#9 JBL
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Once upon a time, the character of JBL did not exist, and in its place was Bradshaw. Bradshaw was a beer swigging, badass, big guy who fought alongside Ron Simmons in the APA and was generally regarded as a mid-carder at best. Then, for some unknown reason, Bradshaw became JBL and ascended to the top of Smackdown in stunningly quick fashion.
Quickly becoming Number 1 contender to Eddie Guerrero’s WWE Championship, he unsuccessfully challenged for the belt at Judgment Day, despite winning the match via DQ. He challenged Guerrero again at The Great American Bash, in a Texas Bull Rope Match, and defeated “Latino Heat” to kickstart a run as WWE Champion which would last an astounding 280 days.
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That was his only run with the WWE title; it was a hugely surprising one, but one that without question transformed John Layfield from an also-ran to a figure that may well go down as a legend of the industry, in some quarters.
The title reign came to an end when he put over John Cena at WrestleMania 21, allowing Cena to begin his own ascent to mega-stardom and leaving JBL to transition into a short-term feud with The Blue Meanie after their incident at ECW’s One Night Stand.
