JBL to retire?

Quote :

WWE Intercontinental Champion John Bradshaw Layfield, 42, has been telling people backstage that he will likely be retiring from the ring by May. His back problems that caused him to originally retire in 2006 have resurfaced and his retirement from WWE appears imminent. Layfield is not listed in the May house show bookings that have been released.

As noted earlier, Layfield recently claimed he would be doing something historical that would shock the wrestling world at Wrestlemania XXV. Regarding his claim, it's been speculated that JBL will retire as the Intercontinental Champion, something nobody with the exception of Trish Stratus as WWE Women's Champion at the 2006 Unforgiven pay-per-view has ever done.

In a strange pairing, Layfield will be teaming up with Vladimir Kozlov against the team of Undertaker and Shawn Michaels next week on Raw. It's interesting to note that in a blog post yesterday, Jim Ross actually speculated on a Layfield vs. Kozlov feud. While this is only speculation, Dave Meltzer believes the strange pairing could indicate a quick Kozlov/JBL break-up, allowing JBL to go to his home state of Texas at WrestleMania XXV as the babyface and face "The Moscow Mauler" with the Intercontinental Championship on the line. It would cast JBL in the right atmosphere for a retirement ceremony/moment.

Considering CM Punk is already tied to the Money in the Bank Match, he will definitely not be facing JBL at WrestleMania — so there's not many candidates left. With the exception of Kozlov, the highest slotted candidate not already accounted for on the lineup at "The 25th Anniversary of Wrestlemania" is Rey Mysterio. However, nothing has been done to even start anything in that direction, and time is running short. Following next week's show, there will only be two weeks left to build towards WrestleMania.

JBL v Koslov. Well that's the piss and coffee break then.

Hope he becomes GM of RAW or SD if this is the truth

somthing historic, might retire and snatch the reigns from vicky.

but if hes gonna be GM no point in the whole emotional face turn stuff.

still think cena will have his ore in

Historic would be retiring as the IC Champ

I think only Trish retired as a champion before in the WWF/E

I think its safe to say Cena wont be getting involved with an IC champ these days

All I can say, is thank fuck! As great as JBL is on the mic, he is terrible in the ring, and outside of his clothesline and powerbomb, all his moves are pretty crappy looking. As a GM or commentator, he can be of a lot of use to WWE.

but if hes gonna be GM no point in the whole emotional face turn stuff.

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Was gonna say the same thing.

If he became GM though it wouldn't be for around 6 months or so, JBL would probably take some time out and get away from the hustle and bustle of the business for a while then make some grand return

I would actually like to see him screwing McMahon out of SmackDown! and claiming ownership of it

now think with stuff on vickys mind she wont have the guts to try and take over raw full time, she might even leave due to emotional trauma

I can't see the point of him facing Kozlov if he wants to turn face immediately. I could understand it if Kozlov was still undefeated as JBL would be praised for ending the undefeated run however Kozlov has now been pinned twice in singles matches so if JBL beats him, it's nothing special as it would have been a few weeks ago.