Bio
Height: 6 foot 6
Weight: 132 kilograms
From: New York City
Signature Move: Clothesline From Hell
Career Highlights: WWE Champion (longest-reigning WWE Champion in 10 years, held from June, 2004 to April, 2005); World Tag Team Champion; Hardcore Champion; United States Champion
JBL added more gold to his impressive resume by winning the United States Championship by defeating Chris Benoit at WrestleMania 22.
He looked to add even more gold at Judgment Day when he went one on one against Rey Mysterio for the World Championship.
JBL masterminded a plan to have Rey brutalized in the three weeks leading up to the match by Mark Henry, The Great Khali and Kane. It looked as though Rey would be in rough shape for Judgment Day, but the underdog champion overcame the odds and defeated JBL.
Despite the loss, though, JBL is always a threat to dish out heavy punishment inside the squared circle. A self proclaimed “Wrestling God” and media maven, JBL is notorious for his brash personality, politicking and intimidation.
Flaunting his wealth and legacy as the longest-reigning WWE Champion in SmackDown! history, few can argue with JBL’s recent track record.
JBL underwent a drastic career makeover in March 2004; he had been a ruthless, beer-swilling Texan as part of the team known as APA.
However, the friendship and tag team with Ron Simmons ended suddenly when JBL betrayed Simmons during a dispute with then-SmackDown! General Manager Paul Heyman. The events led to Simmons being fired.
Shortly thereafter, JBL made some calculated decisions that changed the path of his career forever. He made shrewd financial investments that saw his career and bank account soar, and he wrote a book about his good fortune.
The one-time barroom brawler traded in his muscle shirts and jeans for pinstripe suits and a thousand dollar Resitol, traveling city to city and arena to arena in a customized white limousine – complete with longhorns on the hood.
It was also during this transition that JBL, a man of culture, relocated from his native Texas to a posh penthouse in New York City, officially starting the new era of the city slicker known as JBL.
Shortly after his career makeover, JBL defeated a "who’s who" list of SmackDown! Superstars, while making it clear he was coming after Eddie Guerrero’s WWE Championship.
Picking up many wins and a great deal of momentum, JBL’s stock was at an all-time high as he defeated Eddie Guerrero in a Bull Rope Match to win the WWE Championship at the Great American Bash in 2004.
Once on top, JBL began to organise a Cabinet, enlisting the help of Orlando Jordan as his Chief of Staff. The Basham Brothers, former WWE Tag Team Champions, served as JBL's Co-Secretaries of Defence until parting ways with JBL’s administration in June 2005.
As a unit dedicated to protecting JBL’s interest, JBL spent eight-plus months defending his WWE Championship with some assistance from the Cabinet.
Claiming to be the “champion of the people,” JBL shook hands with ringside fans and kissed babies, but the SmackDown! audience always knew that JBL was insincere in his words and actions.
But what wasn’t denied was the impressive feats JBL accomplished during his days as the WWE Champion as he became the longest-reigning WWE Champion in nearly 10 years, defeating the likes of Kurt Angle, Booker T, Eddie Guerrero and Undertaker to retain gold.
JBL lost the WWE Championship to John Cena at WrestleMania 21, still his work ethic, intelligence and savvy have never been sharper, and a rise back to the top could not be denied.
At WrestleMania 22, the self-proclaimed "Wrestling God" won gold once again when he defeated Chris Benoit to capture the United States Championship.