On Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 5:39 PM EST
A few more details have been released regarding the "Iraq Punchout" (as it has been termed) between Joey Styles and JBL last week in Iraq. Many have described the situation as typical JBL bullying of a guy he saw as a nerdy type and doing his best to make fun of him. It was the JBL, who has a reputation for being a tough guy and street fighter, that many younger wrestlers feel they have to endure as they fear retaliating will cost them their job.
One witness said JBL was bullying Styles by pouring drinks on him and calling him various names (JBL had also poured a bucket of ice on Lilian Garcia as she was sleeping on the plane). This same eyewitness added that when JBL turned his back, Styles jumped him and caught JBL with a punch that gave him a small cut under the eye that was bleeding like crazy causing JBL to become furious. JBL had reportedly been making comments about Styles' family and Styles became very upset. The entire situation was looked at as something that was a slow build over several days with many verbal taunts.
As reported on yesterday, JBL was described as being very quiet and "working intently" on his Blackberry in the hours before the Raw taping as he was aware the story was making the rounds backstage. Styles was described as a conquering hero to some at TV on Monday as many got a kick out of the idea that JBL was humiliated, by of all people, the old ECW TV announcer. A friend of JBL's had the following to say in the days after the incident: "I always shake my head when he lowers himself to these high school spectacles. He’s such a smart, funny, engaging person and a good guy at his core but he is compelled to act in a deplorable manner and it has come back to bite him in the ass."
Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter