Athletes - John Layfield

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	Athletes - John Layfield

John Charles Layfield, (born November 29, 1967, in Sweetwater, Texas), is an American professional wrestler, competing in WWE's Friday Night SmackDown. He is currently better known as John "Bradshaw" Layfield, or "JBL" for short.

Prior to his professional wrestling career, Layfield was a successful football player for Abilene Christian University collegiately, and then the Los Angeles Raiders professionally. He also had a short stint in the CFL. He is also known outside the wrestling ring as a conservative political commentator, and has recently been featured on the Fox News and CNBC channels. He has also written a best-selling book on financial planning, Have More Money Now (ISBN 0743466330). While Layfield continues to perform for the WWE, he also hosts a nationally-syndicated weekend talk radio program bearing his name.

Early career

John Layfield was trained initially by Brad Rheingans, and started wrestling in the now-defunct Global Wrestling Federation in Texas in 1992. His first gimmick was Johnny Hawk. He was billed as the cousin of the famous Windham brothers. Though they are also from Sweetwater, he is not actually related to them in real life. He formed the "Texas Mustangs" with the late Bobby Duncum, Jr. and they quickly won the tag team titles. They dropped the Tag titles to Ian & Axl Rotten (Bad Breed). Layfield also won the NWA North American title, defeating Kevin Von Erich. Two months later, he lost the NWA North American title to Greg "The Hammer" Valentine.

Then, after three and a half years touring the independent circuit in various forgettable guises, Layfield first appeared in the WWF (now WWE) as Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw in late 1995. His initial gimmick was that of a sadistic cowboy/mountain man, similar in tone to Stan Hansen. After victories, he would brand his opponents with the symbol "JB". Of course, the brand was in ink, rather than being seared into the flesh. Managed by Uncle Zebekiah, the character fizzled out by the end of the year, perhaps remembered only for a feud with Savio Vega and a match with Fatu which he won in 8 seconds. Layfield then quickly paired up with his pretend cousin, Barry Windham, to form "The New Blackjacks", complete with the traditional 'Blackjack' gimmicks of handlebar moustaches and short, jet black hair. The heritage was there, as The Blackjacks were a team of Windham's father, Blackjack Mulligan, and Layfield's uncle, Blackjack Lanza.

Acolyte Protection Agency

Windham's injuries piled up throughout 1997, so the team quietly disbanded and Layfield wrestled only occasionally on TV as a generic brawler simply called 'Bradshaw', sometimes teaming with fellow Texan Terry Funk. In late 1998, Bradshaw teamed alongside former WCW World Champion Faarooq to form the powerhouse tag team Hell's Henchmen, managed by The Jackal.

Layfield would later compete in the WWF Brawl for All tournament, advancing all the way to the finals before losing to Bart Gunn.

Bradshaw and Faarooq were then "sacrificed" by The Undertaker and became "Acolytes". Bradshaw and Faarooq became the first members of The Undertaker's new stable, The Ministry of Darkness. Afterwards, Bradshaw and Faarooq captured Dennis Knight. The Undertaker rechristened Knight, and renamed him Mideon. A few weeks later Bradshaw and Faarooq, along with Mideon captured Mabel. The Undertaker, just like Mideon, rechristened Mabel and renamed him Viscera. For the following weeks The Ministry feuded with The Brood, a group of blood-sucking 'vampires'. The Ministry ended up victorious and took The Brood's members, Gangrel, Christian, and Edge. The Ministry went on to feud with The Corporation. As part of The Ministry, Bradshaw feuded with Ken Shamrock. The Ministry would be defeated by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and The Undertaker went on hiatus and their dark gimmick faded.

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