Former WWE Champion John Bradshaw Layfield took to his Facebook page moments ago noting that himself and the WWE have worked out a deal which will see him back with the company on a full-time basis as a commentator on the WWE SmackDown brand alongside Josh Matthews, while he will be part of a 3-man team on pay-per-view only with Michael Cole and Jerry “The King” Lawler, who returns to the company this Monday in Columbus, Ohio for the first time since his heart attack back on September 10th.

Layfield’s post is available in full below:

“Very happy WWE and I have worked out a deal for me to return on a full time basis. There came a need when my friend Jerry Lawler had a heart attack and was not able to work, however, I realized how much I enjoyed being back and this was the basis for my decision to return. I truly love this business, one of my youngest memories as a kid was watching The Von Erich wrestling out of Dallas on Saturday nights. I missed being a part of it over the last few years. I have been amazed at how hard these guys work, it is a pleasure to be calling their matches. And a pleasure to do homework on each guy so that I can do my part.

When I first had to retire it was the same as my first year coaching football at TVCC in Athens Texas-I was still too close to it to really enjoy the work. When I was coaching I was still playing in the World League so I had more desire to play than to just coach. My first commentary run I had just found out I was hurt and couldn’t wrestle and my desire was to return to the ring. I was doing commentary thinking that I might be able to return one day. I now just enjoy doing commentary, and no, have no desire to ever be in the ring again. I am in the best shape I have probably ever been in due to the mountain training, but a twisted knee, ankle or back and I lose my dream of the Seven Summits-not worth the risk to me and I had my time and I loved it. Commentary is where I want to be.

I will be doing Smackdown with Josh Matthews. I have filled in on Main Event some but mainly when Miz has a large part in the show and can’t do commentary.  Raw is 100% Jerry’s. He and Michael are a great team, I enjoy listening to Jerry and there are no plans for a three man booth with me in it. I am happy on Smackdown. It looks like I will be doing PPVs as a representative for the Smackdown brand as part of a three man booth with Cole and King. I cannot say enough how impressed I am with Michael Cole, there is so much more to the commentary game now and he is the best I have seen. Josh prepares well and we don’t have the sync that Michael and I have yet, but we will get there. Josh is fun to work with, I love when I get him so frustrated he throws his hands up in the air not knowing what I will say next. Michael and I had a year of commentary behind us already when I returned, Josh and I have only been doing it for a short time.  I don’t know where Josh buys those horrible sweaters and gets that spiky haircut though. And yes, I do have fun ribbing my old boss and Okie friend JR. It’s all in good fun.

My weeks are very busy ( I travel out on Monday and back on Wednesday except PPV when I leave on Saturdays), I am training 3-5 hours a day for Mt Aconcagua in January and I am doing Fox Business or Fox News at least two shows a week. My main show is Cashin’ In on Saturday mornings at 1130a et. I tape the Fox shows here in Bermuda normally. I have the www.LayfieldReport.com (which I do with my brother) and my podcast and a YouTube WWE recap show I plan on starting this week. I also write for Fox Business when I have an interesting topic and time to cover it. I also have my kids program (THE most important thing I have ever done) in Bermuda that I work with daily. I will land on Wednesday and go straight to the school, we started back up this week. Our coach Patrick Calow is making a huge difference in these kids lives with a ton of awesome volunteers.

www.SevenSummitsForKids.com is the place to keep up with the mountains I am climbing to raise money for our kids programs here in Bermuda. I hope that answers all the questions. I’m happy to be back, I have realized in my time away that the place I really want to be is back with WWE and in this great business.”