The Upstate Life

Wednesday, June 09, 2004

JBL's Going to Hell

It's not everyday you see a professional wrester host a financial analysis show on CNBC. Well for John "Bradshaw" Layfield, a professional wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment, those days are apparently numbered as he was fired from the financial cable network after some controversial gestures he displayed at a WWE live event in Munich, Germany this past weekend.

The network announced Tuesday that John "Bradshaw" Layfield was fired from his job as a CNBC contributor. Layfield was hired last month after serving as a guest analyst for Fox News Channel, which began featuring him regularly last year following the release of his book Have More Money Now.

In an apparent attempt to draw a crowd response during his match against WWE champion Eddie Guerrero in Munich, eyewitness reports said Layfield goose-stepped around the ring and raised his arm numerous times in an Adolf Hitler salute. Such actions are illegal in Germany, although no criminal charges were brought against the 13-year wrestling veteran after the show.

In a statement, a CNBC spokesman said Layfield was fired because, "We find his behavior to be offensive, inappropriate and not befitting anyone associated with our network."

Not only were the brass at CNBC pissed off, but the fans that attended the event were even more appalled at JBL's ignorance for their country and intelligence. Here are some eyewitness accounts via the Pro Wrestling Torch:

"JBL did the actions during the main event of the show and he did it, as I remember, 5-6 times with the Nazi-Walk and the "Heil Hitler" sign. (Those) actions have shocked all wrestling fans in Germany. JBL should entertain the German fans but what he did is unforgettable. JBL's smile (on) his face when he did this is viewable (in) the picture. I don't know what entertainment is for JBL."

On the condition of anonymity, a former employee of a prominent wrestling company in attendance that night told PWTorch.com: "Mr. Layfield did the Nazi-Sign and the goose step on several occasions during his match with Eddy Guerrero. It should be noted that the Nazi Sign is illegal in Germany and usually (results) in incarceration."

Finally, one of the fans at the show was able to land a pic of Bradshaw gesturing the crowd, but not in the good way of course. CNBC should replace his show with an image of JBL next to a rapidly falling stock ticker of WWE with one of those horns that goes "Wah-wah-wahhhhhh". It'd be landing higher ratings than UPN, that's for sure!

Posted by Brett at 9:09 PM |