Slammiversary was a huge success for TNA. There were many surprises and returns at the show. Stars like Bully Ray and AJ Styles made an appearance on the show. Recently, JBL claimed that he was supposed to be a part of Slammiversary too.
While speaking on the Something to Wrestle podcast, JBL reflected on his scrapped storyline in TNA and revealed that he was supposed to be at TNA’s biggest event of the year.
“Somebody sent me a note on social media and they said, ‘I hope they finish this storyline with so and so, unlike what they did with JBL.’ I want to tell people that last night at [TNA Slammiversary], I was supposed to be there, initially, and I was supposed to have a part that people wouldn’t have believed how big it was. That did not work out. There is a reason. The reason that got ended in TNA wasn’t because of me. Maybe it was, maybe it was because I’m not any good, but it was a decision made by someone who is no longer there.” [H/T Fightful.com]
JBL on the plans being scrapped
The WWE Hall of Famer also mentioned that he was very happy with how Slammiversary went. JBL was also very excited about his creative direction in TNA, which he had already agreed to. He then vented his frustrations about the plans being scrapped. Layfield felt that the change of plans made no sense.
JBL said Tommy Dreamer was not the one who made the decision. He says the whole thing was planned out, and his storyline was supposed to head in a specific direction. JBL got in shape for it and was ready to go. However, TNA called and said they were changing their minds. He said TNA is entitled to change their plans, but he thought it “made absolutely no sense.” JBL mentioned that the person who spoke with him isn’t in TNA anymore, and the idea they changed it to never happened either.
JBL believes a different creative direction would have been received well
During the same episode, JBL agreed with Conrad Thompson that a different creative direction could have had a better reaction from fans. He also mentioned that if things had gone as planned, then he would have been traveling with TNA throughout the year.
“It would have done something that I thought would’ve left the business and left things on people that I thought would have drawn money and done a good job for the company. I would have been there throughout the rest of the year. I’m not going to leave without putting somebody over and make somebody. Mike Santana was probably the guy. I don’t know that for sure. I think he’s the guy. It’s just a matter of when he becomes the guy,” JBL said.
Would you like to see JBL return to TNA?
