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
- 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
- 09-21 2024 Party Bird Crew (Smitty & Birdman) def. Black Flag Rising (Anarchy [2nd] & Faded Ghoul) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 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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