John Bradshaw Layfield is taking on a major new role in professional wrestling, while Gerry Brisco is stepping away from the position he has held for more than two decades.
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum announced that Brisco is stepping down as president of the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame board of directors and moving into an advisory role. Layfield will replace him as president effective immediately.
Brisco has served as president since the Hall of Fame was established in 1999 and helped guide its growth into one of the most respected institutions honoring professional wrestling history. Brisco said he feels comfortable handing things over to JBL and believes the Hall of Fame will continue moving in the right direction.
“I’m happy to be leaving the board in the capable hands of JBL, and I am confident that he and his support team will ensure that the Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame continues to grow and remain the best.”
Brisco brings plenty of history to the role he is leaving behind. He won multiple championships during his career in the NWA and WWE and has been inducted into several halls of fame, including the Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame itself.
Layfield also has a long connection to the organization. He received the Lou Thesz Award from the Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame in 2012 after a career that included three WWE Tag Team Championship reigns alongside Ron Simmons.
Since retiring from the ring, JBL has remained active in wrestling through commentary work with WWE and as an English-language color commentator for Lucha Libre AAA. Layfield said he considers the new role an honor and credited Brisco for the foundation that has already been built.
“I’m honored that Mr. Brisco has chosen me to help continue the incredible success he has worked so hard to achieve.”
He also made it clear that he and the team already have plans to expand the Hall of Fame’s reach.
“The team and I look forward to growing the Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame and moving forward in building the Global Hall of Fame brand.”
That Global Hall of Fame brand is tied to the newly created Global Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame, LLC, which is expected to work closely with the Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame. The new organization was created to expand opportunities involving the Hall of Fame, the Dan Gable Museum, professional wrestlers and the wrestling business as a whole. Layfield addressed any concern that the new organization could change how the Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame operates for fans or inductees. He added that more information is coming and believes the arrangement will benefit both groups.
“The GPW Hall of Fame will not affect fans or the enshrinement of members of the Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame.”
“We will announce more details in the future, but we view this as a win-win situation for both the GPW Hall of Fame and the Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame.”
Brisco helped lead the Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame for more than 25 years, and now JBL is being handed the keys as the organization looks toward its next phase. With Brisco remaining involved in an advisory capacity and Layfield already talking expansion, this is less of a clean break and more of a major changing of the guard.
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