Jeff: We Need Another Tyson
Posted: Dec 28th 2010 By: CMBurnham
TNA founder Jeff Jarrett has said that wrestling desperately needs another 'pop culture' moment to get the industry buzzing again.
Speaking on SunSport's award-winning WrestleCast show, Jarrett remembered the time Mike Tyson appeared on TV with Stone Cold Steve Austin.
It transformed the WWE's business and effectively started their charge to win the Monday Night War against WCW.
Jarrett told us: "When you look back on the history of professional wrestling there are certain things that make you go 'wow'.
"The Mike Tyson thing comes to mind. When that story hit, the timing couldn't have been more perfect.
"Stone Cold had blossomed into a superstar, going against Vince McMahon, the guy who was an announcer for 20 years and was now stepping out from behind the desk and taking his real role as the boss.
"You had employee v employer and then Mike Tyson, 'The Baddest Man On The Planet...there was magic that happened.
"It was big. It was really big. You can't put a price on getting into pop culture. I think the business as a whole needs a pop culture moment."
Jarrett spoke to us passionately about many subjects, including his relationship with his dad Jerry, TNA's upcoming Maximum Impact Tour and the Gut Check training masterclass at Wembley, that he hopes will find the next British TNA superstar.
You can listen to the FULL 45 MINUTE INTERVIEW at one of the links below:
Subscribe via iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/wrestlecast-wwe-tna-wrestling/id163792140
Listen on your PC now at http://del.interoute.com/?id=8e1cba01-6a85-4f66-b256-f9cb0e2c3c8c&delivery=download
Below are some of the highlights of the chat, but as always please listen to the entire interview for the full taste of Jarrett:
Jarrett on whether Impact should feature more wrestling: "When the creative process is successful, the talent gets all the credit. When it is unsuccessful, creative gets all the blame. There's always got to be a healthy mix. When you're doing 52 shows a year that process is hard to balance. Sometimes you go too far one way, sometimes you go too far the other way. It's a healthy criticism at times but at other times it's not."
On TNA Gut Check: "We're going to find a star. We're going to pick 20-25 guys, and we want them to submit an audition tape. Britain has produced a lot of stars for us already, and we're going to find the next one. Johnny Moss is facing me at Wembley. He's been around 10 years, and all he needs is his break. The Gut Check challenge is taking place January 29, the day of the Wembley show."
On the best wrestler in the world: "When I look at a talent you have to be able to talk, you've got to be able to wrestle, you've got to have the 'it' factor. I don't believe Kurt Angle has a peer. He doesn't have a weakness across the board. His body of work over the last 10 years is incredible ? you know you are going to see something special when he's in a big match.
Jarrett on whether Angle has ever wanted to kill him: "Hmm. And vice versa too. Professionally, we're good. Personally, I don't think we'll ever see eye to eye."
Supplemental Information
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Spotlight in History
- 1982 King Kong Bundy became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 2003 Tyler Bateman def. Jef Tiger for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 2003 John O'Malley def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 2008 El Culo Intruso def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 2018 Sam Stackhouse def. Abyss for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
- 2019 Double D became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
- 2019 Prince Mahalli def. Damon Windsor for the WCR Revolutionary Title
- 2024 Cade Fite became the TIW No Pressure Champion
- 2024 Ozzy Hendrix & Adrian Vega def. The Voiceless Society (Tyler Watts & E-Bone) for the CAPW Tag Team Titles
- 2024 The Gatekeeper def. Rick Russo for the EPW All-American Title
- 2024 Trench Blythe became the EPW International Champion
- 2024 Malachi def. Kevin James Sanchez for the EPW Heavyweight Title
Week of Sun 06-14 to Sat: 06-20
- 06-14 1970 Fritz Von Erich def. Boris Malenko for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 06-14 1982 Fritz Von Erich def. King Kong Bundy for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 06-14 2004 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) def. Li'l Joe & Al Farat (substituting for Se7en) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 06-14 2008 Kenny Campbell became the IZW Impact Division Champion
- 06-14 2008 Nathan Sensation & Striker def. The New Age Syndicate (Shawn Sanders & Scott Sanders) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 06-14 2008 Anarchy [2nd] def. The Enforcer for the SECW Tri-State Title
- 06-14 2008 Dane Griffin def. Mo'Body Gillespie for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 06-14 2009 El Super Colibri became the TAP Adrenaline Champion
- 06-14 2009 Reckless def. The Canadian Red Devil for the TAP Heavyweight Title
- 06-14 2009 Shane Morbid def. Jon Cross for the TAP Oklahoma Heritage Title
- 06-14 2013 Clint Cox became the BPPW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-14 2014 The Rising (Justin Riker & Abel) def. Psycho Sawyer & Diamond for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
- 06-14 2014 Omega X (Brett Stopp & X-Static) def. The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 06-14 2025 Pastor Brent def. Dr. Corvus for the WAH Living Hope Title
- 06-14 2025 Skylar Slice became the WAH Womens Champion
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- 06-14 2025 Scotty Rose def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 06-14 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Scotty Rose for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 06-15 1982 King Kong Bundy became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 06-15 2003 Tyler Bateman def. Jef Tiger for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 06-15 2003 John O'Malley def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 06-15 2008 El Culo Intruso def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 06-15 2018 Sam Stackhouse def. Abyss for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
- 06-15 2019 Double D became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
- 06-15 2019 Prince Mahalli def. Damon Windsor for the WCR Revolutionary Title
- 06-15 2024 Cade Fite became the TIW No Pressure Champion
- 06-15 2024 Ozzy Hendrix & Adrian Vega def. The Voiceless Society (Tyler Watts & E-Bone) for the CAPW Tag Team Titles
- 06-15 2024 The Gatekeeper def. Rick Russo for the EPW All-American Title
- 06-15 2024 Trench Blythe became the EPW International Champion
- 06-15 2024 Malachi def. Kevin James Sanchez for the EPW Heavyweight Title
- 06-16 1959 The Zebra Kid def. The Golden Giant for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-16 1970 Johnny Valentine def. Killer Kowalski for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-16 1984 Terry Taylor def. Krusher Khrushchev for the MSW Television Title
- 06-16 1986 Buzz Sawyer def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Television Title
- 06-16 2006 Bobby Burns def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
- 06-16 2006 Beau Dalton became the SRPW X Division Champion
- 06-16 2006 Ray Martinez became the SRPW X Division Champion
- 06-16 2012 Big Business (Kevin Morgan & Damon Windsor) def. The Old School Suckas (Gary Tool & Randy Price) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 06-16 2017 Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders & Chaz Sharpe) def. Cursed (Kuda & Blade [2nd]) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 06-16 2017 Nytronis A'Teo def. Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders, Shawn Sanders, & Chaz Sharpe) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 06-16 2023 Jason Simon became the MajCW Native American Champion
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- 06-17 1957 Billy Raborn became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 06-17 1958 Bull Curry def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-17 1983 Jimmy Garvin def. David Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 06-17 1983 Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Michael Hayes) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 06-17 2005 Kenny Campbell def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW X Division Title
- 06-17 2006 The Party Express (Mitch Carter & Cade Sydal) def. Impact Inc. (John Zorthos & Bernie Donderwitz) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 06-17 2008 Kunna Keyoh def. El Culo Intruso for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 06-17 2017 Prince Mahalli def. Paul Puertorico for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 06-17 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 06-17 2017 Randy Price def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 06-17 2023 Alex Royal def. Justin Lee for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 06-18 1964 Karl Kox def. Louie Tillet for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-18 2004 Shane Morbid def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 06-18 2004 Codie Mullins def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 06-18 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Codie Mullins for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 06-18 2004 Pork Chop def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 06-18 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Pork Chop for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 06-18 2004 S.K. Fulton def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 06-18 2004 Dirty Harry Sanchez def. S.K. Fulton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 06-18 2006 Ryan Davidson def. Angel Williams for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
- 06-18 2011 Michael Barry def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 06-18 2016 Spyder became the SRPW United States Champion
- 06-18 2016 Skylar Slice became the IZW Womens Champion
- 06-18 2021 Lady Sensacion became the FIW Women’s Champion
- 06-18 2021 Rodeo (Chandler Hopkins & Malico) def. Cam Cole & Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Tag Team Titles
- 06-18 2022 Duke Cornell def. Blue Bolt for the WFC Prime Title
- 06-18 2022 Maddox Jones def. Striker for the EPW Heavyweight Title
- 06-18 2022 Mike Gunns def. Jake Danielsson for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 06-19 1977 Fritz Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-19 2010 Aaron Neil def. John O'Malley for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 06-19 2015 Bree Ann def. Claudia for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
- 06-20 1972 The Continental Warriors (Bobby Hart & Lorenzo Parente) def. Tom Jones & Ivan Putski for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 06-20 1977 Bill Watts became the TSW North American Champion
- 06-20 1987 Barry Windham became the UWF Western States Heritage Champion
- 06-20 2004 X-Cal def. John O'Malley for the ACW Heavyweight Title
- 06-20 2009 Dustin Heritage def. Dane Griffin for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 06-20 2009 BLK-OUT (Montego Seeka & Jermaine Johnson) def. Impact, Inc, (Johnny Z & Bernie D) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 06-20 2014 Bree Ann def. Miss Diss Lexia for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
- 06-20 2021 DNR (Drake Gallows & Revan) def. Malik Mayfield & Maui Mike for the ASP Tag Team Titles
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Oklafan Quiz
Dexter Hardaway was defeated by Gary Gram for the NWA Universal X Division Title.