20 DUMB WWE Gimmick Changes (That We Didn't Want To Admit Were GENIUS)
6. JBL Ditches The Beer-Drinking
In 2004, yours truly thought he was clever by telling friends that new SmackDown heel JBL was a "Million Dollar Bore" instead of a 'Million Dollar Man' like Ted DiBiase. Yeah, that's one of those smart-arsed moments every fan knows all too well. Sometimes, it's fun to look back and realise you were wrong.
JBL was a sensational upgrade for Bradshaw.
It was unwanted at the time though, chiefly because his APA tag with Faarooq had been so over with live crowds. You knew what you were getting with the beer-drinking, card-playing guns for hire, which made it difficult to accept that the ride was over. WWE put its full might behind JBL's DiBiase-meets-J.R Ewing from Dallas character.
Bradshaw wasn't a popular choice to become one of SmackDown's focal points in 2004, but it was the right call in retrospect. He was perfect for the role, and successfully transitioned from midcard to main events without pause.