WWE Hall of Fame John “Bradshaw” Rayfield fought back against a video circulating on X (formerly Twitter), which many consider to be designed to make retired wrestling legends ock or embarrassing. Video with captionIt’s sad to see such a wrestling legend“The clip of the former wrestler appears alongside Dean Malenko, including footage of Marty Janeti, who uses a scooter for mobility and struggles to walk at the convention.
The video continues with shots of several retired performers signing autographs and greeting fans at conventions. The tone has been criticized for suggesting that these wrestlers are pathetic in some way.
In a passionate response, JBL rose to his fellow legend:
“This is life. We did what we love, we continue. We love wrestling. These people are legends, and legends deserve respect.
“We don’t ask for sympathy, and we don’t ask for some dips to make our videos to click. We love business and we carry scars. These are my friends.”
The video has caused extensive backlash, with many wrestling fans and personality reflecting JBL’s emotions. These athletes may no longer be active in the ring, but the respect they command remains strong. For JBL and many others, their appearances at the convention represent not a decline, but a dedication to the legacy of fans, crafts and professional wrestling.
