AEW star had heat with the APA in WWE, JBL says

John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL) joined forces with Ron Simmons, aka Faarooq, as the Acolytes Protection Agency (APA) in WWE in 1998. In a recent podcast episode, JBL explained why their alliance with Don Callis did not last longer.

Callis is best known to modern-day wrestling fans for his work in AEW and TNA. Between 1996 and 1998, the 61-year-old performed as an on-screen personality in WWE. Known as The Jackyl, he managed The Truth Commission and The Oddities before representing the APA.

On Something to Wrestle, JBL said he and Simmons disliked Callis because he spoke about himself too much during promos:

"We had a little bit of heat. We talked to Jackyl and told him, 'When you're out there doing promos, put over your tag team because we're the one that's either gonna draw money or not draw money. You're not. You've got to get us over.' In hindsight, I think somebody was probably in his ear telling him what to say. I don't think he'd go into business for himself, but he didn't change. He kept putting himself over." [14:53 – 15:17]

Bradshaw and Faarooq were a popular WWE act in the Attitude Era. They won the tag titles three times and often appeared in backstage drinking segments.

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JBL on Don Callis' WWE exit

John Bradshaw Layfield once noticed that fellow wrestler Matt Hardy had a toothpick in his mouth backstage. Frustrated with Don Callis' inability to follow instructions, Layfield jokingly asked Hardy to lodge part of the toothpick inside the lock of Callis' car.

The former WWE Champion later found out that Vince McMahon witnessed Callis struggling to enter his vehicle after Hardy went along with the prank. Creative team member Bruce Prichard informed the then-WWE Chairman about the manager's backstage heat, leading to his departure.

"Vince said, 'What's up with that?' and the guy with him, who you [host Conrad Thompson] know very well [Bruce Prichard], said, 'He's got heat with Ron and John,' and Vince goes, 'Ah, get rid of him,'" JBL continued. "And so that was the end of it from that point forward. They took him away from us. It was a very short-lived venture." [16:19 – 16:38]

Layfield clarified that Callis has gone on to have a successful career in the wrestling business. However, he did not think the current AEW personality fit in with the APA at the time.

What are your thoughts on JBL's story? Hit the discuss button and let us know.

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Please credit Something to Wrestle and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.