WWE Hall of Famer John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL) recently discussed WWE’s annual Tribute to the Troops event with Conrad Thompson, offering insights into its origins and addressing the serious allegations surrounding the show brought forth by the late Ashley Massaro. The first Tribute to the Troops aired in 2003, becoming a holiday tradition for the company.
While often credited with creating the concept, JBL was quick to deflect praise, insisting that WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and Kevin Dunn were the driving force behind the show’s execution.
“I want to address the credit part of that,” JBL stated. “Vince and Kevin had been so good to give me credit, way too much credit because they don’t take credit for stuff themselves. They don’t care about it. Those guys deserve 100% of the credit. It was my idea, but these guys did everything. By the time I got back from Iraq or Afghanistan, wherever it was when I was on that tour, I think it was Iraq because I was with Ron, they had the whole thing done. They did everything from that point forward. I was still the liaison with the military, but I get way too much credit for this. Vince even made sure I got a medal and an award which is something pretty cool. It is one of the highest medals you can get for a civilian, but again, he deserved that. He and Kevin deserved that, not me. That’s Vince and Kevin being Vince and Kevin. For those that don’t know them well, they don’t take credit for stuff. They let people like me take credit for stuff like that.”
JBL explained that while the initial idea was his, McMahon and Dunn took the reins, handling all the logistical and production aspects of the show. He emphasized their selflessness in allowing him to receive public recognition for the initiative. He also mentioned being a liaison with the military.
The conversation also touched on the deeply troubling allegations that were made by the late WWE Star Ashley Massaro. Massaro, who tragically passed away in 2019, had alleged sexual assault during a military tour.
When asked if he was aware of these allegations at the time, JBL responded, “They’re horrific allegations, and I hope they weren’t true. I have no idea if they were true or not. None. I don’t doubt Ashley at all, by the way, so I had no idea.”
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