A terrific example of a wrestler who has always answered the call and elevated his all-around game to the level of the business he was required to handle, John Layfield is a WWE superstar worthy of being on this list. As Justin Hawk Bradshaw, "New Blackjack" Bradshaw and "Acolyte" Bradshaw. the then-younger grappler was a serviceable mid-carder capable of doing exactly what was required of a wrestler in the then WWF. He had a character, played it to the hilt and received his desired response. Along the way, he even gained the respect of a plethora of well-regarded veteran performers, namely The Undertaker and Ron "Faarooq" Simmons. Acolyte Protection Agency (APA) Bradshaw upped his game as an "Attitude Era" character, evolving from being a "tough Texan" into being a poker-playing and beer-swilling bad ass who didn't need a title (or even an in-ring match) to be one of the most "over" characters in the WWF at that time. Being able to earn merchandise checks for drinking beer with friends on global television is a pretty sweet gig (if you can get it). Taking his real-life stock market success and conservative viewpoints and blending them with the "tough Texan" persona to create JBL was the true master stroke and allowed him to become WWE Champion. Similar to The Undertaker, the whole is the sum of its parts and history. JBL has as much to do with CNBC as it does with him throwing the "Clothesline From Hell" nearly two decades prior in the APA. In melding all of the best parts of his varied career into one performer, John Layfield has showcased the skill, talent and wits to improve.
Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.
