By James Caldwell, PWTorch columnist

-- JBL was the subject of a Forbes Magazine story related to the Top 15 Richest Fictional characters. Such notables in the tongue-in-cheek list include Uncle Sam, Gordon Gekko, Mr. Monoply, and Thurston Howell III.

Forbes published an article on JBL, asking if he should be included on the list since he's a fictional character in WWE, but based on turning the volume up on the actual John Layfield.

"JBL smartened up and married a rich woman and moved to NYC," Layfield recently told Forbes in the third-person...or maybe not. "JBL quit trying to be the common guy's friend and decided to make money. It has worked out very well for JBL."

The whole thing puzzled Forbes, especially related to the following million dollar question that all wrestling fans have to ask themselves if they don't suspend disbelief.

Blogger Michael Maeillo wrote: "How about that he recently attempted to vanquish rival wrestler John Cena by driving a car into the white rapper's head? And although the whole thing was shown on a live television broadcast, he was never arrested or even sent to remedial driver's education? If I did that (and I do hate John Cena), I'd go to jail. Ipso facto, JBL is fictional."

Link: Forbes profile of JBL.

-- JBL recently completed a photo shoot with former WWE diva Torrie Wilson for the cover of "Muscle and Body Magazine," which is the magazine for the Vitamin Shoppe health and nutrition store.

The magazine comes out in May 2009. Yes, that far away. JBL's goal was to tip the scales 100 pounds lighter than he made a conscious decision to start losing weight. He started at 330 pounds, but checked into the photo shoot at 235 pounds.

Source link: JBL's blog on WWE Universe.

Caldwell's Analysis: JBL played to the TV storyline in his WWE Universe blog that it's great having Shawn Michaels working for him now. Apparently, Michaels will be selling bottles of Mamajuana energy along with DX merchandise. In all seriousness, this could be great TV with Michaels standing out in front of Kroger or HEB trying to sell passer-bys bottles of energy drinks while also shilling DX t-shirts and plush toys.

RELATED STORY at PWTorch.com: "Con" argument against JBL-Shawn Michaels TV storyline.

[JBL photo by Nick Menecci (c) PWTorch]

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