JBL, a member of the WWE Hall of Fame, recently made an appearance on the “Something To Wrestle” podcast where he shared some insights on his experiences with The Undertaker and his American Badass persona.
Here is a summary of the key points made during the podcast:
When discussing his experiences working alongside The Undertaker, JBL had a lot to say. He admired and appreciated many aspects of The Undertaker, but one thing he picked up from him was his proficiency in the ring. He said, “The way he handles a less experienced opponent is just fascinating. He designs ways to make the match entertaining without relying on the opponent. He’ll strategize with the referee, manage the time wisely, he has some great tricks in his bag that I learned a lot from.”
As for The Undertaker’s American Badass persona, JBL couldn’t contain his excitement. He said, “I absolutely loved it. The Undertaker and Godfather are avid bikers. I remember this incident when Mideon wrecked his bike on the same day he was about to sell it. Mideon was devastated. But for The Undertaker, being a biker was his reality.”
He continued, “The Undertaker was associated with Chuck Seto, ex-president of Hell’s Angels, and we often had some of their boys around. He was very much part of that circle. This was his real life.”
JBL further elaborated on the shift in the wrestling world during that time, attributing it largely to Stone Cold and DX. He pointed out, “I joined WWE in ’95 when the trend of peculiar characters was still a thing. But those particular personas gradually faded. This is where The Undertaker’s transition to a reality-based character began. Moreover, it coincided with the release of Kid Rock’s American Badass song, which the audience really loved. His transition was natural and well-timed. He didn’t have to adapt to a new persona; it was him all along. It proved how versatile he is.”