JBL Estimates 40 Percent Chance Of Ted DiBiase Jr. WWE Return Following Acquittal

John Layfield has weighed in on the future of Ted DiBiase Jr. following his recent legal victory, suggesting there is still a realistic chance fans could see him back in WWE.

Speaking on the Something to Wrestle with Conrad Thompson, JBL estimated that DiBiase Jr. has roughly a 40 percent chance of returning to WWE, describing it as “slightly under a coin flip.”

DiBiase Jr. was recently acquitted by a Mississippi jury on all 13 federal charges tied to the alleged misuse of state welfare funds. The case also involved his brother Brett DiBiase, who accepted a plea deal that resulted in a five-year prison sentence, while another co-conspirator received 32 years at the state level.

“I’m absolutely thrilled,” JBL said. “I love Ted. I love Ted Jr. Those are good dudes. Those are good people.”

JBL also pushed back against the narrative surrounding the case, stating that public perception had largely been shaped by the initial charges rather than the outcome in court.

“The government charged them, and then the jury said that the government had no case, that they’re not guilty,” JBL said. “But the problem is, you only have one person speaking here, so you have the government speaking, and people just take their word for it. I talked with Ted about it many times. Ted had told me his version of the story, and that version the jury believed to be true.”

When discussing the possibility of a WWE comeback, JBL remained cautious but open to the idea.

“I think around 40%. Slightly under a coin flip. I don’t think it probably happens, but I think there’s a chance it could. I think there’s kind of a groundswell. I think Ted would get a huge babyface reaction coming out, having been acquitted of all charges.”

The conversation also touched on DiBiase Jr.’s history as part of Legacy alongside Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton. With Rhodes and Orton currently positioned at the top of the card heading into WrestleMania 42, the idea of a reunion was brought up as a potential storyline.

JBL pointed out that the appeal could extend beyond just DiBiase Jr., referencing the legacy of his father, Ted DiBiase Sr..

“Ted DiBiase Senior was such a big character in WWE, that laugh, the million dollar laugh,” JBL said. “There was this black cloud kind of hanging over them, and now that black cloud has been lifted. It might be a good chance to do something with him, and maybe with Junior. I think it could be a pretty good TV segment. They’ve got 10 hours a week they’ve got to fill. There’s places to do this, if they choose to.”

DiBiase Jr., who has not competed in WWE since 2013, also issued a statement after the verdict.

“A Mississippi jury has acquitted me on all charges. I’m forever indebted to nationally recognized trial lawyer Eric Hirschman, who guided my overall defense strategy and stepped in to masterfully cross examine the government’s star witness.”

While nothing has been confirmed regarding a return, JBL’s comments highlight that the possibility, while uncertain, is not completely off the table.

JBL Estimates 40 Percent Chance Of Ted DiBiase Jr. WWE Return Following Acquittal