Oklafan.com v5 Beta > Interviews > TNA Founder, Wrestler Jeff Jarrett Talks About Life In And Out Of Ring

TNA Founder, Wrestler Jeff Jarrett Talks About Life In And Out Of Ring

Posted: Jul 21st 2011 By: CMBurnham

Google Jeff Jarrett and you?ll find lots of them. There?s the Cleveland chef who whips up delicacies, the Kansas City lawyer who can help with that stack of speeding tickets you?ve accrued, and the Hawaiian Jeff Jarrett who ran for U.S. Senate in 2010. Yeah, but are they King of the Mountain? We think not. We talked to the professional wrestling veteran and founder of TNA Wrestling shortly before he made his way to Delaware for a gig at the State Fair.

Q You just celebrated your 25th anniversary in wrestling. Where do you see yourself going from here?

A I have to sort of reevaluate myself every year. I took a few years ago off with some personal situations, then got into a series with Kurt Angle. I put him right up there with not only my favorite matches but some of the best. I feel good, my body feels good, but I take it as it comes.

Q You?re a founder of TNA as well as a wrestler. What?s harder: Being behind the scenes or in the ring?

A What comes with more headaches? You?d think in the ring, but out of the ring. My family?s been in business for more than 70 years ? whether producing, marketing, working of the TV side of it. There are a lot of ups and owns in and out of ring, but it?s my life?s work, it?s my passion, and when I get on the road truly it is the best part of the business from the time the doors open to close. There are a lot of headaches, like being away from home, but my time at a TNA live event, it?s the best part of my job. It?s the essence of what the business is. You can watch it every week on TV, but there?s nothing like being there live and hearing the fans cheer, hearing them boo.

Q What?s the rush of getting a negative reaction?

A People cuss me out, and that?s even better. They?re passionate. The worst reaction you can get is the sound of silence. I?ve been in the business my whole life, and there really is a yin/yang ? there is no evil without good, and vice versa.

Q Does TNA Wrestling appear at fairs often? What?s that atmosphere like opposed to being in an arena?

A Last year we probably did five to 10 of them. We do about 100 shows a year, and during the summer, like any touring act, we do from time to time do state fairs. Wrestling and fairs goes back many, many, many years ago. Wrestling originated out of the fair business.
Our business has been built on the fact that we are not only the best wrestling product, but the most fan interactive. It goes hand in hand with the fair situation. People come out whether it?s like a date night, an outing with family. They get out there later in the afternoon, hit the midway and then get to watching some wrestling.

Q How is seeing wrestling live different than watching it on TV?

A You?re actually going to see how physical the business is, how physically tough it is. What you see on TV, you can take that multiplied by 1,000. When you see it live, at every show the doors open an hour before bell and you get to come in and see Don West at the merchandise stand. Then after the show we give everyone an opportunity to get up in the ring and get photos taken with stars. When we say fan interactive, we really pride ourselves on that and take it to another level.

Q One of your signature moves is the guitar shot. Who was the most satisfying to lay that on?

A I?ve done it to so many people, like the late, great Gary Coleman, Beetlejuice from ?The Howard Stern Show,? a 72-year-old woman, Chyna, Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle several times. Each situation?s different. The latest one is most satisfying, because that?s freshest in my mind.

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Spotlight in History

1977 Dick Murdoch def. Jerry Oates for the TSW North American Title
1978 Jerry Stubbs became the TSW Mississippi Champion
1999 Joey Casanova became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
2010 Jermaine Johnson def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
2010 Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) def. Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
2021 Koko became the WAH Living Hope Champion
2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Oklahoma Champion
2021 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Cpl. Punishment) def. Most Wanted (Dan Webber, Reese, & T-Arsenal) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
2021 Danni Bee became the NCWO Women's Champion
2021 Samedi def. Tommy Dean for the CPW Heavyweight Title
2021 Ky-Ote became the NCWO Choctaw Nation Champion
2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Heavyweight Champion
2021 Akbar Farat def. Tino Valentino for the NCWO Heavyweight Title
2022 Jason Jones def. Dimitri Alexandrov for the WFC Prime Title
2022 Leo Fox became the ASP Mid-American Champion
2022 Olivier Vegos def. Skylar Slice for the ASP Women's Title
2022 High Ratings (Maui Mike & Beau Betten) def. Chosen Influence (Malik Mayfield & Luke Richmond) for the ASP Tag Team Titles
2022 Gatekeeper def. Mr. Nasty for the ASP 5-Star Title
2022 Tino Valentino became the ASP Heavyweight Champion

Week of Sun 11-01 to Sat: 11-07

11-01 1960 Tony Jiminez & Jesse Jiminez became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champions
11-01 1981 Ted DiBiase def. Paul Orndorff for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
11-01 1982 Al Madril def. Frank Dusek for the WCCW Television Title
11-01 2008 El Hoto def. Martin Justice for the OECW Southwestern Title
11-01 2008 The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Matthews III) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
11-01 2013 Steven Sterling def. Bobby Starr for the ComPro Showtime Title
11-01 2014 Guy Atticus became the IZW Impact Division Champion
11-01 2014 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
11-01 2019 Brock Landers def. Tego for the ASP Inter-County Title
11-01 2020 Double D became the EPW Heavyweight Champion
11-01 2020 Drake Gallows became the EPW All-American Champion
11-01 2020 Revan became the EPW Internet Television Champion
11-01 2020 The Sidekicks (Kevin James Sanchez & Gemini [2nd]) became the EPW Tag Team Champions
11-01 2020 High Times (Father Padge & Dean Lambert) def. The Sidekicks (Kevin James Sanchez & Gemini [2nd]) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
11-01 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. The Trendsetters (Andre West & Nelly Rivers) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
11-02 1978 Ray Candy def. Ernie Ladd for the TSW Arkansas Title
11-02 2002 Terry Montana def. Shadow of Death for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
11-02 2003 Ty Magnus def. John O'Malley for the ACW Hardcore Title
11-02 2003 John O'Malley def. Ty Magnus for the ACW Hardcore Title
11-02 2003 X-Cal def. John O'Malley for the ACW Hardcore Title
11-02 2003 Outcast def. X-Cal for the ACW Hardcore Title
11-02 2013 Kevin Morgan def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Title
11-02 2013 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
11-02 2013 Miss Diss Lexia def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
11-02 2014 Les Mayne def. Rick Russo for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
11-02 2019 Clint Poe became the EmpCW All American Champion
11-02 2019 War Party (Gorgeous Garcia & Nytronis A’Teo) def. The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the EmpCW Tag Team Titles
11-02 2019 Dexter Hardaway def. Double D for the EmpCW Heavyweight Title
11-02 2019 Karnage def. Naiomi Sanders for the BPW 365 Title
11-02 2019 Unicorn def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
11-02 2019 Karnage def. Unicorn for the BPW 365 Title
11-02 2019 C. M. Burnham def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
11-02 2019 Karnage def. C. M. Burnham for the BPW 365 Title
11-02 2019 Naomi Sanders def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
11-03 2001 The VIP Crew (Rocco Valentino & Vinnie Valentino) def. The Texas Outlaws (Beau Dalton & Butch Dalton) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
11-03 2001 Splash Jackson def. Big Daddy Moore for the OPW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
11-03 2012 The Old School Suckas (Randy Price & Bryan Cruize) def. Big Business (Damon Windsor & Kevin Morgan) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
11-03 2012 Erica def. Angel Blue for the IZW Queens Title
11-03 2018 Damon Windsor def. Randy Price for the WCR Revolutionary Title
11-04 1985 Rick Rude def. King Parsons for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
11-04 1988 Kerry Von Erich def. Jerry Lawler for the WCCW World Title
11-04 2005 Beau Dalton & Bobby Dalton became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
11-05 1979 Jim Garvin & Herb Calvert def. Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
11-05 1980 Hector Guerrero & Ron Sexton def. Ron McFarlane & Doug Somers for the TSW Tag Team Titles
11-05 2002 Jeffrey Parker def. Li'l Joe for the ACW Hardcore Title
11-05 2004 Luc Lapointe def. Prophet for the SRPW Boys and Girls Club Title
11-05 2004 Dirty Harry Sanchez def. Beau Dalton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
11-05 2004 Beau Dalton def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Hardcore Title
11-05 2005 Justin Lee & Michael Faith became the TPW Tag Team Champions
11-05 2011 Michael York & Ignition became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
11-05 2011 Brandon Walker def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Title
11-05 2011 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & David Kyzer) became the SWCW Tag Team Champions
11-05 2016 Kareem Sadat def. Dean Lambert for the EmpCW Independent Hardcore Title
11-06 1977 Dick Murdoch def. Jerry Oates for the TSW North American Title
11-06 1978 Jerry Stubbs became the TSW Mississippi Champion
11-06 1999 Joey Casanova became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
11-06 2010 Jermaine Johnson def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
11-06 2010 Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) def. Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
11-06 2021 Koko became the WAH Living Hope Champion
11-06 2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Oklahoma Champion
11-06 2021 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Cpl. Punishment) def. Most Wanted (Dan Webber, Reese, & T-Arsenal) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
11-06 2021 Danni Bee became the NCWO Women's Champion
11-06 2021 Samedi def. Tommy Dean for the CPW Heavyweight Title
11-06 2021 Ky-Ote became the NCWO Choctaw Nation Champion
11-06 2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Heavyweight Champion
11-06 2021 Akbar Farat def. Tino Valentino for the NCWO Heavyweight Title
11-06 2022 Jason Jones def. Dimitri Alexandrov for the WFC Prime Title
11-06 2022 Leo Fox became the ASP Mid-American Champion
11-06 2022 Olivier Vegos def. Skylar Slice for the ASP Women's Title
11-06 2022 High Ratings (Maui Mike & Beau Betten) def. Chosen Influence (Malik Mayfield & Luke Richmond) for the ASP Tag Team Titles
11-06 2022 Gatekeeper def. Mr. Nasty for the ASP 5-Star Title
11-06 2022 Tino Valentino became the ASP Heavyweight Champion
11-07 1984 Bill Dundee def. Adrian Street for the MSW Television Title
11-07 2008 The Gentlemen Thugs (Cast-Iron Cothern & Shane Morbid) def. The Old School Express (Jason Jones & Jake Boulder) for the MStW Southern Tag Team Titles
11-07 2009 Dustin Heritage def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Title
11-07 2015 The Terror Squad (D Money & Montego Seeka & Marce Lewis, Nytronis A'Teo & MVP) became the IWR Tag Team Champions

11-06

Frank Dunbar Nov 6th Today!
Darin Matthews Nov 6th Today!
Brian Faith Nov 6th Today!
Lu Kim Nov 6th Today!
Ken Patera Nov 6th Today!
Dominik Whiteheart Nov 7th
King Kong Bundy Nov 7th
Nigel Rabid Nov 7th
Joey Ryan Nov 7th
Faded Ghoul Nov 7th
Keith Watkins Nov 7th
Silverado Nov 7th
Treach Phillips, Jr. Nov 8th
Rika Wildlee Nov 8th
Dizzy Davis Nov 8th
Austin Mulitalo Nov 8th
Joyce Grable Nov 9th
Jean-Claude Boudreaux Nov 9th
Lance Osburn Nov 9th
Kolossus Nov 9th
Nick Patrick Nov 9th
Gil Knutson Nov 9th
Menace 2 Society Nov 9th
Bob Orton, Jr. Nov 10th
Prince Tapu Nov 10th
Kinzer Keel Nov 10th
Danny Savich Nov 10th
Marshall Von Erich Nov 10th
Alex Perez Nov 11th
Green Dragon Nov 11th
Brandon Moxley Nov 11th
Little Cloud Nov 11th
Luigi Columbo Nov 11th
Brett Taylor Nov 12th
Thud Powell Nov 12th
Terrale Tempo Nov 12th
Vickie Lynn McCoy Nov 12th
Gary Tool Nov 12th
Varik Vayne Nov 12th
Austin Tacious Nov 12th
Ty Thunder Nov 12th
Big Smooth Nov 13th
L. J. McDaniels Nov 13th
Tiny Bell Nov 14th
Kyle Kelly Nov 14th
Shane Sanders Nov 14th
Kirk Castle Nov 14th
Super Beast Nov 15th
Killer Cross Nov 15th
Armin Syzlack Nov 15th
Killer Cross Nov 15th
Sean Pearl Nov 15th
Brieanna Bringle Nov 16th
Chase Bristow Nov 17th
Brent Wall Nov 17th
Kikutaro Nov 17th
Kenny K Nov 17th
Josh Hogan Nov 17th
Drake Gallows Nov 17th
Johnny Weaver Nov 17th
Johnny Graves Nov 17th
Snowman Nov 17th
Chris Russo Nov 18th
Everett Kibbons Nov 18th
Reaper Nov 18th
Ricky Gibson Nov 19th
Turnbuckle Tim Nov 19th

1977 Dick Murdoch def. Jerry Oates for the TSW North American Title
1978 Jerry Stubbs became the TSW Mississippi Champion
1999 Joey Casanova became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
2010 Jermaine Johnson def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
2010 Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) def. Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Heavyweight Champion
2021 Koko became the WAH Living Hope Champion
2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Oklahoma Champion
2021 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Cpl. Punishment) def. Most Wanted (Dan Webber, Reese, & T-Arsenal) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
2021 Danni Bee became the NCWO Women's Champion
2021 Samedi def. Tommy Dean for the CPW Heavyweight Title
2021 Ky-Ote became the NCWO Choctaw Nation Champion
2021 Akbar Farat def. Tino Valentino for the NCWO Heavyweight Title
2022 Jason Jones def. Dimitri Alexandrov for the WFC Prime Title
2022 Leo Fox became the ASP Mid-American Champion
2022 Olivier Vegos def. Skylar Slice for the ASP Women's Title
2022 High Ratings (Maui Mike & Beau Betten) def. Chosen Influence (Malik Mayfield & Luke Richmond) for the ASP Tag Team Titles
2022 Gatekeeper def. Mr. Nasty for the ASP 5-Star Title
2022 Tino Valentino became the ASP Heavyweight Champion

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