Jerry Jarrett

Jerry W. Jarrett (born September 4, 1942 in Nashville, Tennessee) is an American promoter and former professional wrestler, and the father of wrestler Jeff Jarrett. He is the founder and former part-owner of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Like World Wrestling Entertainment Chairman Vince McMahon, Jarrett was initially a promoter and became a wrestler later in life.

Career

Born into poverty, Jerry Jarrett was exposed to the wrestling business at a very early age. His mother worked as a ticket vendor, and Jarrett began selling programs for a promotion owned by Roy Welch and Nick Gulas at the age of seven. After receiving his driving license at fourteen, he became a wrestling promoter, renting buildings, advertising shows, constructing the ring, selling tickets, and stocking refreshments. He worked as a promoter until he left Nashville to attend college. Upon graduating, Jarrett worked for Welch and Gulas as an office assistant, and became a referee by default after a referee no-showed. He soon returned to promoting, working his way up from local promotions to regional, then national promotions.

While working as a referee, Jarrett decided to become a wrestler, and was trained by his friend and future tag team partner Tojo Yamamoto and veteran wrestler Sailor Moran, and wrestled his first match in Haiti in 1965.

Jarrett became a successful wrestler in the South, particularly in his home state of Tennessee, forming tag teams with Jackie Fargo and Tojo Yamamoto. At one point he participated in the extremely hazardous Scaffold Match.

Jarrett operated multiple wrestling promotions throughout his career, including Mid-Southern Wrestling, the Continental Wrestling Association, the United States Wrestling Association, World Class Championship Wrestling and, most recently, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Jarrett was often the business partner of Jerry Lawler. In the 1970s, Jarrett began televising his shows.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

In 2002, Jarrett was engaged in running a construction company when his son Jeff convinced him to open another wrestling promotion. J. Sports and Entertainment, a limited company with Jerry Jarrett as Chief Executive Officer and Jeff Jarrett as President, announced on May 10, 2002 that they had formed Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in conjunction with the National Wrestling Alliance. In October 2002 Jarrett sold his controlling interest (71%) in TNA to Panda Energy International, and J. Sports and Entertainment was effectively replaced by TNA Entertainment, a company owned and operated by Panda Energy. Jarrett was still a shareholder, but no longer the owner of TNA.

TNA aired its first Pay Per View on June 19, 2002.

Jarrett's old school approach to wrestling has led to disagreements with then-booker Vince Russo. In particular, Jarrett was unhappy with Russo's promos containing profanity and his edgy storylines. He was understood to have preferred Russo's replacement as TNA Booker, Dusty Rhodes. Until April 2003, Jarrett was personally involved in the booking of the promotion.

On June 18, 2003 Jarrett made an infrequent onscreen appearance when he was interviewed by commentator Mike Tenay in the course of the first TNA Anniversary Show.

When TNA moved its headquarters to Orlando, Florida, Jarrett remained in Tennessee, and later began working with Bert Prentice’s USA Championship Wrestling promotion.

On May 19, 2004 Jarrett was hospitalized with severe chest pains. He was given a triple bypass on May 23 and appeared to make a full recovery. However, on September 25 Jarrett was again hospitalized, this time with an irregular heartbeat. He was later fitted with a pacemaker, and given a clean bill of health.

On June 19, 2005 Jarrett appeared at the third TNA anniversary show, Slammiversary. He admonished his son Jeff when he struck a fan during a brawl, but then tried (unsuccessfully) to persuade the police not to arrest Jeff.

On October 28, 2005, to the surprise of many, Jarrett was reported to be at WWE's headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. According to WWE's official website, Jarrett was accompanied by WWE prospect Oleg Prudius.

Profile

Height: 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Competitive weight: 189 lb (86 kg)
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Resides: Hendersonville, Tennessee
Trained by: Sailor Moran and Tojo Yamamoto
Professional debut: 1965
Previous identities: Hawaiian Flash
Finishing and signature Move(s): Lou Thesz Press

Championships and accomplishments

National Wrestling Alliance

1-time NWA World Tag Team Champion (Mid-America version) (with Jackie Fargo)
10-time NWA Southern Tag Team Champion (6-time with Tojo Yamamoto, 3-time with Jackie Fargo, 1-time with Johnny Marlin)

American Wrestling Association

3-time AWA Southern Tag Team Champion (2-time with Tojo Yamamoto, 1-time with Jackie Fargo)

Continental Wrestling Association

1-time CWA Tag Team Champion (with Tojo Yamamoto)

Books

Jarrett, Jerry (2004) The Story of the Development of NWA-TNA: A New Concept in Pay-Per-View Programming

External links

Interview with Jerry Jarrett covering his years as a promoter

Remembering Christine Jarrett

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