June 14, 2004 Observer Newsletter: JBL/Germany controversy, potential bad summer for wrestling

John Layfield caused a lot of controversy, and lost his CNBC jobs, stemming from his actions on the 6/5 show in Munich, Germany, when he kept goose stepping and making Nazi signs on six occasions. The actions took place during a series of matches that started with a singles match with Eddy Guerrero, turned into a handicap match when Booker T joined in, and finished as a tag team match when Undertaker helped out Guerrero.

According to several live reports, most of the fans did not find this the slightest bit entertaining. Of course, he didn’t do it to entertain as much as attempt to get heel heat. Goose stepping and saluting Hitler are illegal in Germany, although it’s very possible he didn’t know that. No charges were filed, and Layfield, 36, worked the next night in Oberhausen, where he did nothing of the sort, and left the country without incident. 

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