John Bradshaw Layfield declined to participate in the 2023 WWE Royal Rumble.
The 2023 Royal Rumble was held in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. As part of that year's festivities, Booker T, a native Texan, participated in the titular Battle Royal. JBL was also in the arena and walked Baron Corbin to the ring. However, he was asked to participate in that year's Royal Rumble.
On the most recent Something to Wrestle podcast, he revealed that the WWE asked him to be in the match, and he said no. When they told him that Booker T was in the match, that still didn't change his mind because he said Booker T was in shape. He also detailed a comical run-in with Brock Lesnar.
"I remember when [Booker T] was in the Royal Rumble in San Antonio. They wanted me to be in it, and I said, 'I can't get the Royal Rumble!' They said, 'Oh, Booker's in it. I said, 'Yeah, he's in shape, and he looks good. I'm not!' Then I found out, at the Royal Rumble, that Brock Lesnar was coming out right after I walked Baron Corbin out, and I came back, and I literally told Brock. I said, 'Brock, you do not walk out of this dressing room until I'm back. You'll break me."
Brock Lesnar would end up coming out two spots before Baron Corbin in that year's Royal Rumble. Combined, both men lasted 2 minutes and 35 seconds in the match.
Learn more about the onscreen relationship between Bradshaw and Baron Corbin here.
JBL has recently undergone stem cell treatment and has participated in promotions like TNA, AAA, and GCW. Frankie Kazarian has openly stated that he would like to wrestle him. Learn more here.
Fans can read what JBL has to say about a full-time return to WWE commentary here.
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