John Charles Layfield (born November 29 1966) known by his current ring name John "Bradshaw" Layfield or JBL, is an American professional wrestler. He is currently working for World Wrestling Entertainment, wrestling on its RAW brand. He is the longest reigning World Champion in SmackDown history, the brand which he recently left his position as a color commentator to restart his career as an in-ring competitor.
His gimmick--a wealthy, gladhanding businessman--is based on Layfield's real-life accomplishments as a stock market investor. Layfield is a regular panelist on Fox News Channel's The Cost of Freedom and previously appeared on CNBC. He has also written a best-selling book on financial planning called Have More Money Now (ISBN 0-7434-6633-0). While Layfield continues to perform for WWE, he also hosts a weekend talk radio program, syndicated nationally by Talk Radio Network, in which he discusses his conservative political views. Layfield is also employed by Northeast Securities as Senior Vice President.
John Layfield, D.D. (also spelled Laifield) (died 1617 in London) was a fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, the chaplain to George Clifford, the 3rd Earl of Cumberland on his 1592 voyage to Puerto Rico, rector of St Clement Danes in London from 1601 and appointed a founding fellow of Chelsea College by King James I of England in 1610. He was also a member of the "First Westminster Company" charged by James I of England with the translation of the first 12 books of the King James Version of the Bible. It was said that "being skilled in architecture, his judgment was much relied on for the fabric of the tabernacle and temple."
