10 WWE Storylines That Saved Wrestling Careers

3. The Great American Award (JBL)

JBL WWE
WWE.com

A Stan Hansen rip off, updated reprise of The Blackjacks, devil-worshipping member of The Undertaker's Ministry and ass-kicking gun for hire. Those were all characters Bradshaw played between 1996-2004. Once long-time partner Ron Simmons retired in '04, there didn't appear to be much left for his ex-APA colleague to do.

Enter John Bradshaw Layfield, a J.R Ewing inspired money man who rubbed his success in everyone's face and proudly waved the flag of xenophobic pig ignorance.

As JBL, Bradshaw gave his WWE career a shot of adrenaline. It was never guaranteed to work, but a combination of established heel traits borrowed from characters like the Million Dollar Man and Vince McMahon helped JBL thrive. It also didn't hurt that WWE ran a "Great American Award" storyline on SmackDown.

JBL convinced then-GM Kurt Angle that he should be the one to get the prize and challenge Eddie Guerrero for the WWE Title. What followed was a lengthy stay in the main event scene for Bradshaw, one that would not have come without the synergy between new gimmick and patriotic storyline.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.