Courtesy: www.MondayNightMayhem.com
One of the most-legendary promoters in the history of professional wrestling & the founder of TNA Wrestling, Jerry Jarrett, was the special guest on this past week’s (07/28/08) live edition of Monday Night Mayhem, hosted by The Big Mosh, Blade, & DFL (presented by Sweet Sunshine Sauces: the official finishing sauce of The Mayhem) — which can be heard live & in streaming audio every Monday night (at 8PM ET/7PM CT) exclusively on The Monday Night Mayhem Radio Network (www.MondayNightMayhem.com, www.OnlineWorldOfWrestling.com, & www.ITunes.com).
Jerry’s first-ever Mayhem appearance (as part of “The Summer of Mayhem 2008”) is now available for FREE in Windows Streaming Media, or via podcast/the MNM On ITunes.
Jerry Jarrett MNM Interview (Windows Streaming Media): www.mondaynightmayhemarchives.com/waxfiles/072808.wax
Jerry Jarrett MNM Interview (Official MNM Podcast/MNM On ITunes): www.mondaynightmayhemarchives.com/july08/072808.mp3
Here are some of the highlights from Jerry’s interview on the show, provided by The Mayhem’s co-host, John “The Big Mosh” Masiulionis:
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The Mayhem Crew is no strangers to the state of Tennessee. “Your Home Of Wrestling Radio” brought you, our worldwide audience, along the way, as we took two trips down to The Asylum in 2003 & 2004. So, it was fitting that we bring to you someone who is synonymous with Memphis Wrestling, Jerry Jarrett.
Jerry was welcomed to the show by Mosh, Blade, & DFL, and as Mosh brought the listeners down The Mayhem’s “Memory Lane,” Jerry mentioned how of all the places he lived (including Atlanta, GA for World Championship Wrestling, Dallas, TX for World Class Championship Wrestling, & Stamford, CT for the WWE, which he went on the record saying “being a country boy, I did not fit well in Stamford”), that Nashville, TN is his favorite. He jokingly said that he tried talking with Vince McMahon in moving the WWE HQ to Tennessee…without much success. Jerry said that he does have fond memories of his time in the WWE, despite the difference in surroudings.
Jerry wished to bring the fans up to speed on his health since leaving TNA Wrestling: He has been doing well, and has now been able to devote more of his time to his family & to his construction business. “Being outdoors is great. The construction business is stress, but not the same kind of the stress as the wrestling business.”
Mosh & DFL asked Jerry about the progression & development of Total Nonstop Action, and whether he thinks the product of the early days is better overall than today, as some fans who have followed the company from Day One may tend to believe. Jerry said very candidly that the “old-school” days of NWA-TNA “bring a smile to his face,” as they were a throwback to the ’70’s & ’80’s. He was a lot more involved in those early years of the company, and is slightly prejudice to that timeframe, because of his involvement. Jerry went on to say that the judge & the yardstick of success in wrestling is making money. People’s opinions are their opinions, but it all boils down to what if their is a bottom financial line.
As to how the development of NWA-TNA first started, Jerry described in detail what ensued leading into the night of the first show. He vividly recalled the time where he sold his stock in the Memphis & Louisville territories to his former partner, Jerry “The King” Lawler. At that point in time, he was out of the wrestling business. After WCW closed up shop & his son departed the WWE, Jeff came to his father. With there being a void with World Championship Wrestling out of the picture, Jerry then bought into the concept of NWA-TNA, something that he does not regret at all in his life — as he defined it, “trying to do everything you can for your children.” Jerry figures that at that time, despite accumulating some wealth in the business, it would take approximately/around $50 million dollars to get onto broadcast television…something he did not have. They were able to get In-Demand to jump on board for a 52-week PPV budget. Their collective hopes were that word of mouth would help grow the product, which did not happen. The company was out of money, and HealthSouth backed out, but the Carter Family was there to invest into the company’s ownership, and keep it thriving at that point — which as all TNA fans know, is true still today.
DFL asked Jerry whether he believes that the criticisms of his son, Jeff, over the years have been harsh & whether or not he sees Jeff returning inside the six-sided TNA ring anytime soon. “Any time you join a family business, any time you follow your father’s success, you open yourself to enormous criticism. Jeff knew that going in.” He feels that the majority of Jeff’s critics have been harsh, but having those “armchair quarterbacks” is a part of the business. Quite openly, Jerry said that “he has no idea nor no knowledge” of whether or not Jeff will appear on television for TNA in the weeks/months to come.
As many fans are aware of, Jerry brought current SmackDown superstar, Vladimir Kozlov (Oleg Prudius) to the WWE Headquarters in Stamford, CT several years ago — a story that caused a lot of buzz amongst the internet. Jerry has an extensive network of dear friends that are Russian, one of them whom has offices on Wall Steet & Moscow. That individual asked whether or not Jerry could get Oleg booked to wrestle. Jerry obliged, and said it would not be much of a problem. By that time, he was not active in TNA booking…Jeff was. He informed his son of the situation, letting him know that “it would be advantageous” of the company to give Oleg a look-see. Jeff said that Dixie was against it, and did not want to invest money into someone who would not produce dividends immediately. TNA was not against Jerry bringing Oleg to the WWE. Jerry very much classifies both Vince & Linda McMahon as friends, and holds them both in very high esteem, so he called John Laurinaitis, left a voicemail, & fast-forward one week later when Jerry & his wife were on a shopping trip in New York City, Johnny Ace returned the call saying “If Vince says you recommend Oleg, he’s signed.” He received a call from Vince to finalize the details of Oleg coming to Stamford, with the intentions of signing a contract. Does he think the world-wide-web blew the story out of proportion? He was not alarmed by it, nor was it a big deal to him, but it was the perception of the wrestling fans. At that time, Jerry was going through heart problems, which led to him having to depart the business from a full-time, day-to-day perspective, and him selling his stock to the Carter Family. He hopes & prays that Oleg continues his development as a WWE superstar, and he wishes him the best. Jerry describes him as “the real deal…coming from good stock.”
Jerry was VERY open about his true feelings for one of the current members of the TNA Creative Team, Vince Russo. “I have no regard for Vince Russo, I think he is a detriment to the wrestling business, and I don’t think he has ever, ever been successful in the business.” Jerry continued on by saying that Vince has taken a lot of credit for the WWE’s success while he was there, and was “the captain of the ship” when WCW sunk. “I do not consider him an asset to the wrestling business in any way.”
On the subject of TNA eventually competing on a one-on-one level with the WWE, Jerry replied by saying “Bob Carter has a lot of money, but he don’t have enough to compete with Vince McMahon. You can’t buy competition with Vince…Vince is a third-generation promoter, he knows the wrestling business…His life is the wrestling business 24/7. I can tell you that, because I am one of the few people that stayed in his home with him & Linda…Unless you have the same kind of credentials in the wrestling business, the same kind of money, & most importantly, the same kind of dedication, you cannot compete. Ted Turner could not compete.” Jerry said that he wanted NWA-TNA to have their own niche audience, not to compete with Vince. He wanted to appeal to the fans that loved wrestling. “If you have every show, you can probably know when I quit booking…probably show 25, 27, 28, because the emphasis was on wrestling.” The short answer as to whether anyone can compete with the WWE (including TNA), his answer was/is “No.”
It has been over 25 years since the legendary angle in Memphis, TN that many fans around the world still remember to this day: Jerry “The King” Lawler vs. Andy Kaufman. Jerry remembers his time with Andy very fondly: “He was a huge, huge wrestling fan, and was one of the finest people I ever met.” He thinks that Andy never let his “star character” get to his head, and actually lets The Mayhem listening audience know that Andy coming to Memphis happened by accident: “Verne Gagne said no, Vince McMahon said no, I said yes.” And the rest fans…is history…
Some wrestling critics have stuck to their beliefs over the years that the legendary of World Class Championship Wrestling, Fritz Von Erich, should have taken his promotion national, when business was booming & when The Von Erichs/Freedbirds feud was lighting up the entire world of professional wrestling. Many fans know that after SuperClash III (involving the WCCW, CWA, & the AWA), Ken Mantell & Fritz Von Erich sold WCCW to the owner CWA owner, Jerry Jarrett. Jerry believes that the opportunities were there for Fritz to go national. However, he does believe to an extent that there could have been more outside/pressing factors and/or demons that were not evident on the surface that Fritz could have been trying to deal with, instead of whether or not he should go national. He does believe after taking over, the company was pretty profitable: “The boys went from broke to making $20,000-$25,000/month from royalty/profit checks.” Unfortunately, certain people in power abused themselves to no end, and their “greed” made him say “to hell with it” — and so, he moved back to Tennessee.
If Jerry was asked by Vince McMahon, would he go into the WWE Hall Of Fame, Jerry said the answer to that would be “an easy yes.” Jerry gives credit where credit is due, and says that “by far,” the most-smartest personal in the history of the wrestling business is Vince McMahon. He considers himself Vince considers him a friend. If you want to hear who Jerry would want to have induct him if the time came for his “Call To The Hall,” you have to listen in to find out.
Jerry closed the interview with some words of advice for those who are trying to break into the business: whether it be as a performer or a booker. “Go into the wrestling business loving it with your whole heart….You will be happy whatever you are doing. Those people who go into it for fame, glory, & money, do not usually make successes.”
Personally/professionally, Jerry has no regrets on his time in the business, nor we he go back and change a thing. He looks at everything he went through as “a blessing,” both negative & positive.
In this one-hour+ exclusive interview (which many fans have heralded as a possibility for “Interview Of The Year), Jerry gives his uncensored thoughts & takes on just how close he was to purchasing World Championship Wrestling prior to Vince McMahon buying the company, if his relationship with Jerry “The King” Lawler has been strained over the years, his greatest memories of TNA Wrestling, if there was/is heat between himself & “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes (being the one who was asked to terminate Dusty from his duties at that time in TNA), whether he thinks that “Wildcat” Chris Harris (Braden Walker) & Ron “The Truth” Killings (R. Truth) will achieve success in the WWE & defy the odds of those who believe that TNA stars cannot adapt to the WWE style, just how close Mick Foley was to signing with TNA, the chances of Memphis Wrestling returning to any resemblance of its “glory days,” the importance of “telling a story in the wrestling business,” why he does not believe in “coddling” wrestlers, whom he classifies as “the most talented” person he has ever worked with, & why he strongly feels why the WWE will not last forever.
You can purchase Jarrett’s book, “The Story Of The Development Of The NWA:TNA, A New Concept In Pay-Per-View Programming” through www.Highspots.com, www.Amazon.com, & other internet sites. Also, check out Jerry’s official MySpace page (located at www.MySpace.com/JerryWJarrett).
*If you fans have missed any of the action of “The Summer Of Mayhem 2008,” then you are in luck! Monday Night Mayhem’s live & on-location remote from the world-famous Ilio DiPaolo’s Restaurant (w/NFL Hall Of Famer, Jim Kelly), our exclusive interview w/former NFL DT & the author of “Hero Of The Underground,” Jason Peter, MNM’s ’08 WWE live Draft Night Special, plus interviews with WWE Hall Of Famer “Superstar” Billy Graham, the founder of TNA Wrestling, Jerry Jarrett, “The Taskmaster” Kevin Sullivan, “The Living Legend” Larry Zbyszko, legendary WWE manager/the author of “Wrestling With The Truth,” Bruno “Harvey Whippleman” Laurer, TNA Knockout So-Cal Val, former WWE diva Dawn Marie, & mixed martial arts fighter/American Gladiator, Erin “Steel” Toughill, are now available in streaming audio, as well as via the MNM Podcast/MNM On ITunes. If you have enjoyed everything to this point in time, you have seen nothing yet…
*As we near the conclusion of “The Summer Of Mayhem 2008,” Monday Night Mayhem’s Crew of The Big Mosh, Blade, & DFL, wish to thank our loyal fans around the world who have helped us get to where we are at now and for your continued dedication, loyalty, & support. We strongly encourage all of our fans around the world to support all of our fine advertisers/sponsors that help make “Your Home Of Wrestling Radio” possible:
Sweet Sunshine Sauces are the proud winners of five coveted Golden Chile Awards & three Scovie Awards — with more sure to come! Sweet Sunshine has made room for their newly-designed bottles (now available), along with their state-of-the-art website. The reviews from people around the world have been off-the-charts! The weather is getting hotter, and “the dog days of summer” are now really heating up! Now is the perfect time to purchase Sweet Sunshine. If your local supermarket does not carry it, demand they do! Order some today at www.SweetSunshine.com. Sweet Sunshine is the Awesome, All-Natural Sauce.
And remember, by purchasing one bottle of Sweet Sunshine between now-August 30th, qualifies you for our LIVE giveaway of the all-new WWE SummerSlam DVD Anthology Box Set on Monday night, September 1st, as we close “The Summer Of Mayhem 2008” on Labor Day!
Head on over to the official website of Sweet Sunshine (www.SweetSunshine.com). Purchase one bottle of your favorite sauce (Sweet, Warm, Roasted Shallot & Garlic, Jamaican Jerk, Hot, or Atomic) for only $7.99. E-mail your proof of purchase, along with your name & night-time phone number to [email protected], or MySpace The Mayhem @ www.MySpace.com/MondayNightMayhem.
You will be automatically entered into our live drawing, which will take place on Monday night, September 1st, as we close “The Summer Of Mayhem 2008.” We will call the winner live on the air, and that individual will become a part of wrestling radio history! This is not just one DVD fans, but 20! An $8 purchase can easily create a lifetime of memories which you will remember for the rest of your life.
For questions/comments on the contest, or how to purchase Sweet Sunshine, contact John Masiulionis @ [email protected] or Ronda Saundry @ [email protected].
Is there someone special in your life that wants to become the next Triple H, Shawn Michaels, or Kurt Angle? Well, you now have the chance to enroll in the official wrestling school of The Mayhem & one of the most-respected academies in the world…The Monster Factory. Not to mention, The Monster Factory is the perfect place for children’s birthday parties! Approaching its 25th anniversary in 2009, your source for the best & most complete training is The Monster Factory! For all of the lowdown on classes/training schedules/birthday party rates, and how you can be a part of The Monster Factory’s summer season, check out their official website at www.MonsterFactory.com, or call (856) 933-0500.
Old Time Wrestling has hit the internet! Check out the latest innovation in professional wrestling on the world-wide-web! Old Time Wrestling is a throwback to “the days of old” in the world of wrestling. For only $9.99/month, you will receive over eight hours of matches to watch at your convenience. The live broadcast begins every Saturday afternoon at 2PM ET. Head on over to www.OldTimeWrestling.net to connect to wrestling of yesterday with today’s technology. And are you looking for that perfect gift for the wrestling fan in your life? How about tickets to the weekly Old Time Wrestling shows, located at The Monster Factory. Affordable family fun for all ages & for a great price! Want even more information about OTW? Tune in to The Mayhem this upcoming week & every month, along the MNM airwaves, to hear the hard-hitting Ed Atlas, one of the head trainers, give his takes on the world of professional wrestling…the way it was meant to be — “Unscripted” with Ed Atlas!
The Rise Of “Hulkamania.” The Dominance Of The Horsemen. “The Era Of Extreme.”
Compiling over 60 years of the most detailed ring results in print or online, The History Of WWE.com has become the one-stop source for the glorious memories of World Wrestling Entertainment, World Championship Wrestling, & Extreme Championship Wrestling. WWE Superstars, WWE Monday Night RAW, WCW Nitro, & WCW Saturday Night: The memories & the goodness will never be forgotten & will live forever. Re-live “The Monday Night Wars,” The War Of ’84, Black Saturday, Taboo Tuesday, Center Stage Theater, & even The Elks Lodge. No other website gives you as much wrestling history at your fingertips. From the moments & moments you may have missed to those you will never forget, The History Of WWE.com is wrestling’s true record book.
All new & old Mayhem listeners can still check out the archived programs/shows of “Your Home Of Wrestling Radio” from our six+ years of audio excellence, featuring the official Monday Night Mayhem WrestleMania XXIV Countdown Special (w/J.J. Dillon, The Orlando Sentinel’s Andrea Adelson, SLAM Wrestling’s Bob Kapur, The Baltimore Sun’s Kevin Eck, Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Dan Murphy, & many more), The Mayhem’s WrestleMania 23 Countdown Special from Detroit’s Hilton Garden Inn, the official Monday Night Mayhem Dream Reunion II On-Location Special from Kokomo, IN — featuring: former WWE Diva search contestant Jessica Hatch, Al Snow, Marty Jannetty, Chavo “Classic” Guerrero Sr., “Nasty Boy” Brian Knobbs, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, Rosey, The Midnight Express (“Loverboy” Dennis Condrey & “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton), “The Genius” Lanny Poffo, & The Orient Express’ Pat Tanaka, & our “Best Of 2007” show (featuring the top three interviews of 2k7 heard on The Mayhem), plus current WWE superstars (Chris Jericho, CM Punk, Candice Michelle, & Charlie Haas), WWE Hall Of Famers (Jesse “The Body” Ventura, Jim Ross, Bret “The Hitman” Hart, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, “The Mouth Of The South” Jimmy Hart, The Iron Sheik, Tito Santana, “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff, Harley Race, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, & Don Muraco), the finest from Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (Jeff Jarrett, Jim Cornette, Kevin Nash, “The Instant Classic” Christian Cage, “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles, The Dudley Boyz/Team 3-D, Scott Steiner, Kip/BG James, “The Notorious 187” Homicide, Eric Young, Kaz, & “Black Machismo” Jay Lethal — along with TNA Knockouts Gail Kim, Traci Brooks, Christy Hemme, Velvet Sky, & So-Cal Val), Ring Of Honor’s warriors (ROH Champion Nigel McGuinness, “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson, & ROH head booker Gabe Sapolsky), ECW originals (Rob Van Dam, “The Franchise” Shane Douglas, Raven, The Sandman, “The Pitbull” Gary Wolfe, Danny Doring, & ECW founder Tod Gordon), some of the greatest managers in the history of our business (Percy Pringle III/Paul Bearer, “The Doctor Of Style” Slick, JJ Dillon, & the late Gary Hart), the voices that have called the sport/sports-entertainment for years (World Class’ Bill Mercer, the Mid-Atlantic/NWA’s Bob Caudle, & WCW/AWA’s Lee Marshall), wrestling legends/personalities from over the years, past & present (Terry Funk, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, The Honky Tonk Man, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Vader, Konnan, Tully Blanchard, Diamond Dallas Page, “Bushwacker” Luke Williams, “Nasty Boy” Brian Knobbs, Nick “U-Gene” Dinsmore, Low-Ki, “The Wildman” Marc Mero, David “Gangrel” Heath, Chris Nowinski, & Scotty 2 Hotty), & some of the most well-known athletes & entertainers from the gridiron, stage, & screen (including: Dave Coulier of TV’s “Full House,” VH-1 “Best Week Ever’s” Greg Fitzsimmons of VH-1’s “Best Week Ever,” Dustin “Screech” Diamond of TV’s “Saved By The Bell,” Howard Stern’s Gary The Retard, Dan “Nitro” Clark from “American Gladiators,” “Mad TV’s” Aries Spears, & Comic Relief founder Bob Zmuda). All this & so much more…now available on www.MondayNightMayhem.com, www.OnlineWorldOfWrestling.com, &