![]() ![]() JBL followed up by hosting a celebration, the centerpiece being the Great American Trophy. The hatred for JBL was heightened further when Angle, the acting SmackDown General Manager at the time, named him the new number one contender for the WWE Championship. This segment was barely more than two minutes in length, but it successfully portrayed JBL as a xenophobic bully. In bigoted fashion, not only did JBL shout at them to “go back to Mexico,” but he physically assaulted one of the members. ![]() Case and point, JBL’s first-ever promo involved him confronting a group of people identified as illegal Mexican immigrants. To say that JBL and Eddie Guerrero’s feud dealt with sensitive topics would be an understatement. These helped fans empathize with Guerrero and detest JBL that much more. However, it was how their storyline played out that would make their eventual showdown at Judgment Day 2004 that much more memorable. On paper, JBL and Guerrero made for a strong feud. Guerrero’s success felt earned comparatively, JBL’s success didn’t. This made him the perfect foil for “Latino Heat,” who had to truly fight to become a champion. Instead of knocking back a cold one – or several – JBL was more focused on flaunting his wealth. Once the beer-loving, hard-hitting tag team specialist, the man simply known as “Bradshaw” adopted the character of a successful Texan entrepreneur. Heading into May, Guerrero needed a new feud.Įnter John Bradshaw Layfield, who underwent a drastic metamorphosis as a character. All the while, his charisma and energy made him one of the most exciting, endearing figures in wrestling. The lying, cheating, and stealing Guerrero triumphed over foes such as Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle. His ups and downs in life have been well-documented and his ascent to the WWE Championship is what legends are made of. Unless fans watched during this period, however, it’s difficult to truly grasp the influence he had on both fellow performers and fans alike. Historically, Eddie Guerrero is regarded as one of the most beloved figures in wrestling. ![]() Little did fans realize, at the time, that it would become visceral. Between the loudmouth tycoon JBL and the mischievous yet lovable Guerrero, this feud had the makings of something special. This was a battle of a supreme tyrant attempting to steal the ultimate prize from a working-class hero. When looking at some of the most heated wrestling feuds from this time, room in the conversation must be made for JBL versus Eddie Guerrero. Judgment Day 2004 was the ultimate stage for this mid-aughts blood feud. ![]()
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