes Protection Agency (APA). He is also recognized as the twentieth Triple Crown Champion, and the Sports Illustrated has said that Layfield "has been accused for years of being a locker room bully", while Deadspin wrote that "backstage tales of Layfield's hazing and bullying have long been legend among hardcore wrestling fans."[136] Dayton Daily News described that "YouTube has dozens of interviews where former [WWE] performers discuss harassment, bullying and taking real blows from Layfield while wrestling him in supposedly choreographed matches." Le Journal de Montréal listed Mark Henry, Matt Hardy, René Duprée, Daivari, and Ivory, among others, as wrestlers who in interviews described Layfield as a bully.In 2010, The Miz referenced Layfield in an onscreen promo about hazing he faced in the locker room early in his career. Layfield admitted to hazing Miz and said that he did not regret doing so.
In April 2017, WWE commentator Mauro Ranallo took an absence from WWE, which Dave Meltzer reported had been triggered by hostilities with Layfield. The allegations coincided with the release of former WWE ring announcer Justin Roberts' autobiography, in which he alleged that Layfield encouraged Johnny Nitro and Joey Mercury to steal his passport. Angered WWE fans subsequently called on WWE to fire Layfield. On April 22, Newsweek reported that Ranallo and WWE "mutually agreed to part ways", and Ranallo released a statement in which he said his departure had "nothing to do with JBL" after liking tweets that implied JBL was the main reason. Layfield released a statement of his own, stating: "Admittedly, I took part in locker room pranks that existed within the industry years ago. WWE addressed my behavior and I responded accordingly, yet my past is being brought up because of recent unfounded rumors. I apologize if anything I said playing ‘the bad guy’ on a TV show was misconstrued.
Credits

WWE SummerSlam 2005asJBL

Fighting with My FamilyasJBL (uncredited)

WWE Backlash 2002asBradshaw

WWE WrestleMania XXIVasJBL

WWE WrestleMania XXVasJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield

WWE Survivor Series 2008asJBL

WWE Survivor Series 2005asJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield

WWE WrestleMania 21asJBL

WWE SummerSlam 2004asJBL

WWE SummerSlam 2008asJBL

WWE Survivor Series 2004asJBL

WWE Backlash 2008asJBL

WWE Survivor Series 2020asJBL (Appearance)

WWE WrestleMania XIVasBradshaw

WWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The StreakasJohn 'Bradshaw' Layfield (archive footage)

WWE No Way Out 2002asBradshaw

WWE Unforgiven 2008asJBL

TNA Genesis 2025asJBL

WWE Survivor Series 1996asJustin "Hawk" Bradshaw (Free-for-All)

Never Forget: WWE Returns After 9/11asBradshaw

WWE SummerSlam 1999asBradshaw

WWE Rebellion 1999asBradshaw

WWE No Mercy 2005asJBL

WWE Survivor Series 1997asBlackjack Bradshaw

WWE Survivor Series 2001asBradshaw

TNA Victory Road 2024asJohn Layfield

WWE Survivor Series 1999asBradshaw

WWE InVasionasBradshaw

WWE No Way Out 2005asJBL

WWE Wrestlemania X8asBradshaw

WWE WrestleMania 22asJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield

WWE The Great American Bash 2005asJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield

WWE In Your House 16: Canadian StampedeasBlackjack Bradshaw

WWE WrestleMania 13asBlackjack Bradshaw

WWE Royal Rumble 2009asJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield

WWE Judgment Day 2004asJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield

WWE Unforgiven 2001asBradshaw (Appearance)

WWE No Way Out 2008asJBL

WWE Royal Rumble 2008asJBL

WWE: The U.S. Championship: A Legacy of GreatnessasJBL (archive footage)

WWE No Mercy 2008asJBL

WWE Royal Rumble 2005asJBL

WWE Unforgiven 2000asBradshaw

WWE Royal Rumble 2014asJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield

WWE Hall Of Fame 2020asJBL

WWE Backlash 2000asBradshaw
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014as

WWE Insurrextion 2002asBradshaw

WWE Survivor Series 2003asBradshaw

WWE No Mercy 1999asBradshaw

WWF Fully Loaded 2000asBradshaw

WWE Royal Rumble 2004asBradshaw

WWE Vengeance 2003asBradshaw

WWE The Great American Bash 2008asJBL

WWE WrestleMania 2000asBradshaw

WWE Judgment Day 2005asJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield

WWE Armageddon 2004asJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield

WWE SummerSlam 2001asBradshaw

WWE Unforgiven 1999asBradshaw

WWE Judgment Day 2001asBradshaw

WWE Royal Rumble 2000asBradshaw

TNA Bound for Glory 2024asJohn Layfield

WWE One Night Stand 2008asJBL

WWE: The Best of SmackDown - 10th Anniversary, 1999-2009asBradshaw / JBL (archive footage)

WWE Armageddon 2005asJBL

WWE No Way Out 2004asBradshaw

WWE Armageddon 1999asBradshaw

WWE Royal Rumble 1998asBlackjack Bradshaw

WWE Royal Rumble 2002asBradshaw

WWE: World's Strongest Man: The Mark Henry StoryasSelf

WWE Royal Rumble 2001asBradshaw

WWE Cyber Sunday 2008asJBL (Appearance)
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2008asJBL

WWE Royal Rumble 2006asJBL

WWE: Greatest Superstars of the 21st CenturyasJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield

WWE Judgment Day 2006asJBL

WWE Rebellion 2001asBradshaw

WWE WrestleMania XVasBradshaw (Appearance)

TNA Emergence 2024asJohn Layfield

WWE Saturday Night's Main Event XXXVIasJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield

WWE Insurrextion 2001asBradshaw

WWE No Mercy 2003asBradshaw

WWE Over the EdgeasBradshaw

WWE No Way Out 2009asJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2003asJBL

WWE Armageddon 2000asBradshaw (Ringside)

WWE: Attitude Era: Vol. 2asBradshaw

WWE WrestleMania XXasBradshaw
WWE Money in the Bank 2022 KickoffasJBL

WWE No Mercy 2004asJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield

WWE Backlash: In Your HouseasBradshaw

WWE Judgment Day 2008asJBL

AAA Triplemanía XXXIIIasJBL

WWE: Viva La Raza - The Legacy of Eddie GuerreroasJBL

WWE Breakdown: In Your HouseasBradshaw
WWE: 150 Best Pay-Per-View Matches, Vol 2asBradshaw

WWE The Great American Bash 2004asJBL

WWE No Way Out 2006asJBL

WWE Day 1 Kickoff 2022asJBL

WWE Fully Loaded 1999asBradshaw

WWE No Mercy 2001asBradshaw (Heat)

WWE: Ring in the Holidayas
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2005asBradshaw (Santa)

WWE No Way Out 2000asBradshaw (Ringside)
WWE: 150 Best Pay-Per-View Matches, Vol 3asJBL

WWE Insurrextion 2000asBradshaw

WWE: Satan's Prison - The Anthology of the Elimination ChamberasJBL

Biography: Booker TasSelf
WWE Money in the Bank 2021 Kickoffas

ECW One Night Stand 2006asJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield (Promo)

WWE No Mercy 2000asBradshaw

ECW One Night Stand 2005asJBL

Biography: KaneasSelf

WWF: Before They Were SuperstarsasHimself

The John Cena ExperienceasJBL (archive footage)

WWE Over the Edge: In Your HouseasJustin Bradshaw

WWE No Way Out of Texas: In Your HouseasBradshaw

WWE Mayhem in ManchesterasBradshaw

Straight Outta Dudleyville: The Legacy of the Dudley Boyzas

Bipolar Rock 'N RollerasHimself (rumored)

John Cena's Greatest RivalriesasJBL

WWE Hall of Fame 2023asJBL

WWE: Rey Mysterio - The Biggest Little ManasJBL

WWE In Your House 10: Mind GamesasJustin "Hawk" Bradshaw

Trish & Lita – Best Friends, Better RivalsasJBL

WWE Fully Loaded: In Your HouseasBradshaw

Ric Flair's Last Match: PreshowasJBL

WWE Wrestlemania Backlash 2022 KickoffasJohn Bradshaw Layfield

The History of The WWE Hardcore Championshipas

Best Of Raw • Volume OneasBradshaw

WWE No Mercy (UK) 1999asBradshaw
GCW Dream OnasJBL

WWE WrestleMania 38 Sunday KickoffasJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield

WWE WrestleMania 38 Saturday KickoffasJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield

WWE WrestleMania 37: Night 1 KickoffasJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield

WWE WrestleMania X-SevenasBradshaw

WWE Backlash 2020 KickoffasJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield