Source: Facebook
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 truly love this business, one of my youngest memories as a kid was watching The Von Erich wrestling out of Dallas on Saturday nights. I missed being a part of it over the last few years.
I have been amazed at how hard these guys work, it is a pleasure to be calling their matches. And a pleasure to do homework on each guy so that I can do my part.
When I first had to retire it was the same as my first year coaching football at TVCC in Athens Texas-I was still too close to it to really enjoy the work. When I was coaching I was still playing in the World League so I had more desire to play than to just coach. My first commentary run I had just found out I was hurt and couldn’t wrestle and my desire was to return to the ring. I was doing commentary thinking that I might be able to return one day.
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.
My weeks are very busy ( I travel out on Monday and back on Wednesday except PPV when I leave on Saturdays), I am training 3-5 hours a day for Mt Aconcagua in January and I am doing Fox Business or Fox News at least two shows a week. My main show is Cashin’ In on Saturday mornings at 1130a et. I tape the Fox shows here in Bermuda normally.
I have the www.LayfieldReport.com (which I do with my brother) and my podcast and a YouTube WWE recap show I plan on starting this week. I also write for Fox Business when I have an interesting topic and time to cover it.
I also have my kids program (THE most important thing I have ever done) in Bermuda that I work with daily. I will land on Wednesday and go straight to the school, we started back up this week. Our coach Patrick Calow is making a huge difference in these kids lives with a ton of awesome volunteers.
www.SevenSummitsForKids.com is the place to keep up with the mountains I am climbing to raise money for our kids programs here in Bermuda.
I hope that answers all the questions. I’m happy to be back, I have realized in my time away that the place I really want to be is back with WWE and in this great business.
