The Cabinet
Encyclopedia
The Cabinet was a heel
professional wrestling
stable that was part of World Wrestling Entertainment
's SmackDown! brand
. It was created by John "Bradshaw" Layfield
(JBL) shortly after he won the WWE Championship
at The Great American Bash
in 2004.
The future of the Cabinet seemed to be in doubt, in mid-2005 after the firing of Amy Weber
and the resignation of the Basham Brothers (who were then split in the WWE Draft Lottery
). The stable had dwindled down to just JBL and Orlando Jordan. With both men seemingly concentrating on their own singles careers, it seemed like the end of the Cabinet but on the September 16, 2005 edition of Friday Night SmackDown!, after JBL lost to Rey Mysterio, he hired spin doctor, Jillian Hall
in order to "fix" his career. Though seemingly adding a Publicist
to the stable there was no mention of the Cabinet until December 9, 2005 when Jordan assisted JBL in a match. This led to General manager Theodore Long
announcing that JBL and Jordan would team up for a match at the end of the night.
The return of the Cabinet was later fueled when publicist, Hall accompanied Jordan to the ring for a match taped for WWE Velocity
on December 16. Since then Hall has been fired by JBL, Jordan was released from WWE, and JBL has retired from (and subsequently returned to) professional wrestling, but now has retired fully.
. The trademark of the group was the "Longhorn" pose, where each member raised their arms at an angle and positioned their hands flat resembling JBL's Texas longhorn symbol. All the male members held a championship while being part of the stable.
won the WWE title at The Great American Bash 2004
, and kept it until WrestleMania 21
. During this time he set up The Cabinet. This reign lasted nine months, and consequently JBL was the longest-reigning WWE champion of the decade, which was ironically broken by John Cena
the man who defeated JBL at Wrestlemania 21. JBL defeated many established main event stars during his reign, including Eddie Guerrero
, The Undertaker, Booker T
, The Big Show
and Kurt Angle
.
Orlando Jordan
won the WWE United States Championship
, after picking up a controversial win over former champ John Cena
on March 3, 2005. This was his first title reign of any kind since his debut. Jordan and JBL later destroyed Cena's Spinner belt.
While Co-Secretaries of Defense, the Basham Brothers
picked up their second reign as Tag Champs on the January 13 edition of SmackDown! when they eliminated Rob Van Dam
and Rey Mysterio in a Fatal Four Way elimination match that also included the teams of Mark Jindrak
and Luther Reigns, and Booker T
and Eddie Guerrero
.
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
stable that was part of World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
's SmackDown! brand
WWE Brand Extension
WWE, formerly the World Wrestling Federation and World Wrestling Entertainment , currently promotes its core business of professional wrestling through two "brands" named after their two major television shows Raw and SmackDown...
. It was created by John "Bradshaw" Layfield
John Layfield
John Charles Layfield is a former American professional wrestler, a former commentator/host for mixed martial arts promotion Vyper Fight League and financial analyst for Fox News...
(JBL) shortly after he won the WWE Championship
WWE Championship
The WWE Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the Raw brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the World Heavyweight Championship of the SmackDown brand. It was established under the then WWWF in 1963...
at The Great American Bash
The Great American Bash (2004)
The Great American Bash was the 1st Great American Bash professional wrestling pay-per-view event, and the first produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on June 27, 2004 at the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Virginia and was a SmackDown! brand-exclusive event...
in 2004.
The future of the Cabinet seemed to be in doubt, in mid-2005 after the firing of Amy Weber
Amy Weber
Amy Marie Weber is an American actress, model, film producer, former professional wrestling valet, and singer who is best known for her time as a WWE Diva for World Wrestling Entertainment under the SmackDown! brand...
and the resignation of the Basham Brothers (who were then split in the WWE Draft Lottery
WWE Draft Lottery
The WWE Draft, is a process used by WWE to provide new brand competition and to refreshen its rosters. The Draft was first used during the brand extension of 2002, though it was officially incepted and used in 2004...
). The stable had dwindled down to just JBL and Orlando Jordan. With both men seemingly concentrating on their own singles careers, it seemed like the end of the Cabinet but on the September 16, 2005 edition of Friday Night SmackDown!, after JBL lost to Rey Mysterio, he hired spin doctor, Jillian Hall
Jillian Hall
Jillian Faye Fletcher is an American professional wrestler who is currently signed to Women Superstars Uncensored. She is also known for her tenure in World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Jillian Hall or simply Jillian...
in order to "fix" his career. Though seemingly adding a Publicist
Publicist
A publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a public figure, especially a celebrity, a business, or for a work such as a book, film or album...
to the stable there was no mention of the Cabinet until December 9, 2005 when Jordan assisted JBL in a match. This led to General manager Theodore Long
Theodore Long
Theodore R. "Teddy" Long is an American professional wrestling manager and former referee who currently works for WWE on its SmackDown brand as its General Manager.-National Wrestling Alliance / World Championship Wrestling:...
announcing that JBL and Jordan would team up for a match at the end of the night.
The return of the Cabinet was later fueled when publicist, Hall accompanied Jordan to the ring for a match taped for WWE Velocity
WWE Velocity
WWE Velocity was a professional wrestling television program produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It replaced two syndicated WWE shows, Jakked/Metal. Once a weekly Saturday night show on Spike TV and on Sky Sports 2 in the UK on Sunday mornings, Velocity became a webcast from 2005 to 2006...
on December 16. Since then Hall has been fired by JBL, Jordan was released from WWE, and JBL has retired from (and subsequently returned to) professional wrestling, but now has retired fully.
Members
The group was organized like a presidential cabinetUnited States Cabinet
The Cabinet of the United States is composed of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States, which are generally the heads of the federal executive departments...
. The trademark of the group was the "Longhorn" pose, where each member raised their arms at an angle and positioned their hands flat resembling JBL's Texas longhorn symbol. All the male members held a championship while being part of the stable.
- President / Leader - John "Bradshaw" LayfieldJohn LayfieldJohn Charles Layfield is a former American professional wrestler, a former commentator/host for mixed martial arts promotion Vyper Fight League and financial analyst for Fox News...
. - Image Consultant - Amy WeberAmy WeberAmy Marie Weber is an American actress, model, film producer, former professional wrestling valet, and singer who is best known for her time as a WWE Diva for World Wrestling Entertainment under the SmackDown! brand...
; left WWE but was fired on-screen (kayfabeKayfabeIn professional wrestling, kayfabe is the portrayal of events within the industry as "real" or "true". Specifically, the portrayal of professional wrestling, in particular the competition and rivalries between participants, as being genuine or not of a worked nature...
) by JBL - Co-Secretaries of Defense - The Basham Brothers (DougDoug BashamThis article is about the wrestler, for the talk show host see Doug Basham Lyle Douglas "Doug" Basham, Jr. is an American professional wrestler, He is best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment between 2002 and 2007, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name...
and Danny BashamDanny HollyDaniel R. 'Danny' Holle is an American professional wrestler, currently working on the independent circuit. Holle is best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment between 1998 and 2007 and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring names Danny Holliday, Damaja and Danny...
); quit on the June 16, 2005 episode of SmackDown! - Chief of Staff - Orlando JordanOrlando JordanOrlando Jordan is an American professional wrestler, most recently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Jordan is best known for his tenure in World Wrestling Entertainment, where he was a one-time United States Champion....
; quietly stopped appearing with JBL after losing the United States Championship. - Publicist / Fixer - Jillian HallJillian HallJillian Faye Fletcher is an American professional wrestler who is currently signed to Women Superstars Uncensored. She is also known for her tenure in World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Jillian Hall or simply Jillian...
; fired by JBL
Titles
John "Bradshaw" LayfieldJohn Layfield
John Charles Layfield is a former American professional wrestler, a former commentator/host for mixed martial arts promotion Vyper Fight League and financial analyst for Fox News...
won the WWE title at The Great American Bash 2004
The Great American Bash
The Great American Bash was an annual summer professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the National Wrestling Alliance's Jim Crockett Promotions and then by World Championship Wrestling. It is now produced by World Wrestling Entertainment...
, and kept it until WrestleMania 21
WrestleMania 21
WrestleMania 21 was the twenty-first annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on April 3, 2005 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. It started off with an interpormotional battle royal, for which Booker T...
. During this time he set up The Cabinet. This reign lasted nine months, and consequently JBL was the longest-reigning WWE champion of the decade, which was ironically broken by John Cena
John Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and television personality. He is currently signed to WWE as a member of its WWE Raw brand....
the man who defeated JBL at Wrestlemania 21. JBL defeated many established main event stars during his reign, including Eddie Guerrero
Eddie Guerrero
Eduardo Gory "Eddie" Guerrero was a Mexican-American professional wrestler born into the Guerrero wrestling family. He wrestled in Mexico and Japan for several major professional wrestling promotions...
, The Undertaker, Booker T
Booker Huffman
Robert Booker Tio Huffman , better known by his ring name Booker T, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and currently signed to WWE, on its SmackDown brand, as part of the announcing team. Booker is best known for his time in both the World Wrestling Entertainment and World...
, The Big Show
Paul Wight
Paul Donald Wight, Jr. , better known by his ring name, Big Show, is an American professional wrestler and actor, currently signed to WWE on its Raw brand....
and Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle
Kurt Steven Angle is an American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and 1996 Olympic gold medalist. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is recognized as a 15-time World Heavyweight Champion...
.
Orlando Jordan
Orlando Jordan
Orlando Jordan is an American professional wrestler, most recently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Jordan is best known for his tenure in World Wrestling Entertainment, where he was a one-time United States Champion....
won the WWE United States Championship
WWE United States Championship
The WWE United States Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It was originally a National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling championship, and is currently the secondary championship of the Raw brand....
, after picking up a controversial win over former champ John Cena
John Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and television personality. He is currently signed to WWE as a member of its WWE Raw brand....
on March 3, 2005. This was his first title reign of any kind since his debut. Jordan and JBL later destroyed Cena's Spinner belt.
While Co-Secretaries of Defense, the Basham Brothers
Basham Brothers
The Basham Brothers, Doug and Danny , are a professional wrestling tag team, who formerly worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment .-History:...
picked up their second reign as Tag Champs on the January 13 edition of SmackDown! when they eliminated Rob Van Dam
Rob Van Dam
Robert Alexander "Rob" Szatkowski , better known by his ring name Rob Van Dam , is an American professional wrestler and actor who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
and Rey Mysterio in a Fatal Four Way elimination match that also included the teams of Mark Jindrak
Mark Jindrak
Mark Robert Jindrak is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment...
and Luther Reigns, and Booker T
Booker Huffman
Robert Booker Tio Huffman , better known by his ring name Booker T, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and currently signed to WWE, on its SmackDown brand, as part of the announcing team. Booker is best known for his time in both the World Wrestling Entertainment and World...
and Eddie Guerrero
Eddie Guerrero
Eduardo Gory "Eddie" Guerrero was a Mexican-American professional wrestler born into the Guerrero wrestling family. He wrestled in Mexico and Japan for several major professional wrestling promotions...
.
Championships
- WWE ChampionshipWWE ChampionshipThe WWE Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the Raw brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the World Heavyweight Championship of the SmackDown brand. It was established under the then WWWF in 1963...
(1 time) - John "Bradshaw" LayfieldJohn LayfieldJohn Charles Layfield is a former American professional wrestler, a former commentator/host for mixed martial arts promotion Vyper Fight League and financial analyst for Fox News... - WWE United States ChampionshipWWE United States ChampionshipThe WWE United States Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It was originally a National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling championship, and is currently the secondary championship of the Raw brand....
(1 time) - Orlando JordanOrlando JordanOrlando Jordan is an American professional wrestler, most recently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Jordan is best known for his tenure in World Wrestling Entertainment, where he was a one-time United States Champion.... - WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) - The Basham Brothers