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."
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Spotlight in History
- 1978 Jose Lothario def. Assassin 1 for the TSW Louisiana Title
- 1985 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) def. The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 2008 Michael Barry def. Angel Williams for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 2008 New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
- 2008 The Gentlemen Thugs (Cast-Iron Cothern & Shane Morbid) def. New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 2009 Jermaine Johnson def. Ky-ote Joe for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 2013 Mike Foxx def. Tim Storm for the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Title
- 2013 Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) def. The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
- 2013 The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) def. Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
- 2014 Kevin Morgan & became the IZW Tag Team Champions
- 2014 Jordan Jacobs def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 2014 Claudia def. Bree Ann for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
- 2014 The Brotherhood (Kyng Benjamin & Akuma Jones) def. A. C. Slaughter (Aaron Anders & Clint Cassidy) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 2014 Fuel def. Tim Rockwell for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 2025 Gideon Vane became the EPW International Champion
- 2025 Miles Bane became the NAW Openweight Champion
Week of Sun 09-20 to Sat: 09-26
- 09-20 1978 Jose Lothario def. Assassin 1 for the TSW Louisiana Title
- 09-20 1985 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) def. The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-20 2008 Michael Barry def. Angel Williams for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 09-20 2008 New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
- 09-20 2008 The Gentlemen Thugs (Cast-Iron Cothern & Shane Morbid) def. New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 09-20 2009 Jermaine Johnson def. Ky-ote Joe for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 09-20 2013 Mike Foxx def. Tim Storm for the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Title
- 09-20 2013 Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) def. The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
- 09-20 2013 The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) def. Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
- 09-20 2014 Kevin Morgan & became the IZW Tag Team Champions
- 09-20 2014 Jordan Jacobs def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 09-20 2014 Claudia def. Bree Ann for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
- 09-20 2014 The Brotherhood (Kyng Benjamin & Akuma Jones) def. A. C. Slaughter (Aaron Anders & Clint Cassidy) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 09-20 2014 Fuel def. Tim Rockwell for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 09-20 2025 Gideon Vane became the EPW International Champion
- 09-20 2025 Miles Bane became the NAW Openweight Champion
- 09-21 1954 Johnny Valentine def. Joe Christie for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-21 2002 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
- 09-21 2012 Tim Storm became the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Champion
- 09-21 2012 Kyra Maya became the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
- 09-21 2013 Nasty Swag (Robert Lee & Ace Archuleta) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
- 09-21 2019 Slice & Kill (Skylar Slice & Killista) def. The Proclamation (Ethan Cole & Reed) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 09-21 2024 Brandon Warhawk def. Seth Daniels for the UWE Apex Title
- 09-21 2024 Fuel def. Killbane for the UWE Heavyweight Title
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- 09-21 2024 Super Crash Brothers (Badger James & Trench Blythe) def. Party Bird Crew (Smitty & Birdman) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 09-22 1971 Bill Watts def. Dusty Rhodes for the TSW North American Title
- 09-22 2001 Jenna Love became the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
- 09-22 2001 Justin Lee def. Dexter Hardaway for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
- 09-22 2012 Crossfire Morrison def. Drake Gallows for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 09-22 2012 Kareem Sadat def. Crossfire Morrison for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 09-22 2023 Tommy Prince became the TexPro Dynasty Champion
- 09-22 2023 Nashoba became the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
- 09-22 2023 Skidz def. Nashoba for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 09-22 2023 Oscar Amazing def. Skidz for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 09-23 1974 Tex McKenzie & Johnny Valentine def. The Blackjacks (Blackjack Mulligan & Blackjack Lanza) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-23 1975 Jose Lothario def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-23 2000 Grenade def. Ichiban [2nd] for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
- 09-23 2016 Xavior became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
- 09-23 2016 Nikki Knight def. Skylar Slice for the MSWA Ladies Title
- 09-23 2016 Psycho Mike def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 09-23 2017 Kikutaro def. Ryan Davidson for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 09-23 2017 Dusty Gold def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 09-23 2017 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Womens Title
- 09-23 2017 Double D def. Kevin Morgan for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 09-23 2017 Drake Gallows def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
- 09-23 2017 Xavior def. C. J. Ward for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
- 09-23 2017 The Omega (O’Brien & O’Malley) def. The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 09-23 2023 Skidz def. Oscar Amazing for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 09-23 2023 Koko def. Dan Webber for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 09-23 2023 Sweetness (Cappuccino Jones & Romeo Reese) def. Southern Aristocracy (Eddie LeVaughn & Anthony Wild) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 09-23 2023 Killbane def. Leo Fox for the UWE Apex Title
- 09-24 2002 The Professionals (John Zorthos & Julian Wolfenbarger) became the ACW Tag Team Champions
- 09-24 2016 Ricky Starks def. Ky-Ote for the IWR Revolutionary Title
- 09-24 2022 London Calling (Dutch Hagen & Richie Adams) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
- 09-24 2022 Martin Justice def. Tyler Watts for the EPW International Title
- 09-24 2022 Logan Knight def. Kareem Sadat for the EPW All-American Title
- 09-24 2022 Olivier Vegos def. Danni Bee for the NCWO Women's Title
- 09-25 1965 Don Kent def. Red McKim for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Title
- 09-25 1981 The Great Kabuki def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 09-25 1999 Big Daddy Moore def. Rocco Valentino for the OPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 09-25 1999 The Casualties of War (Malice & Shrapnel) def. Red Eagle & Night Hawk for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 09-25 1999 Kid Flash def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
- 09-25 2004 Michael Barry def. Brandon Groom for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 09-25 2010 Wage def. Bernie D for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 09-26 1978 Terry Latham & Ricky Fields def. Seigfried Stanke & Kurt Von Hess for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
- 09-26 1984 Adrian Street def. Terry Taylor for the MSW Television Title
- 09-26 2004 John O'Malley def. Mr. Brown for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 09-26 2009 Jeremy Quinn III became the ACW Heavyweight Champion
- 09-26 2014 Paul Puertorico def. Matt Majestic for the SRPW United States Title
- 09-26 2020 Brian Dixon def. Ethan Cole for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 09-26 2020 The Ritual (Samedi & Shadow Gemini) became the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
- 09-26 2025 Riley Grinn def. Tommy Dean for the BUW No Pressure Title
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