JBL Urges Released WWE Stars to Seize Opportunity Instead of Waiting for AEW

John Bradshaw Layfield isn’t mincing words when it comes to WWE’s latest wave of releases. The WWE Hall of Famer, who’s seen plenty of talent cuts over the years, made it clear that while losing a job is tough, this is the best time in wrestling history to bounce back.

On the latest Something to Wrestle podcast, JBL discussed the recent WWE releases, which included Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Giovanni Vinci, Cedric Alexander, Isla Dawn, Akam, Rezar, Paul Ellering, Blair Davenport, and Sonya Deville. While he sympathized with the talent, he also sent a strong message about making the most of the situation.

“I texted with The Good Brothers last night, according to when this show’s being taped. I text those guys all the time. Love those boys, man,” JBL said. “Two good dudes and two good workers? They’re going to be fine. I know they know they’re going to be fine. There’s no sense in saying, ‘Hey, you guys are going to be fine.’ They know that. You know, I just texted them, telling them I love them and can’t wait to see what they’re doing next, and that, to me, is the key.”

JBL, who’s been through plenty of ups and downs in his own career, knows firsthand what it’s like to get released. “You can do one of two things when you get released. I feel sorry for anybody, by the way, who’s lost a job. I’ve done it. I’ve had it happen to me many times for 30 or 40-plus years, from football and wrestling to everything else. Believe me, I’ve been fired, released. I would never dream of making light of it or do anything except my sympathies, and I’m sorry that it happened to you. But this is an opportunity, and you have two choices here.

“You can sit around and hope that Tony Khan picks you up, or that you get picked up by a different group, or you can go out there and make a name for yourself. I’ve never seen an opportunity better in wrestling since I’ve been in it for 30-plus years. I’ve been a fan my entire life, 58 years, and I’ve never seen an opportunity better for guys going out and making a name for themselves.

“That’s what I feel like The Good Brothers are going to do. That’s what I hope all these guys do. You know, there’s two different mindsets… I hope these guys go out there and make a hell of a name for themselves because I believe there’s no time in wrestling history where it’s easier to go out and do something big outside of the big one, which is WWE.”

JBL’s words reflect the reality of today’s wrestling industry. WWE may be the biggest stage, but the world of pro wrestling has never had more options. From AEW, TNA, NJPW, and the independent scene, there are plenty of places for talent to land and thrive.

JBL himself has stayed active across TNA, independent shows, and even WWE’s Raw on Netflix, proving that there are countless ways to keep your career moving forward.

Now, it’s up to the released WWE stars to write their next chapter.

Do you think these former WWE talents will rise to the occasion and make an impact elsewhere? Drop your thoughts in the comments!