WWE Hall of Famer John Bradshaw Layfield recently offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the tumultuous period of the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically highlighting Vince McMahon’s controversial decision to continue running WWE shows without an audience. Speaking on the “Something To Wrestle With” podcast, JBL not only defended McMahon’s choices but also detailed his own return to the commentary desk during that era.
The pandemic brought the world to a standstill, and the sports and entertainment industry was not spared. Live events were canceled, and uncertainty loomed large. Amidst this backdrop, Vince McMahon made the bold, and at the time highly criticized, decision to keep the WWE machine running.
During this uncertain time, McMahon reached out to JBL, requesting his return to provide a familiar voice for the audience. “‘During COVID, Vince called me and he said, ‘I need an old voice on television. Are you coming?’ ‘You know I am.’ I said, ‘Where are you?’ He goes, ‘We’re in Orlando. We got no audience. I need an old voice, the old commentary, somebody that people recognize.'”
JBL’s commentary, according to McMahon’s vision, would offer a sense of continuity and comfort to viewers navigating a strange new world. The decision to continue running shows, coupled with the strategic use of familiar elements like JBL’s voice, proved crucial.
JBL recounted the dire situation: “There was nobody in the airport… Everybody was sitting up front, first class. I said, ‘I think I’m gonna sit in the back’, like 15 seats on both sides of you because you didn’t know what was going to happen back then. You didn’t know if the whole world is going to die or you’re going to get it and die.” The atmosphere was one of fear and apprehension, as JBL describes, “Everybody thinks they’re going to die?”
Despite the widespread opposition, McMahon pressed on. “I can tell you, almost everybody in the company was against Vince running. Everybody was against it. All the press was against it. Everything, it was, ‘This is horrible. How dare he do this?'” JBL stated. However, McMahon saw a bigger picture. “He said,’ If I don’t, I will lose all my TV contracts.’ Those TV contracts of live events became worth exponentially more.”
McMahon’s gamble, as JBL sees it, was a masterstroke. By fulfilling the terms of the TV contracts, even without a live audience, WWE secured its financial future. “You thought they’re gonna be worth exponentially less, is what you thought during COVID, because we didn’t know if the world was ending or not. Everybody wanted out of those TV contracts.” JBL emphasized, “but because he did that, he got these billion dollar TV contracts out of it. He saved the freaking company with that.”
JBL summed up McMahon’s leadership during this challenging period with high praise: “It was unbelievable what he did by doing all that, Vince, his entire life, has constantly been one step ahead of everything and everybody else in wrestling.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit AdFreeShows.com with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
