John “Bradshaw” Layfield announced Wednesday on Facebook that he has signed a contract with WWE to appear as a commentator on a full-time basis. He had been sporadically filling in as color commentator after Jerry “The King” Lawler suffered a heart attack during the Raw episode preceding Night of Champions. He is now the commentator for SmackDown with Josh Mathews, replacing Michael Cole.

He wrote, “Very happy WWE and I have worked out a deal for me to return on a full time basis. There came a need when my friend Jerry Lawler had a heart attack and was not able to work, however, I realized how much I enjoyed being back and this was the basis for my decision to return.

“I now just enjoy doing commentary, and no, have no desire to ever be in the ring again. I am in the best shape I have probably ever been in due to the mountain training, but a twisted knee, ankle or back and I lose my dream of the Seven Summits-not worth the risk to me and I had my time and I loved it. Commentary is where I want to be.

“I will doing Smackdown with Josh Matthews. I have filled in on Main Event some but mainly when Miz has a large part in the show and can’t do commentary.

“Raw is 100% Jerry’s. He and Michael are a great team, I enjoy listening to Jerry and there are no plans for a three man booth with me in it. I am happy on Smackdown.

“It looks like I will be doing PPVs as a representative for the Smackdown brand as part of a three man booth with Cole and King.

“I cannot say enough how impressed I am with Michael Cole, there is so much more to the commentary game now and he is the best I have seen. Josh prepares well and we don’t have the sync that Michael and I have yet, but we will get there. Josh is fun to work with, I love when I get him so frustrated he throws his hands up in the air not knowing what I will say next. Michael and I had a year of commentary behind us already when I returned, Josh and I have only been doing it for a short time.

“I don’t know where Josh buys those horrible sweaters and gets that spiky haircut though.

“And yes, I do have fun ribbing my old boss and Okie friend JR. It’s all in good fun.”

To read his full post, click here.

– John “Bradshaw” Layfield released a Tout message this morning stating that he will not commentate Raw tonight. He will, however, be on hand for tomorrow’s SmackDown taping in Memphis, Tennessee.

“Playing golf today in East Texas, won’t be at Raw tonight. Looking forward to watching the show and seeing Jerry Lawler tomorrow in Memphis. Hopefully Michael Cole won’t be there in Memphis for the return of ‘The King’ because last time ‘King’ saw Michael Cole, he had a heart attack,” said Layfield.

– As reported over the weekend, Renee Paquette, an on-air personality for The Score Television Network in Canada has been hired by WWE. She addressed the news on Twitter.

“Thanksfor all of the well wishes! I’m sad to leave amazing people @theScore but very very excited to be joining #wwe #pumped #thankyou”

According to F4WOnline.com, it is rumored that Paquette will be utilized as a backstage interviewer on Raw.

– WWE had camera crews filming Dolph Ziggler during his appearance Saturday at the New York Comic Con.

Returning to WWE after a more than two-year hiatus, Lilian Garcia appeared on Friday’s episode of SmackDown as the program’s new ring announcer.

Tony Chimel introduced Garcia to the live audience at the start of the broadcast, who was already standing in the ring. As Garcia talked about how great it was to be back, she was interrupted by Cody Rhodes, who was standing on the announce table. Rhodes said no one cares she is back since no one noticed she had left. Garcia danced with Hornswoggle later during the show, which gave commentator Michael Cole the opportunity to air a crass backstage joke.

He cracked, “I wish these two would stop horsing around!”

The reference stems from those in WWE’s “inner circle”—Vince McMahon, Triple H, television producer Kevin Dunn and the since departed John “Bradshaw” Layfield—often joking that Garcia has a horse-shaped face. The crass joke was passed around backstage years ago and ultimately acknowledged on television by Layfield and Hunter to amuse company employees. Though Garcia has publicly taken the joke in stride, Mick Foley took offense to Hunter demeaning the “Decade Diva” during an episode of Raw last year in which she had filled in for regular ring announcer Justin Roberts.

He wrote online after watching on television Triple H tell Garcia she can always return to WWE to “horse around,” “Why does someone like Triple H, one of the most talented, well paid guys in the business, do something so shallow and mean? Why would a multi-millionaire, with millions of fans around the world, feel the need (several times over the years) to say something that is only meant to hurt? I don’t get it. I don’t get why it’s done, I don’t get why it’s condoned, I don’t get what possible satisfaction anyone involved gets from demeaning someone like Lillian Garcia. I just don’t get it.”

The latest reference was likely directed by Triple H, who filled in for McMahon at Tuesday’s SmackDown taping since the WWE CEO was off visiting U.S. Armed Forces serving in Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan. Cole is the mouthpiece of the program director, as he is fed lines via headset. It was not the only mean-spirited remark on Friday’s show as Cole made light of Jim Ross suffering from Bell’s palsy after Josh Mathews said Cole speaks out of both sides of his mouth.

Cole quipped, “Actually, there is nothing wrong with my mouth, unlike J.R.’s.”

John “Bradshaw” Layfield, who was notorious for being abusive towards co-workers during his WWE tenure, inexplicably ranted on former colleague Marc Mero Sunday night on Twitter.

“If Johnny B Bad had sucked it would have been an improvement!” Layfield wrote regarding Mero, who he worked with from 1996 to 1998. “Mero absolutely sucks as a wrestler and human being. Sorry to u fans of his.”

He continued, “Sorry, can’t describe in 140 characters why Mero is a POS. No one who knew him sticks up for him-that should tell u something.”

Both posts have since been deleted.

In June and July 2007, Mero commented on the Chris Benoit murder-suicide, appearing on numerous cable news programs and criticizing both the wrestling industry and WWE (the erstwhile employer of Benoit). His comments drew the ire of WWE employees such as Ken Anderson, who labeled him a “goof” and a “silly bastard”, and Dave “Fit” Finlay, who claimed Mero had “nothing to do with this business.” Mero now works as an inspirational speaker in Orlando, Florida and heads the non-profit organization Champion of Choices, Inc. According to his Facebook page, he is the “happiest person on the planet.”

— Former WWE Champion John “Bradshaw” Layfield stated on Twitter that he declined WWE’s invitation to appear at Survivor Series

Layfield wrote, “Not at Survivor Series and not watching-too late for me. 15 years ago my SS debut Tim White counted me out by mistake! Big screw up! It was my big push and Tim White counted 3 by mistake, first time ear pieces were used and someone was in his ear. Killed my push:)

He continued, “I’m not watching cause it’s too late for me-got early morning tee time in Bermuda! Was asked if I was available by WWE, but I’m not. #golf”

— Former WWE Diva Maryse Ouellet traveled with The Miz to New York City this weekend. The couple also attended Google and T-Mobile’s launch party for Google Music last Wednesday in Los Angeles, California.

— Betty Skaaland, widow of WWE Hall of Famer Arnold Skaaland, sat ringside at the Survivor Series.

source: PWInsider.com

John “Bradshaw” Layfield published a blog on his official website stating that he has no plans to appear for WWE or TNA Wrestling.

“The question is whether I will return to WWE television. NO. The answer is NO. I have no plans, I have no contact with WWE. No one has mentioned this, no one has brought it up,” he wrote.

“Will that NO change to a YES. I don’t know. I love performing. I am actually healthy right now, I have lost a ton of weight getting ready for NYC marathon and am in the best shape of my life. But would I risk that to return, no I would not. However, is there a hybrid that I would be interested in-I never rule out anything.”

Regarding TNA, he wrote, “My best friend Bruce Prichard is head of talent relations for TNA-I love him, I love many of the folks there and the talent. I have no plans of going there.”

He then posted on Twitter, “IF i returned IF, I would want to be RAW gm and have some fun! I could do wonders there-great talent, just needs someone to play off of!”

— John Cena appeared in studio on The Johnny Dare Morning Show today to promote tonight’s Raw SuperShow at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Cena teased during the interview that a cage would hang above the ring at the venue. He also discussed films, cars and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Cena stated that he does not want to turn bad because seeing the Make-A-Wish kids with his merchandise makes his day.

Meanwhile, the female sidekick auditioning for the morning show said she was former WWE announcer Jonathan Coachman’s roommate in college. She also claimed to have one night stands with former WWE talent John “Bradshaw” Layfield and Al Snow.

— The Miz and R-Truth “invaded” this past weekend’s Raw live events. The same scenario took place at all three shows; the heel duo would jump WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne immediately following their victory over David Otunga and Michael McGillicutty. Company personnel would then escort the “fired” wrestlers away.

Ring announcer Justin Roberts announced at the start of all three shows that The Miz and R-Truth wouldn’t be on hand due to Triple H’s ruling last Monday on Raw.

source: ProWrestling.net

John “Bradshaw” Layfield posted a blog on his Facebook which concludes with the former WWE Champion comparing Vince Russo to a clown not good enough to work for Ringling Brothers Circle, thus explaining why he’s still involved with the wrestling industry.

He wrote: “For those that have said they would like JR and I to do commentary together, thanks but probably will never happen-though I would love it. You never know, but I am happy living in Bermuda and JR is happy living in Oklahoma not traveling. However, it has never been brought up so the option isn’t there.

“And, for JR-greatest play by play guy ever (though I have a ton of respect for Michael Cole, working with him I realize how good he is) and myself who had a decent run as a commentator. Makes you wonder why Vince Russo, former WWE creative, would say about those with a southern accent, and specifically about JR-“How can anyone take anything they say seriously with that accent?”.

“I actually was told to try and talk without a southern accent by Russo so I could be taken seriously. I guess Stone Cold was never taken seriously and JR was just average? Amazing guys who stay in this business year after year, maybe another example of a clown not good enough for Ringling Bros?”

JBL has also launched a YouTube channel.