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Cater To The Fans

Posted: Feb 4th 2011 By: CMBurnham

Jeff Jarrett is Humbled by the following Total Nonstop Action Wrestling has achieved over the past eight-and-a-half years. Speaking via telephone Tuesday, Jarrett - a third-generation wrestler - described the rise of the organization he co-founded with his father Jerry Jarrett as a dream.

"Two things about us: Our fans are very passionate about their professional wrestling," Jeff Jarrett said in a mild Southern accent. "Secondly, I think we're the very best in the world today and we're definitely the most fan-interactive.

"From the time the doors open until they close at night, you can come up and meet your favorite wrestlers and get pictures with them. Fans get rewarded and get to come backstage. We really try to cater to the fans."

Born in LaGrange, Ga., Jarrett worked for his father's Continental Wrestling Association as a referee eventually debuting as a wrestler himself at age 18. Since then, Jarrett has held 70 championship titles in various wrestling organizations throughout his career.

Wrestling runs in his blood.

But Jarrett remembers starting Total Nonstop Action Wrestling - TNA for short - then a fledgling organization with a small stable of wrestlers - as a risk.

"In May of 2002, when I thought about starting TNA, the dream was just a dream," he said. "It came to life in June of 2002 and over the last eight-and-a-half years, it has continued to grow with guys like Sting and Mick Foley. It's definitely the very best professional show I've ever been a part of. When fans come out to see it, I feel like they really enjoy it."

And Jarrett remembers fans in Hattiesburg enjoying the TNA event last year very well.

"We sold the building out the last time we were here and it's kind of a no-brainer that if you sell out the building the year before, you book it the next year," he said.

"Southern Mississippi is known to love their wrestling and even the people working the building were very professional and accommodated both us and the crowd. We've been all around including Jackson, Biloxi and all over South Mississippi but Hattiesburg really stood out."

Specifically, Jarrett said Hattiesburg fans of TNA can look forward to appearances by Olympic Gold Medalist and multi-time world champion Kurt Angle, Mick Foley as a special referee and Mr. Anderson will be defending the world title.

As for the overall success of TNA, Jarrett said the combination of winning over new fans one-by-one, as well as expanding its presence worldwide has given TNA an edge.

"We continue to grow every year," he said. "We just launched a line of action figures last July and they have really taken off and we just signed a new television deal in the United Kingdom so our global presence continues to grow."