JBL Comments on Getting Back Into the Ring & Taking His First Bump in 16 Years

WWE Hall of Famer John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL) got back in the ring and did some training recently, working with OVW’s Jody Malenko and Al Snow. JBL also revealed he plans on attending OVW’s upcoming Nightmare Rumble event on January 11 in Louisville, Kentucky. He shared a clip of his training, including the first bump he’s taken in 16 years.

JBL wrote in the caption, “First bump in 16 years. Haha. Like a kid again, a real real old kid. Thanks to my coach Jody Malenko and Al Snow with OVW. I’ll be at the big show tomorrow in Louisville.”

When WWE referee and producer Scott Armstrong exclaimed that Layfield should “never do that again,” JBL responded, “Bumping easy! It’s getting up that has gotten really hard.”

Bradshaw had last wrestled at WrestleMania 25 in Houston, Texas back in 2009. He lost the Intercontinental Championship at the event to Rey Mysterio and “quit” wrestling after the match. He was later inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2021.

First bump in 16 years. Haha. Like a kid again, a real real old kid. Thanks to my coach Jody Malenko and Al Snow with OVW. I’ll be at the big show tomorrow in Louisville pic.twitter.com/bYRQaRyY33

— John Layfield (@JCLayfield) January 10, 2026

Bumping easy! It’s getting up that has gotten really hard.

— John Layfield (@JCLayfield) January 10, 2026