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
-Was the first to realize the power of television and its relationship to professional wrestling
-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
Supplemental Information
Upcoming Events
- TIW · Jun 15 6:00pm · Claremore
- UWO · Jun 15 6:00pm · Oklahoma City
- EPW · Jun 15 6:00pm · Norman
- TexPro · Jun 22 7:00pm · Ardmore
- WAH · Jun 22 7:00pm · Tulsa
- UWE · Jun 28 6:30pm · Tahlequah
- BPW · Jun 29 7:00pm · Henryetta
- ASP · Jun 30 3:30pm · Bethany
- WFC · Jul 6 7:00pm · Broken Arrow
- WAH · Jul 13 6:00pm · Tulsa
- UWE · Jul 13 6:00pm · Tahlequah
- NAW · Jul 13 6:30pm · Watts (Chewey)
- BPW · Jul 13 7:00pm · Tulsa
- ASP · Jun 30 3:30pm · Bethany
- BPW · Jun 29 7:00pm · Henryetta
- BPW · Jul 13 7:00pm · Tulsa
- EPW · Jun 15 6:00pm · Norman
- NAW · Jul 13 6:30pm · Watts (Chewey)
- TexPro · Jun 22 7:00pm · Ardmore
- TIW · Jun 15 6:00pm · Claremore
- UWE · Jun 28 6:30pm · Tahlequah
- UWE · Jul 13 6:00pm · Tahlequah
- UWO · Jun 15 6:00pm · Oklahoma City
- WAH · Jun 22 7:00pm · Tulsa
- WAH · Jul 13 6:00pm · Tulsa
- WFC · Jul 6 7:00pm · Broken Arrow
- Jimmy Hart and Matt Riddle · Aug 10 10:00am · Cox Business Convention Center · Tulsa
- Jimmy Hart and Matt Riddle · Aug 11 11:00am · Cox Business Convention Center · Tulsa
- Jake Hager and Jimmy Hart · Oct 5 10:00am · A. J. Horton Event Center · McAlester
- Jake Hager and Jimmy Hart · Oct 6 10:00am · A. J, Horton Event Center · McAlester