Entertainment
WWE legend JBL reveals how Eddie Guerrero helped him through personal troubles during SmackDown run-Alistair McGeorge-Entertainment – Metro
The Wrestling God reflects on his bond with Latino Heat.
Eddie Guerrero and JBL shared a close bond in and out of the ring (Picture: WWE)
WWE legend John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield has revealed the caring, kindhearted nature of the late, great Eddie Guerrero.
The Wrestling God – who returned to Raw last week and passed on his nickname to his new protege Baron Corbin – enjoyed a successful and memorable on-screen rivalry with Latino Heat, and he shared a close bond with his fellow Hall of Famer away from the cameras.
Reflecting on their friendship, JBL exclusively told Metro.co.uk: ‘Eddie and I, we would’ve travelled together, probably, if we hadn’t been competitors against each other.
‘Several times we’d go out to dinner, I was going through some issues in my life at the time – nobody knew it, I’m not one to tell people about that. Eddie came up to me, “Hey, something’s bothering you. I want to talk to you.”
‘I thought that was really cool, that was really observant of Eddie, and he did that to everybody. He was a very unique person.’
JBL hailed Guerrero – who died aged 38 in November 2005 – as one of his ‘very close friends’, with Eddie serving as a groomsman at John’s wedding, while he ‘did part of his eulogy’ after his death.
JBL and Guerrero made magic between the ropes (Picture: WWE)
Latino Heat died aged 38 in 2004 (Picture: WWE
The former WWE champion was moved by the way his friend cared enough to noticed he wasn’t himself, and he insisted that goes far beyond being a surprise in the competitive world of pro wrestling.
‘I think it’s rare in life. Not many people care that much about the world that they’re observing other people and other people’s behaviours,’ he added. ‘You’re wrapped up in your own stuff, you’re wrapped up in your own travel, you’re wrapped up in your own world.’
Layfield revealed the late legend took him out for a meal that night, to give him someone to talk to.
‘I don’t think it’s that common in life for people to be able to notice that around them, to notice your neighbours having some issue – and to not only notice, to go over and talk to them,’ he smiled.
JBL made his return to Raw last week (Picture: WWE)
‘Eddie took me out to dinner that night, he goes, “I wanna take you out for dinner”. I didn’t wanna share burdens or problems with anybody. It was really cool. I think that’s incredibly rare, but not just in this business, in life.’
On screen, the pair’s careers will be forever linked due to their battles over the WWE Championship, and JBL has been vocal about the impact Guerrero had on his own career as he suddenly found himself thrust into a high profile singles run.
‘There were some nerves, but remember I was older at the time, I’d been around a long time. So, the nerves weren’t as bad as the fact that I had a lot of hesitation over whether it would work or not,’ he said, particularly after his Attitude Era run with the APA.
‘I think Big Show had got hurt, Kurt Angle was hurt, Brock had left the company. It was just the matter of filling a need. I knew it was a one-off if it didn’t go well, and that’s what I was concerned about the most.’
Eddie in turn wanted to create something more special than that, and he helped truly make the JBL character.
‘Eddie didn’t wanna be the champion that had a guy he could only bring to a one-off pay-per-view match,’ Layfield said. ‘He really wanted to see me succeed – which I greatly appreciate. Without Eddie, there wouldn’t have been JBL past that match.’
Keep up with JBL on the Stories With Brisco and Bradshaw podcast. WWE Raw airs Monday nights at 1am on BT Sport 1.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : WWE legend JBL would come out of retirement for the right match: ‘When you’re dead, you’re dead’
Follow Metro on Snapchat
You can follow our new Snapchat show Pop Cultur’d, the go-to place for all things pop culture.
Keep up with the latest Showbiz exclusives by following Metro Showbiz on Snapchat.
And football fans can indulge in all the transfer gossip and more on Metro Football on Snapchat.
Entertainment – MetroRead More
