JBL Steps Down

Yesterday, JBL announced that he is stepping down from being an announcer.

"After much consideration, I will be stepping back my weekly role as Smackdown Announcer to dedicate more continuous time on the work I have done since 2010 with at risk kids and communities. My new schedule will allow me to continue to be a part of the WWE family and also continue my work that I feel is the most important thing in my life. I will continue my 20+ year relationship with WWE and will appear on such marquee shows as Tribute to the Troops, WrestleMania, amongst others.

"With the help of Beyond Sport, I founded Beyond Rugby Bermuda in 2010--which has been recognized as one of the world's best charities for work with at risk, gang focused, youth intervention. Beyond Rugby Bermuda won the 2014 NACRA Fair Play Award out of 7,000 programs and 17 countries for its work with at risk kids. I was named as a Beyond Sport Global Ambassador--an organization backed by all major sports leagues in the U.S.

"I'm proud to say that in addition to being Smackdown's longest reigning WWE Champion, I inspired WWE's Tribute to the Troops over 10 years ago. WWE has been my partner in all my philanthropic works and this new deal with WWE ensures that will continue. WWE has made my dreams come true and helped me become a global name. And now, WWE is helping me use that name to make a difference."

The way that he wrote it made it seem like he might go part-time... not that once a week shows it much. But it appears that he's done with commentary completely, at least for the time being, with WWE saying "The longest-reigning WWE Champion in SmackDown history will continue his more than 20-year relationship with WWE by appearing on events such as WrestleMania and WWE Tribute to the Troops – which JBL inspired in 2003." So he won't even be a PPV only commentator. JBL is done.

As noted yesterday, JBL announced via social media that he will be stepping away from his role as one of the members of the SmackDown Live broadcast team, a report that WWE later confirmed via their official website.

On Saturday, fellow WWE announcers Tom Phillips and Corey Graves took to Twitter to comment on JBL's departure and to thank him for all that he has done for them over the years. Soon after both posted their tweets about the news, JBL responded to each of them.

"John, you'll be sorely missed on Tuesdays," wrote Phillips via Twitter this morning. "Explore your passion to the fullest. Thank you for everything, [JBL]!"

JBL responded, "Proud of you Tom! I saw your talent at NXT and knew you were the guy. A huge honor to call Wrestlemania with you!! Smackdown is in good hands."

Corey Graves chimed in on Twitter with this message to the former WWE Champion.

"This makes me proud [and] breaks my heart. Congrats [JBL, and] mostly THANK YOU, for being a friend [and] all you've helped me with."

JBL responded a few minutes later with this message to Graves.

"You are the future [Corey Graves, and] the future is very bright!! So proud of you. Very talented, a good man. You are what is right about this biz."

I'd say I'm sad... but I'm not. He started out quite good. He was refreshing, came out with some fun lines, etc. As the years have gone on, he's been getting worse and his what was once fun lines, ended up becoming either completely wrong because he's getting false "facts" or he was just talking bullshit to make himself look smart when he wasn't. A shame really. But I guess Vince in your ear all the time for years on end can make you give up caring so much.