Backstory:
At Judgement Day, JBL was forced to retire when he lost to Mysterio. He returned to competition at Mania 23, where he competed in the Money in the Bank ladder match, but was injured after being pushed from the ladder by Mr Kennedy. Ken Kennedy did what he said he would do; win the Money in the Bank Ladder Match and earn himself a guaranteed World Championship shot anytime within the next 12 months. At the time Kennedy was renowned for his cocky antics and his heel nature, but much to his surprise, on the first Smackdown! edition after the showcase of the immortals, Kennedy’s appearance to the ring was met with many cheers and congratulations from the fans. Over the next few months Kennedy would slowly but surely change his ways, siding with the fans as they supported him and his rise up the Smackdown! ranks.
At SummerSlam, after World Heavyweight Champion the Undertaker retained his title against former Champ Batista in a brutal Cage Match, Kennedy hit the ring, much to the surprise of the people in attendance. However unlike he would have done a few months prior, Kennedy helped a bloody Taker to his feet, and proclaimed that next Friday Night on Smackdown! he would cash in his Championship shot.
That Friday Night in the main event, in a completely clean match clear of any cheating or underhanded tactics, Kennedy came up just short against the Deadman when the Champion nailed the Tombstone Piledriver to retain his Title.
The following JBL return promo takes place one week after Kennedy blew his shot to become World Champ.
Friday Night Smackdown
Mobile Alabama
**Longhorn**
The crowd seem surprised to see John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield open the show, as the former WWE Champion walks onto the stage. Michael Cole welcomes us to the broadcast and wonders what JBL is doing, as he has been injured for months.
JBL: Take another swig from your bottle of Jack Daniels, close your eyes and rub those suckers twice, because I am here, in my purest form, JBL, John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield, standing in the middle of my very ring once again, opening Friday Night Smackdown! the way it should be opened each and every week.
Heat is dished out to the cocky wrestler, because after all this time the fans still haven’t forgotten how much they detest him
JBL: And you people can boo and taunt me just like you did back in the day, back in the day when I was taking names, kicking ass and running the show here on Friday Night’s, but the fact of the matter is that the senseless, irrational pieces of floating faeces that flows from your damn mouths didn’t stop me from being the longest reining WWE Champion in Smackdown! history.
Huge heat is given to JBL here, as they reminisce on his title run
JBL: The utter load of crap that you people dished out didn’t stop the dominant force that was and remains to this day, the greatest damn wrestler in the history of this business, carry this brand on my back and put Friday Night Smackdown! on the map.
Heat is given at Layfield’s utter cockiness
JBL: The negativity and criticism that you people threw upon me was shrugged off with a mere flick of my wrist, as a wrestling enigma appeared from the shadows, and a catchphrase along with him, that would steal the heart of every damn person in this country, a catchphrase that would become unanimous with the name Layfield. And that catchphrase is, without a shadow of a doubt, the truest bunch of words ever thrown together, because as I look into each and every one of your eyes, I know, that you know, just as well as I know, that I am, who I say I am, and I say I am, a WRESTLING GAWWWD……
Huge Heat
JBL: …… and a true, AMERICANNNNN HEROOOOO!
Large heat is again heard vibrating around the arena from the fans, as the days when JBL was the lead heel on Smackdown! are now clear in everyone’s mind. JBL stares into the crowd, taking a few deep breaths, before continuing.
JBL: And do you people have any idea as to what makes me so damn special, what makes me stand out like a multi millionaire stuck in between a bunch of Alabamian hicks?
Monstrous heat here, at the disrespect to the fans home
JBL: The fact that good God almighty himself has seemingly chosen to bless me with a gift, the gift of boldness, of listening to your taunts and your jeers and yet still finding it within myself to do what many would label impossible, to steal the show each and every time I stepped into this ring.
Heat at the shear, for lack of a better term, ‘up himself’ nature of Layfield.
JBL: You can call me one of the lucky ones, and I’m man enough to admit I was indeed blessed, because quite frankly, unlike a certain superstar who has the irritating habit of repeating his damn name twice……repeating his damn name twice, the simple fact is that you people mean absolutely squat to J…B…L.
Loud Heat
JBL: Your words of “wisdom”, I couldn’t give a crap about. Every time you yelled and screamed for me to ‘shut my mouth’ or to ‘leave the arena’, I was laughing inside, I was hysterical inside, because when I came through that curtain, whether it be in a WWE Championship Match, a Cage Match or the main event of Wrestle ‘Freakin’ Mania, I didn’t come out there to impress a bunch of talent less hacks who don’t know the difference between a wristlock and a wristwatch. No, I went out there and put my body on the line for one man and one man only, and imbeciles, in case you haven’t figured it out yet, and considering where we are I doubt you have, that one man was yours truly.
Huge heat again is given at the JBL’s remarks
JBL: And that, right there, that ability to tell the fans to go screw themselves…go screw yourselves jackasses… that ability, or should I say, the lack of that ability, is what last week resulted in Ken Kennedy failing to win the World Heavyweight Championship.
Heat erupts from the fans in attendance, as they think back to last week, when Mr Money in the Bank Ken Kennedy narrowly lost a great match, clean of any interference or cheating, to the Undertaker.
JBL: Ken, I used to call you Smackdown’s rising star, a kid you didn’t give a damn about impressing the people, a kid who would stab his own mother in the back just to get two steps ahead.
Heat for seemingly no reason
JBL: Now Kennedy, you’re just like every other damn curtain jerker in the back. You care so much about living up to the fans expectations, you care so much about doing things for the people, that when it comes time to do something for yourself, you don’t have the grapefruits to do it.
The fans boo loudly; annoyed at the fact JBL is downgrading their hero.
JBL: Once a great man said, that the only thing worse than winning by cheating and blackmail, is failing by trying to do what’s right.
Again the fans don’t take liking to JBL’s remarks, and let him know about it.
JBL: Kennedy what happened last week was not right damnit! For the past 4 months you’ve sold your soul to these people, and look where it got you kid. Boy it’s time to face your own damn music, get your ass out here now so I can look you in the eye and tell you what a sorry son of a bitch you really are!
The crowd give a huge mixed reaction, booing at JBL’s insults, but cheering as well, hoping Kennedy will appear and stand up for himself. To everyone’s disappointment however, the kid doesn’t appear, as JBL looks slightly impatient.
JBL: My owe my Kennedy I really over estimated you. Not only are you a disgrace, not only are you pathetic, but you’re a damn coward too. Come on boy, somebody scared to show his face in public, scared to face the damn music? Are you too scared to talk to the man who YOU injured?
Again, JBL’s receives nothing from Kennedy, as he tries one final time.
JBL: Kennedy I swear to God, if you………
**KENNEDY**
A solemn faced Ken Kennedy walks onto the stage, as the fans pop at his interruption of JBL mid sentence. Kennedy’s face is expressionless, his eyes almost dead, as he doesn’t acknowledge the fans, just stares at the ramp and makes his way to the ring. JBL smirks in disgust at Kennedy, as the former Mr Money in the Bank steps through the ropes.
JBL: Now what in the hell do you have to say for yourself? What in the hell do you have to say you little blonde haired punk?
JBL tries to stare right into Kennedy’s eyes, but Kennedy continues to stare at the mat, looking down.
JBL: I see how it is, poor little Ken is embarrassed, and damn right you should be! Son at Summerslam, when the Undertaker was lying motionless, a bloody wreck in the middle of the damn ring, you had the chance to make history.
Mixed reaction is given here from the fans, as they are not sure how they should respond.
JBL: But instead you sucked up to the people. You turned your back on everything that has got you to this level, and you helped Taker’ to his feet.
The fans pop at the fact Kennedy did what was right, as JBL shakes his head.
JBL: Kid the lights were on bright, you came to the dance, but you couldn’t finish the damn song.
Major Heat!
JBL: And for that reason alone........
SLAP!!!!! JBL slaps Kennedy across the face, as spit flies from Kennedy’s mouth. The crowd give huge heat, as the Loudmouth continues to stare at the canvas, although he is breathing a lot heavier now.
JBL: Are ya' going to answer me now boy? Huh? Are ya' going to respond?
JBL pokes Kennedy in the stomach, and messes up his hair, as Kennedy continues to stare at the mat.
JBL: Let me let you in on a little secret kid. When I speak, you keep your mouth shut. When I ask you a question, you respond accordingly. Just who in the hell do you think you are, WHO IN THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE LOOKING DOWN AT THE ALL TEARY EYED, SCARED TO ANSWER J.....B.....L?
Heat
JBL: WHO IN THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOUR ARE? YOU THREW ME OFF A LADDER PUNK!
JBL slaps Kennedy again, but this time Kennedy’s looks up straight away. Kennedy rips the mic away from Layfield, and backs him into the corner, with a look of pure rage on his face.
Kennedy: I AM MIIIIIISSSSSTEEEEERRRRR KENNNN-NED-DDEYYYYY………………
Kennedy slides to the outside, and grabs a steel chair. Kennedy looks as if he’s going to go back in the ring and attack JBL, but instead he turns towards the announce table and smashes it over the skull of Michael Cole!!! Blood automatically begins to trickle down the face of the commentator, as Kennedy nails a multiple vicious shots to the announcer. Kennedy throws the lifeless Cole to the floor, and spits on his fallen body, before sliding back into the ring.
Kennedy: KENNNN-NEDDDD-DDEEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!
Kennedy storms off up the stage to a huge mixed reaction from the fans, as JBL stands there with a look of shock on his face, before that looks turns into a huge smirk. JBL looks down at the fallen commentator at ringside, and snarls menacingly, before staring back up at Kennedy, who without acknowledging anyone, walks behind the curtain. JBL continues to smirk, as if he has achieved something here tonight, as we cut to a commercial break.
**END OF SEGMENT**
