Was JBL a once a lifetime talent?

[Red Rain]

The title sounds silly but JBL really was a great gem in a time that WWE really needed it.

He was a tag team specialist who came from out of nowhere to become a very successful champion at age 38.

McMahon even asked the guy to come out of retirement due to a bad back to work a storyline with HBK.

When all the stars left, JBL was there to pick up the pieces and ultimately introduce the world to John Cena.

Transitioning to Rollins or Reigns could have been a lot smoother had WWE injected a silver tongue into the lead guy role.

Wade (Bad News) Barrett would have been perfect even as far back as 2013 when they chose Orton instead.

Question is: How better off would WWE be if they hot-shotted a guy like Barrett to the top and kept him there like they did with JBL?
Maybe there is another guy you have mind.

 

[Swift]

As an announcer maybe.

 

[Wacokid27]

JBL was a very underrated in-ring performer. He could work against smaller guys (Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero) or against guys closer to his size (John Cena) and make them all look strong while never looking too weak himself (the exception being when he was playing the "weasel cowardly heel" role, you know, when a heel's supposed to look weak).

The thought of putting Barrett into a JBL-like role is intriguing and might have made the show better had they shot him to the top and kept him there.

As an announcer, JBL is even better.

So, yes, a once-in-a-lifetime talent.

wk

 

[Mr. Roman Empire]

JBL is a wrestling GOD

APA will always be his best work

 

[Roadster]

He returned to work a program with Chris Jericho, that was in late 2007. He didn't have a program with HBK until early 2009. A few months before his career officially ended.

Anyways, he was really reliable and a solid worker. He had the tools to keep the ball rolling, but he didn't really add much. I loved his main event run, but I can't say it was anything close to what it should've been. He could've had a major blowoff with John Cena. Their feud was really rushed after WrestleMania. They tried getting Cena on RAW as soon as possible. But that's just my opinion.

 

[Red Rain]

I agree with much of what some of you said.
JBL had great presence and didn't need anybody over him to build him up the way younger talent often does.
It would be great to have the lead guy doing segments that don't cause people to cringe.
Rollins, Reigns are being thrown to the wolves, more or less, while a guy like Barrett looks completely comfortable every time he picks up a stick.
It may have been worth WWE's time taking a silver tongue who get true heat on himself, somebody who may have been older but still transitional.

The only way to find a person like that is to take chances on guys that are older but seasoned enough to ultimately put over either member of the Shield when its all said and done.

Instead, Rollins is eating low ratings when a more suitable heel could taking the heat Rollins is currently receiving.

 

[Neptune]

I honestly do not care for him as a commentator. He was good in the ring though.

 

[Messiah1]

Only enjoyed his run from 2007-2009.. I don't mind him as a commentator, but he's been really shit lately. All the commentators have been brutal, on every show.

 

[Stopspot]

No not really. He was a cheaper version of a Stan Hansen or Terry Gordy in ring. With better mic skills. But he was by no means special. He did have a hell of a run tho.

 

[The GOAT]

Guys like Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, The Rock, Ric Flair, Undertaker, etc. are once in a lifetime talents, not f'n Bradshaw. JBL was a great talent in his own right (and a pretty good commentator to boot), but in no way does he feel unique or special enough (to me anyway) like the aforementioned guys to the point where I feel he can never be duplicated or matched. That's what being "once in a lifetime" means.

That said, I'm a fan and I have been ever since he became one-half of one of the most entertaining tag teams in history (APA, originally known as The Acolytes.) His character transformation into JBL was also one of the most unique gimmick changes in history as well, and I was actually a fan somewhat of his 2004/2005 heel title reign unlike so many others back in the day who passionately hated it.

 

[edge4ever]

Only enjoyed his run from 2007-2009.. I don't mind him as a commentator, but he's been really shit lately. All the commentators have been brutal, on every show.

Blame Vince and welcome to PG.

 

[edge4ever]

JBL isn't "once and a life time," but he's a legend. I define a once and a life time competitor as someone that redefines the business, puts it on the map, and can nearly do anything. Guys like Austin, rock, hogan, and cena (sometimes hate saying that but it's kind of true) are once and a life time wrestlers.

Jbl was great and I loved his heel run. It was genius. It fit him and he fit it. Brilliantly done by WWE if you ask me. He's gotten stale on commentary compared to how he used
To be, but I blame Vince for that. Jbl is all around good and can fill any role, but I don't classify him as stone cold. He's not a rock. He's not a cena. Those guys are household names and can sell out arenas in the blink of an eye as well as do almost anything. Jbl was a good heel in his day and a good commentator. A legend, yes, but not once in a lifetime.

 

[Zany Clowny]

Guys like Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, The Rock, Ric Flair, Undertaker, etc. are once in a lifetime talents, not f'n Bradshaw. JBL was a great talent in his own right (and a pretty good commentator to boot), but in no way does he feel unique or special enough (to me anyway) like the aforementioned guys to the point where I feel he can never be duplicated or matched. That's what being "once in a lifetime" means.

That said, I'm a fan and I have been ever since he became one-half of one of the most entertaining tag teams in history (APA, originally known as The Acolytes.) His character transformation into JBL was also one of the most unique gimmick changes in history as well, and I was actually a fan somewhat of his 2004/2005 heel title reign unlike so many others back in the day who passionately hated it.

I understand that he's Hulk Hogan, but JBL was better on the mic and in the ring, so....awkward.

JBL had a shitty run as champion with some gems here and there

the talent was obviously there but the execution was meh

I think he's better than his career suggests and he had a damn good career.

 

[The GOAT]

I understand that he's Hulk Hogan, but JBL was better on the mic and in the ring, so....awkward.

JBL had a shitty run as champion with some gems here and there

the talent was obviously there but the execution was meh

I think he's better than his career suggests and he had a damn good career.

I definitely wouldn't rank him above Hogan on the mic or in the ring. Hogan is one of the greatest in-ring psychologists and storytellers of all time, and he can get more of a reaction from the audience with a look or a well-timed comeback than JBL and others can throughout an entire match combined.

And better on promos? lol Come off it. Anyone could watch any of Hogan's promos, heel or babyface, and be able to tell he's much more charismatic than JBL ever was. The one he cut at Bash At The Beach 1996 blows any promo JBL ever cut out of the water.

 

[Dolph'sZiggler]

someone just said JBL is better on the mic and in the ring than hulk hogan

lol.