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Bios

Jim Barnett

From: Oklahoma City, OK

Birthday: Jun 9th

Feds Worked For: NWA, WCW, WWF, International Wrestling Alliance (Australia), World Championship Wrestling (Australia), World Wrestling Association (IN)

Affiliates: Fred Kohler

Other Facts: -Graduated from Classen High School in Oklahoma City in 1942
-While employed by NWA promoter Fred Kohler of Chicago, worked as a road agent for Verne Gagne, Pat O'Connor, Sonny Myers, and Hans Schmidt
-While working for Kohler, he was a major player when wrestling was on television on the Dumont Network in Chicago
-Essentially invented studio wrestling.
-Was the first to realize the power of television and its relationship to professional wrestling. In the wake of the 1950s Quiz Show Scandals, Congress began amending FCC regulations so only genuine contests could be presented on TV. Wrestling was to be included in this and was on the chopping block. Barnett collected large sums of money from the regional promoters and made a very generous 'donation' to some members of Congress to make sure wrestling got a pass. Without Jim Barnett, wrestling television would have ceased to exist in September 1960.
-Was able to get Kohler's "Wrestling from the Marigold" syndicated across the U.S. and thus was born the 1st national wrestling TV show
-Received the 1st wrestling manager's license ever issued by the Illinois Athletic Commission on November 16, 1955
-Was the promoter during the glory days of wrestling in Chicago, Indiana, Georgia and Australia
-Saw an open market in Australia as far as wrestling was concerned and booked many American wrestlers on his events
-Barnett ran one of the classiest promotions in wrestling history treating his talent good and enforcing a suit & tie dress code
-Always personally came to the dressing room before shows to motivate the wrestlers
-Became a member of the NWA in August 1969 after 20 successful years as a wrestling promoter
-After purchasing the Atlanta Territory, Barnett became secretary of the NWA and possibly its most powerful promoter
-Was one of the leading executives during the WWF's expansion under Vince McMahon.
-Was Ted Turner's closest confidante when Turner got into the wrestling business and worked for WCW for much of the 1990s.
-Barnett was portrayed in a very negative manner in recent books by Jim Wilson and Ole Anderson
-Employed actor Lee Majors as a driver in the 1950s.
-Passed away on September 18, 2004 at the age of 80 after a long battle with cancer
-Posthumously inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996
-Posthumously inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame in 2005
-Posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Legacy Wing in 2019