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Messy Details on the Jeff Jarrett Situation, Could the GFW Letters Be Going Away?, More Backstage News

Posted: Sep 5th 2017 By: Marc Middleton

As noted, GFW announced today that Jeff Jarrett is taking an indefinite leave of absence from the company to focus on personal matters. It was noted in the announcement that Jarrett will be available to the company on a consultative basis as needed.

We also noted how the decision on Jarrett taking time off was made just a few hours before GFW posted the announcement on their website, and how Jarrett posted an optimistic early morning tweet that indicated he knew nothing of the leave that was to be announced. PWInsider reports that Anthem’s Ed Nordholm made the decision today and that he personally met with Jarrett in Nashville, Tennessee this afternoon. Jarrett was set to host a NFL Fantasy Draft with members of the GFW staff this evening but that was nixed and the staffers are hosting the draft at the GFW offices instead.

Regarding what led to the leave, the feeling is that unhappiness with Jarrett involving his “erratic behavior” was a driving factor in Nordholm’s decision. It appears they were not unhappy with the company’s creative direction with Jarrett as Chief Creative Officer. The situation had been building for months and the final tipping point was AAA’s TripleMania event in Mexico in late August. Jarrett, who recently put on weight, was not in the best of shape for that event and apparently stumbled down the ring steps right before wrestling in a battle royal for just a few minutes. He also took a while getting to the ring. Jarrett represented GFW in the match, along with Moose and Bobby Lashley, and was reportedly heckling fans and throwing tortillas into the crowd, which actually somewhat fit his gimmick in Mexico but still had people talking.

Jarrett’s condition at TripleMania led to a lot of people wondering if he needed time off. Nordholm witnessed the behavior as he was in attendance for the show. There was also an incident at a GFW TV taping several months back where Jarrett was yelling at Bob Ryder and that incident is said to be the beginning of the problems that led to Nordholm’s decision. One source noted to PWInsider that the situation is “far uglier” than anyone realizes.

Another source noted to PWInsider that Jarrett was “not blameless” but that there was also “blame to be thrown in all directions” of the company. The same source claimed that a lot of things Jarrett had been publicly criticized for were just him towing the company line and following “marching orders” out of loyalty to Anthem after they brought him back into the company, including when he defended Anthem in the beef with The Hardys. There’s been a feeling among some that Jarrett had been trying hard to step in between Nordholm and the wrestling side of the company due to the belief among many that Nordholm didn’t “get” the business. One source pointed to how the company put effort into bringing Alberto El Patron in as a surprise for his debut, only for Nordholm to tweet a photo of Patron before he came out, spoiling the surprise. The source admitted that Jarrett needed a break but noted that Jarrett had been “bending over backward” to try and balance things between Anthem and GFW, adding that Jarrett “desperately wanted his company back and wanted to prove to everyone he was right all along with his vision.”

We noted before that the company was working to determine who would tend to Jarrett’s duties while he’s gone. PWInsider adds that no decision has been made regarding creative changes and the writing team, which Jarrett put together, still includes Scott D’Amore and Dutch Mantel. Jim Cornette is also still with the company as of this evening. There was speculation that “Big” John Gaburick, who still works with the company as a consultant, was retained as a back-up plan in case the Jarrett regime did not work out.

On a related note, a source reported to PWInsider that the GFW – Anthem merger was “nowhere near as completed” as they have touted publicly. Trademarks for Global Force Wrestling and GFW are still under the ownership of the Global Force Wrestling LLC that Jarrett launched in 2014. It’s possible that the GFW letters will disappear from Impact Wrestling if Jarrett doesn’t return to the company for some reason.

It was also reported that Alberto El Patron’s status with the company is up in the air as Nordholm was willing to let him go after the Orlando airport incident with Paige in July. Jarrett was hands-on in calming the situation and now that Jarrett is gone, and Patron reportedly has less than a year left on his deal, the planned return at the next set of tapings may be off. We noted before that Jarrett vs. Patron had been discussed for the Bound For Glory pay-per-view in November but that match is probably not happening now.

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title

Week of Sun 09-06 to Sat: 09-12

09-06 2008 The New York Express (Thomas Knight & Jeff Knight) def. The Untouchables (J. D. Rebel & The Enforcer) for the SECW Tag Team Titles
09-06 2008 Martin Justice became the SECW Cruiserweight Champion
09-06 2014 Spanish Wolf (Nathan Estrada & Michael Wolf) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
09-06 2025 Butcher def. Riker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
09-06 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
09-06 2025 Phil Shark def. Franco D’Angelo for the TexPro Texas Title
09-07 1979 Mark Lewin def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-07 1980 Terry Gibbs became the TSW Tri-State Champion
09-07 1981 Frank Hill & Eric Embry def. Joel Deaton & David Deaton for the TSW Tag Team Titles
09-07 2004 Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree def. Paul London & Billy Kidman for the WWE Smackdown World Tag Team Titles
09-07 2012 Brandon Walker def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-07 2014 Robert Lee def. Striker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
09-07 2018 Nikki Knight def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Title
09-07 2019 Brian Dixon def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Oklahoma Title
09-07 2019 Luke Langley def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Lion Heart Title
09-07 2019 James Southard def. Lake Hefner for the ASP Inter-County Title
09-07 2024 The Subject (Cade Fite & Derek James) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
09-07 2024 Wrangler Rhett def. Alex Royal for the WFC Prime Title
09-08 1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
09-08 1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-08 1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-08 1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-08 2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-08 2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
09-08 2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
09-08 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-08 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
09-08 2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title
09-09 1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
09-09 1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
09-09 2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
09-09 2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
09-09 2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
09-09 2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
09-09 2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
09-09 2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
09-09 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-09 2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
09-09 2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
09-09 2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
09-09 2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
09-09 2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title
09-09 2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
09-09 2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title
09-10 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
09-10 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
09-10 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
09-10 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
09-10 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
09-10 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
09-10 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
09-10 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
09-10 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
09-11 1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-11 1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
09-11 1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
09-11 1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
09-11 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
09-11 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
09-11 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
09-11 2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
09-11 2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
09-11 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-11 2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
09-11 2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
09-11 2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
09-11 2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
09-11 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
09-12 1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
09-12 1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-12 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
09-12 2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
09-12 2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
09-12 2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
09-12 2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
09-12 2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
09-12 2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
09-12 2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-12 2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
09-12 2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-12 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-12 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Clover Botello for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title

09-08

Great Kabuki Sep 8th Today!
Wendi Richter Sep 8th Today!
Silas Young Sep 8th Today!
Rebel [2nd] Sep 8th Today!
Vincent Cross Sep 8th Today!
Mike Clancy Sep 9th
Rancid Sep 9th
Owen Sep 10th
Vivian St. John Sep 10th
Les Mayne Sep 10th
Kool Ade Sep 10th
Mr. Wrestling II Sep 10th
Trevor Murdoch I Sep 10th
Summer Thunder Sep 11th
Vic Nichols Sep 11th
N'Zane Lee Happy Sep 12th
Bash Sep 12th
Bounty Hunter Sep 12th
Danni Bee Sep 12th
Montego Seeka Sep 12th
Bob Kenaston Sep 12th
Animal Sep 12th
American Anarchy Sep 12th
Adrian Dell Sep 12th
K. P. Moore Sep 13th
Angelina Love Sep 13th
Poder Oriental Sep 13th
Danny Little Bear Sep 13th
Bobby Starr Sep 13th
Kelsie Mae Sep 14th
Lunatic Lennie Sep 14th
Waddy Young Sep 14th
Eddie LeVaughn Sep 14th
Bernie D Sep 14th
Korvin Sage Sep 15th
Daniel King Sep 15th
Spoiler 2000 Sep 15th
L. C. Green Sep 15th
Haru Sonada Sep 16th
Colton Kinnamon Sep 17th
Jake Swayze Sep 17th
Rex Mori Sep 17th
Jim Cornette Sep 17th
Dick Brower Sep 17th
Bill Irwin Sep 17th
Cisco Grimaldi Sep 18th
Angel Reed Sep 18th
Billy Robinson Sep 18th
Titan Yin Sep 18th
Mr. Nabors Sep 18th
Jerry Brisco Sep 19th
Adam Asher Sep 19th
Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th
Justin Lee Sep 20th
Boz Sep 20th
Chuck Singer Sep 20th
Greg Valentine Sep 20th
Bishop Simon Sep 20th
Pepper Martin Sep 20th
Randy Rhodes Sep 20th
Ethan Page Sep 20th
Joey Stixx Sep 20th
Ricky Morton Sep 21st
Connor Jones Sep 21st
Jack Brisco Sep 21st

1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title

More Look Back In History

Card Results

Current Champions

Wrestle Against Hunger

Heavyweight Champion
Will Chambers

Tag Team Champions: Hellbangers
Living Hope Champion: Giganto
Spotlight Champion: Travis Harkrider
Hunger Dojo Champion: Max Leon
Womens Champion: Kyra

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