John Bradshaw Layfield, one of WWE’s most memorable stars, is back in the gym and feeling good.
The 57-year-old, who rose to prominence during the Attitude Era as part of the iconic Acolytes Protection Agency (APA) tag team, was a seriously imposing figure on the roster.
JBL was a Grand Slam champion in WWE
After APA separated, Layfield was rebranded as the heel character JBL – a rough-mannered, brawling, blustering, bad-tempered and big-mouthed Texas elite businessman.
His famous gimmick drew a massive reaction from fans, and saw him become a Grand Slam champion in WWE before retirement in 2009.
JBL went on to become an on-air commentator and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame three years ago, confirming his status as an all-time great.
More recently, he has been making appearances for various promotions including TNA Wrestling and MLW.
Two months ago, in his first non-WWE appearance since 1995, he accompanied Nic Nemeth (formerly known as Dolph Ziggler) to the ring at Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide’s Triplemania XXXII: Mexico City event.
Despite not wrestling since an appearance in the 2014 Royal Rumble match, JBL has kept himself in great shape and this week shared a post-workout update from the gym.
“First time in a couple of decades, pain free and able to work out. Got stem cells from Integrated Pain Management in New Jersey-and my first workout, hard to believe I’m able to do things I couldn’t do for years,” JBL wrote on X, sharing a selfie from the bench press.
“Comeback? Yeah, biggest since the resurrection.”
It’s not yet clear what sort of comeback JBL is teasing, but some fans were quick to share their hopes that he’ll return to the ring.
“Let’s show them how our generation can show up and show out,” one person responded.
x: @JCLayfield
“That’s awesome man you are looking JACKED,” another said.
“Hell yeah! Would love to see one more run,” a third added.
Nemeth also commented on JBL’s recent pro-wrestling appearances this week, revealing he doesn’t know the full story, but that he thinks the Hall of Famer has a plan.
“He’s whispered something to me on two different occasions in Mexico and in TNA, and it was a little vague,” Nemeth explained in an interview with MuscleManMalcolm on YouTube.
“Also, I’d rather not repeat it because I believe it was whispered to me in confidence.
“I don’t know where he stands. He did help out clean some trash out of the ring at one point for us.
JBL was an on-air announcer for WWE after his in-ring career endedWWE
“I hope nothing else unseemly happens from him because I feel like he has a plan, and he’s assembling that plan piece by piece over the last few months.”
