John Bradshaw Layfield has been the subject of criticism from WWE fans for years after Mauro Ranallo’s abrupt departure from the SmackDown commentary desk in 2017. In a recent episode of the Something to Wrestle podcast, the WWE Hall of Famer finally addressed the long-standing accusations that he played a role in Ranallo’s exit.

Back in 2017, JBL made what he called a “heel commentator” remark on the WWE Network show Bring It to the Table, where he mocked Ranallo for winning a Wrestling Observer award for Best Announcer. The segment aired just as Ranallo disappeared from television, leading many fans to believe JBL’s comments were a factor in his absence.

JBL has now firmly denied the accusations, explaining that his remarks were part of his on-screen persona. “I’m a heel commentator,” JBL explained. “I did this rant on Bring It to the Table, which literally was a one hundred percent work about a poll that I had never seen before. Certainly wasn’t upset about it.”

He also added that WWE conducted an internal investigation into Ranallo’s departure, which cleared his name entirely. “Well, then, all of a sudden, all this stuff came out that I ran off Mauro Ranallo out of WWE,” JBL recalled. “WWE, to my benefit, did a big, long study about why Mauro left. Internal, from what they told me, my name was never mentioned in it.”

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Ranallo, who has openly discussed his struggles with mental health, eventually returned to WWE briefly before moving on to other ventures. JBL’s response sheds some light on one of WWE’s most controversial backstage stories, but whether it’s enough to put the rumors to rest is up to the fans. With such a divisive history, the debate over his role in Ranallo’s departure might not end anytime soon.

What’s your take on JBL’s explanation? Do you think he’s telling the full story, or do questions still remain? Share your thoughts below and join the conversation!

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Steve Carrier is the founder of Ringside News and has been reporting on pro wrestling since 1997. His stories have been featured on TMZ, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and more.

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