JBL Recalls WWE HOFer Spiking Drinks During Infamous 'Plane Ride From Hell'

The professional wrestling world was quite different behind-the-scenes throughout the 1990s into the early 2000s, with the "Plane Ride from Hell" perhaps the most infamous incident highlighting the culture at the time. Numerous wrestlers caused many, serious issues for flight staff and one another, and WWE Hall of Famer John Bradshaw Layfield recently spoke about the flight on an episode of "Something to Wrestle."

JBL described once getting his drink spiked at a bar in New Orleans, which led to him explaining that it was common for other wrestlers at the time to drug one another's drinks, which he referred to as "gimmicking" the beverage, as a joke. He said it happened on the infamous plane ride, and said it came at the hand of "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig.

"I saw it, yes. Yeah, absolutely, Plane Ride from Hell," he said. "[Hennig] gimmicked [Jim Ross] and he gimmicked [Gerald] Brisco. JR was passed out a lot of the flight because Curt had stuck the gimmick in his drink. Then, Gerry Brisco, he got Brisco, as well... It was just a matter of guys would get gimmicked and it'd just knock you out. Again, you're drugging people, it's not good, but that's what guys did. Guys would be like, 'Oh my God, I've been gimmicked' and they'd just laugh about it. You almost blamed yourself, because you'd think, 'I didn't take care of my beer bottle.'"

He said that unfortunately, the behavior was par for the course at the time. JBL said that the reason a lot of stars from his generation are no longer living could be in part due to the pills and partying that went on during the era.

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit "Something to Wrestle" and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.