5 shocking backstage stories from WWE's Attitude Era

#2 The JBL-Steve Blackman face-off

JBL was a bully to most superstars

Even Though, it isn’t exactly “backstage”, this story does deserve a mention for the shock value it packs-in. John Bradshaw Layfield, the name itself exudes an air of arrogance and scornful derision (sorry JBL). Throughout the years, John Layfield, aka Bradshaw, has been known to be a loud-mouth, trash-talking bully with numerous instances of his “vulgar displays of power” having created quite ugly stirs behind the scenes.

Let me take you back to the year 1998 when rumour has it that Bradshaw got embroiled in an ugly spat with fellow wrestler “The Lethal Weapon” Steve Blackman. According to an excerpt from Hardcore Holly’s book, both men were waiting at the Kansas City Airport. JBL was in a highly inebriated state and started patting Steve’s derriere.

The no-nonsense Blackman quickly snapped at him, saying that he was in no mood for pranks. But, Layfield, being his insolent self, paid no heed to his warning. What ensued was a barrage of jabs thrown at JBL’s face by Blackman.

John, in his drunken state, starting swinging wildly, missing with each hit. Blackman stepped back to land a kick on JBL’s knees but his leg got caught in a bag handle. That’s when timely intervention allowed Al Snow, Farooq and Bob Holly to separate the two men. Blackman was fuming, vowing to “kill” Layfield, but JBL later apologized to him in the hotel that they were staying in.