Stone Cold Steve Austin was one of WWE's most prominent names in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In a recent episode of a podcast, John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL) recalled how once he lost the opportunity to face the Texas rattle snake.
Austin had to close a WWE show against Billy Gunn, but his opponent could not compete due to an injury. Management wanted JBL to replace Gunn. However, he had already fought that night and left the building early.
In the podcast Something to WrestleJBL said WWE's high controls positioned him to lose hardcore fighting as punishment:
“There was a time when they were going to put myself in a fight with Steve and I left the building early. Oh, m $%rda. Billy injured or something like that. My God, they put me two weeks in a row with the same type and only made a hardcore fight and made me lose. They were so (angry).” (54:18 – 54:33)
Jbl fought as Bradshaw in the apogee of Steve Austin's popularity during the age of attitude. At that time, the WWE Hall of Hall of Fame of 2020 worked mainly with his APA partner, Faarooq.
JBL explains why he lost the fight against Steve Austin
WWE fighters often passed more than 300 days a year on the road during the age of attitude. As a result, some roster members opted to leave the sands as soon as their fight or segment ended.
Looking back, Jbl would like to have stayed that night and replace Billy Gunn as Steve Austin's opponent:
“The boys used to leave early because we had different shows. They had someone they needed for the stellar event. They were going to put me there. Stupid (I will go early). They punished me for about a month because of that. More time than that because I didn't have the opportunity.” (54:33 – 54:45)
JBL also approached the possibility that Bianca Belair and CM Punk became heel despite being fans at this time, indicating that both will be effective in that role if the WWE decided to change them.
