Vince Russo is clearing the air about his relationship with John Bradshaw Layfield — and in accordance with Russo, if there’s any dangerous blood, it’s not coming from his facet.
Throughout a current dialogue on the Two Man Energy Journey podcas, the previous WWE and WCW head author was requested instantly about JBL and whether or not there’s legit warmth between them. Russo didn’t hesitate to reply, making it clear that he holds no private grudge.
“If there’s actual warmth, there’s warmth from his facet. There’s not warmth for me. I’ve nothing to be upset with him about.”
Russo acknowledged that JBL has publicly mentioned harsh issues about him through the years, however he insists he hasn’t retaliated in the identical manner.
“He’s mentioned some actually mean-spirited issues about me. And I’ve not mentioned something mean-spirited about him aside from he was the one which gave me the concept for the Brawl For All.”
And Russo made certain to say that half wasn’t a joke, “That’s a shoot.” The notorious Brawl For All match stays some of the controversial ideas in WWE historical past, and Russo has lengthy maintained that JBL’s real-life toughness and barroom popularity have been a part of what impressed the concept.
The dialog additionally turned to JBL’s long-standing popularity for locker room bullying — one thing that has been mentioned by a number of wrestlers through the years. Russo was requested point-blank whether or not he ever witnessed that conduct firsthand. His reply was easy.
“Folks ask me on a regular basis about him being a bully and all that stuff. And I at all times say I by no means noticed that. He by no means bullied me. I by no means noticed him bully anyone.”
Whereas Russo didn’t dismiss others’ experiences, he made it clear that his private interactions with JBL by no means concerned intimidation or mistreatment. In an trade identified for lengthy recollections and backstage politics, Russo’s feedback counsel that no matter friction might exist, it isn’t one thing he’s carrying. As a substitute, he framed it as a one-sided situation and stored the concentrate on skilled historical past fairly than private assaults.
Do you imagine Vince Russo’s tackle JBL and the Brawl For All story? And do you suppose there’s nonetheless actual warmth between them behind the scenes? Drop your ideas beneath and tell us what you suppose.