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Alex Marvez looks at Jeff Jarrett

Posted: Oct 15th 2006 By: CMBurnham

As one of its founders, Jeff Jarrett was recently struck by how much Total Nonstop Action Wrestling has grown in 4 1/2 years.

"We have been a very small staff," said Jarrett, a member of TNA management as well as its world champion. "At a company meeting a couple weeks ago, there were 30 or 40 people there. We're literally growing every day."

That expansion is set to continue on a number of different fronts as TNA pushes to become a viable competitor to World Wrestling Entertainment.

For the first time in almost two years, TNA will run a pay-per-view show outside of its Orlando, Fla. base. Bound for Glory emanates Oct. 22 from Detroit with Jarrett vs. Sting headlining.

TNA Impact telecasts also will move Nov. 16 to a 9 p.m. Thursday timeslot on Spike TV, with promotion management hopeful that the show will eventually expand from one to two hours. Jarrett said two-hour specials on Spike are already in the offing and TNA tentatively plans to begin a limited live touring schedule early next year after serving almost exclusively as a television and pay-per-view entity since its June 2002 debut.

Jarrett cites debuting on Spike last year after WWE shifted its programming to USA Network as the main reason for TNA's growth.

"When you're on a network that reaches 90 million homes, that's a huge step," Jarrett said in a telephone interview. "Last summer (in 2005), we were airing in 118 countries but we had no domestic clearance in the U.S. ... Obviously, going to prime time will give us much more exposure."

So will the signing of Kurt Angle, who recently jumped to TNA after a falling out with WWE.

"Our style is where all our feuds end up in the ring, so we like performers with a more athletic base," Jarrett said. "What better athlete is there than an Olympic gold medalist and a multi-time WWE champ? To me, it's a perfect fit."

Angle, though, arrived in TNA with a lengthy injury history that reportedly has led to problems with pain-killing medication. TNA has drawn scrutiny within the grappling industry for being quick to sign performers like Angle and Jeff Hardy who left WWE with documented drug problems.

"Everything in business is a calculated risk and this is certainly one we want to take," Jarrett said. "You have to take risks for rewards. We've certainly put measures in place like doctor evaluations and constant monitoring (for Angle).

"Working 20, 25 days a month is what he was doing (in WWE). We know that's not a reality in TNA. Above anything, that's the No. 1 factor why I don't think Kurt will have health problems here."

TNA also recently came under fire for re-hiring Vince Russo to its matchmaking committee. In unsuccessful stints booking TNA and now-defunct World Championship Wrestling, Russo's hair-brained storylines are considered one of the reasons for the erosion of pro wrestling's fan base this decade.

"This business, especially to the hardcore fans, is built on controversy," said Jarrett, whose own popularity was bolstered when working with Russo in WWE in the mid-1990s. "No matter who we added to that (matchmaking) process, we would be criticized as well as praised. Vince has a storied history.

Criticism is to be expected. Only time will tell."

Jarrett, too, is a lightning rod for abuse from those who believe his on-going run atop TNA is based solely upon the power he wields in the promotion's front office. Jarrett, though, has enjoyed arguably the best stretch of his 20-year career in 2006 with solid performances inside the ring and on interviews.

"You really begin to mature in this business as an all-around performer somewhere after (age) 35," said Jarrett, 39. "I think the Jeff Jarrett character has evolved just like TNA has. We've come a long way in four-plus years. I can say the same thing about myself."