The transformation of John Bradshaw Layfield from his earlier Bradshaw persona is widely regarded as one of the riskiest character shifts in WWE history. At the time, there were concerns within the company about whether the new persona would resonate with a mainstream audience, but those doubts were quickly put to rest once JBL entered into a heated rivalry with Eddie Guerrero.
Considered one of the best rivalries of 2004, JBL and Guerrero battled over the WWE championship throughout the year, delivering several unforgettable moments and matches. Their in-ring chemistry stood out, and the feud left such a lasting impact that JBL has since named another match with Guerrero as his ultimate dream bout.
JBL Loved Eddie Guerrero’s Creative Vision Throughout Their Rivalry
During his recent appearance on the Six Feet Under podcast, JBL and The Undertaker touched on several topics, and after being asked on whom he would want to face if he could have one more match in his career, the Texan didn’t even take a second to name Eddie Guerrero.
“Give me one more match with Viva La Raza. Just one more match with Eddie,” said JBL. He further added how he would love to have Ron Simmons by his side and take on Guerrero in a No DQ, no rules match, as he loved the WWE Hall of Famer’s creativity to tell a better story through his matches back in the day.
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He further stated how Guerrero has built his career by giving him the angle he needed during the time. JBL shared, “Eddie Guerrero not only made me, Eddie Guerrero gave me the angle that not only made me, but took the title off himself. So my whole career I owe to Eddie”.
Eddie Guerrero Helped JBL With His Marital Issues
Given their in-ring chemistry, the two veterans were also true friends behind the cameras. During his appearance on the Something To Wrestle podcast in 2024, JBL revealed how Eddie Guerrero helped him through his divorce in 2003.
The former WWE champion stated how he has always been a private person and did not tell anyone about facing a divorce. “I didn’t tell anybody, and I’m sitting there, and Eddie goes ‘I need to talk to you,” said the Hall of Famer.
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He further revealed how the duo went out for lunch, and Guerrero consoled JBL throughout their meeting. Bradshaw stated, “And finally, he beat it out of me, and I told him, and he sat there and talked to me for hours about it”.
As the Hall of Famer has nothing but respect for Guerrero, their rivalry perfectly showcased how it helped shape JBL into a dominant, monstrous heel during that era. Their brutal encounters, most notably their clash at Judgment Day 2004, remain among the most intense and memorable WWE title matches in history.
