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Jeff Jarrett talks about Goldberg, Lita, Hulk Hogan, Warrior, and Jericho in TNA, WWE's Possible Involvement With the House Show Cancellation, TNA Severing Ties With Monty Brown, Going Primetime This Thursday, plus More
By James Guttman
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Recaps not enough? Fear not.
Today was another one of TNA/Spike TV's monthly conference calls. I called in around 2pm for a no-holds-barred chat with the "Cho, Cho, Chosen One" Jeff Jarrett. After a quick technical problem, we go to questions: No Mercy 1999 - What was the story with your WWE departure? Did you hold up Vince McMahon before the Chyna match?
Really excited about where TNA is at. Come a long way in 4 ½ years. Now they’re doing primetime. First time in years that a non-WWE company was on TV.
We have policy where we deal with each individual. No secret that some people have been dealt with on an individual case. TNA worked them through their problems and they have a policy to watch everybody. If there’s a problem, TNA deasl with it. Would you consider going head to head with Raw? Absolutely. TNA isn’t going to outspin the competition. We don’t try to outdo them just to outdo them. It’s strategic. If head to head is the best decision, TNA will do that. It’s hard to recreate history. It took a lot to get to the Monday Night Wars. There’s more to it than just going head to head. Thursdays is a great TV night and it leaves three days to the PPV. Thursdays might be there home. Who knows what the future might hold?
Why did TNA rehire Vince Russo? “One thing about Vince, everybody’s got an opinion on him.” He was added because he’s a changed man, although some might not understand that. He’s been a part of WWF and WCW. Jeff was there for both of those times. He knows his strengths and weaknesses. TNA can use that to make their product as good as possible. What's Jim Cornette’s Status? Jeff and Jim go back to when Jarrett was 12. His grandmother was friends with Jim’s mom. They go way back. Cornette “knows this business inside and out.” He has wisdom and that’s something you can’t learn. Jim is a huge addition to the company because there aren’t people with his experience. Can Corny and Russo co-exist? Jim and Vince feel that business comes before ego. That’s why they’re so successful. Is Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe the most important TNA match in history? Every PPV main event is the most important match. TNA is on a proving ground. WWE has been around for 40+ years. WCW had their origins from the territory days. TNA started 4 ½ years ago from scratch. To get to primetime in that time period is an accolade and all the people in TNA deserve respect for that. Jeff says that TNA is only as good as it’s last show. WWE has hits under their belt, but TNA needs to prove themselves. They’ll do that on primetime. As for Joe-Angle, “No one is expecting anything less than a spectacular match.” Impact seems to progress too fast. Will you slow down the show for primetime? We intent to live up to our name “Total Nonstop Action.” However, TNA is charting ground that’s never been done. They have four one hour shows a month and then do a 7-9 match PPV. To have intrigue in more than half of those matches means TV time. At 42 minutes of TV time, TNA has to do a “breakneck speed.” Jeff knows that they go fast, but that’s by design. They try to plan it out strategically. TNA making movies in the future? Is your hiatus to allow young guys to shine? Question about Owen Hart’s death in 1999. Should the PPV have been stopped? There’s no right or wrong answer. Vince couldn’t have been prepared for that. You can’t say what Owen would have or wouldn’t have wanted. No good came from that situation. To this day, it seems unreal. Jeff wasn’t there. All he can comment on is what’s out there now. There’s shows running in the North East, but none get cancelled the day of the event, However TNA did…in two buildings. “I find it odd, but if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, you don’t have to ask what that thing is.” Any other anti-WWE promos coming up? Stay tuned. Jarrett’s sure that The James Gang have plenty more to say. Do you have heat with Joey Legend? WWE has lots of wrestlers who want to jump ship. How do you feel about that? Jarrett laughs and says, “You wouldn’t believe the calls.” It’s the nature of the business. Christian and Angle jumping says a lot and there’ll be more to come. It says a lot about TNA. The roster is strong and deep. When things get good, interesting things start happening. What is the goal for TNA rating-wise in the new timeslot? There’s some internal projections with Spike. The average is 1.0. Moving to primetime, you have to give it a few tenths of a point for a jump. November/December is sweeps month but January and February will be interesting. 1.3 would be successful, but TNA is looking to do better than that. However, they’re a new product and have to be realistic. They’re expecting great things over time, though. “Nothing happens overnight.” When Raw came on, it took a few years. WCW did it faster, but they brought their primetime Saturday night audience with them. TNA realizes they have an uphill battle, but “what a great place to be.”
Jarrett clarifies that they want to be #1. Anyone in TNA who doesn’t want to, shouldn’t be there. Can TNA be successful as #2? Absolutely. Vince McMahon built his dad’s company into a global empire. They have 150 wrestlers on staff. They’re gigantic with all their divisions. TNA is looking to improve on what they’ve built. #2? “Hell yeah.” They want to be #1 over time. Any plans for Pride/UFC in wrestling like Japan? Interesting idea, but it’s two different audiences in the US. The very base of it is different. The next evolution of wrestling is to be innovative both in front of and behind the camera. They want to pull the curtain back, but not just by exposing the business. Jarrett feels the industry has always been about catching the viewer’s emotions during the show. Monty Brown has been negotiating with TNA and WWE. True?
Why does TNA mention WWE on the air? Memorable matches? At Slammiversary, the crowd almost rioted after your title win. The crowd hates you. What does it take to make that happen?
Chris Jericho in TNA? Where did Slapnuts come from? Jeff’s grandmother did everything in the business except wrestle. She would call people “Slappies” because “They slapped their lips together and knew less and less every day.” Jarrett changed it to “Slapnuts.” First person to be called Slapnuts? Mike Tenay. How do you feel personally from the early days of TNA to today? Jeff remembers starting the company like it was yesterday. It’s very gratifying. It hasn’t been easy, but that goes with any start-up organization. However, 4 ½ years later, they have an opportunity that is unheard of. No business has gone to primetime in the amount of time TNA has. He mentions Dave Sahadi and Kevin Sullivan in production as strong members of the team. You have to love this business. Vince McMahon and TNA are the only global companies around. It’s a hard, tough business. To be successful, you have to love it. Of course, you also need wisdom and luck too. Do you enjoy being a heel? How closely do you follow ratings? What do you envision as TNA’s next step in licensing? They have action figures and video games (due out next year). There’s a CD coming out too. TNA has a number of avenues open to them. Next step is heading on the road with TV and it should happen in the next 12-36 months. This Thursday is a giant step to the next level too. He puts over WWE's ratings and says that wrestling appeals to the masses. Everyone likes to play "Monday Morning Quarterback." The next question slammed Internet fans and called them “trekies.” How do you feel about their complaints? People have a right to their opinion, but TNA is in primetime. Jeff says he’s judged differently than others, but 4 ½ years ago the company worked to get TNA to where it is. It’s “blood, sweat, and tears. The proof is in the pudding.” It won’t stop critics, but Jeff doesn’t want to. It’s what makes the industry unique. Live TV is good. Any chance of having Impact live? “Put a football came on tape delay and the results will be in the numbers.” My question was next: In the last 4 ½ years, if you had to pick one thing in TNA that you feel was a mistake either creatively or business-wise, what would you pick? The Dupp Cup - they tried it and they would have never known it if they didn’t try it. They tried Ultimate X and now they know it works. Can’t have an Ultimate X without a few Dupp Cups. What are you personal family issues? Can you tell us? No. With all due respect, no comment. Creatively speaking, how do you book Angle-Joe at this point? That question is the reason why people buy PPVs. What are they gonna do? Jeff uses the opening quote I stole for World Wrestling Insanity: The Book. Lita in TNA? "Women in wrestling has always been a catch 22." Women can do things with drama that men can't. Their in-ring skills aren't as good as men, though. Match up the best male basketball player in the world to the best female basketball player in the world and there's no match. If done correctly, it could work. Not sure where Lita's career is headed, though. Any talks with Daniel Puder? Dan was interested several months back. You may have seen his war of words with Kurt Angle. Puder is a smart man. He's getting mileage out of this. However - no. Zero talks are going on. What's up with Scott Steiner? How is it work with Dixie Carter? Dixie is a woman who's made it in a man's business. Her original company was successful. Her transition to wrestling hasn't been easy, but she has passion. Sting. He signed a one year deal. It's coming to an end. What's his future? Jeff doesn't want to comment on specifics, but talks are going on. When he was at Bound For Glory, it was the first time anyone had seen him in the company. Jarrett says he looked impressive and seems to be highly motivated. He says that Sting has "The It Factor." There seems to be fans on the net who think Joe-Angle is too soon. Would you have drawn it out more or is timing right? In the wresling business, the creative process is subjective. There are no absolute rights and wrongs in 90% of decisions. When going primetime, why not go with your best foot forward? The Hulk Hogan angle. What was up with that? Hulk had health issues that prevented him from particiapting. Jeff's undertanding is that Hogan signed a 20 year deal with WWE. That puts him at over 70 when it expires and even if they wanted him, he would still bring in fans at 70.
This call also included other questions including TNA's Mexico involvement, AAA, Antonio Pena's passing, TNA Developmental possibilities, how to bring back old fans, the lost art of being a heel, TNA in New York, benefits of a six-sided ring, and more. You can check it all out in audio form at ClubWWI.com!
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| © 2005-2007 All content contained here Copyright 2006 by James Guttman *** World Wrestling Insanity and ClubWWI are not affiliated with any wrestling promotion. |
