TNA star Jeff Jarrett spoke with Dan Lovranski of The LAW for a half-hour this past weekend discussing the issues with TNA creative, the departure of Mick Foley, his program with Kurt Angle and much more. The entire interview is available at by clicking here and below are some highlights of the interview:
Using his children in the program with Kurt Angle:
“That’s the part that people have really voiced their opinion very very strongly, and it’s their prerogative to voice their opinion, but I’ve literally lived this. My parents were divorced when I was three-years old because of this business. So I’m very aware of a child’s feelings. People can judge all they want, but I know what kind of father I am, I know what kind of mother Karen is, I know what kind of parents we’re all are and I understand better than anybody where the kids’ heads are at. So it was a very understanding situation and you know I take the criticism but also understand, I take it with a grain of salt because you have to walk in my shoes or Karen’s shoes or Kurt’s shoes to fully understand the situation.”
Discussing those that have been critical of the creative team within TNA:
Keep being as critical as possible because it is absolute proof that you are watching in some shape, form or fashion. We’re never gonna please everybody and I know that. When I say that I speak from experience, and I literally mean that, I can remember as a kid going to matches when I broke into the Tennessee territory. Instead of online chats and the internet and that kind of stuff, there used to be a group of anywhere from 50 fans to 150 fans to who knows at times hanging out at the back gate. They would be raising hell bitching, complaining and saying “How come this guy didn’t do this? How come this guy didn’t do that?” Back in that day professional wrestling was perceived on a different level, but there have always been very vocal critics of professional wrestling and one thing that I learned and I learned it from my grandmother was the most vocal critic is the one that never ever missed a Monday night or a Tuesday night in Louisville or a Wednesday – they never missed. Well I know that we’re not gonna always bat one thousand not even close but we’re gonna keep attempting and keep trying to hit the home run, keep trying to keep the ball in play and know going in that we’re always gonna make mistakes. But at the end of the day, we’re gonna stay focused and do the very best we can and when you’re on the top rated show on your network, which we are at Spike you’re doing something right.”
Mick Foley’s departure from TNA recently:
“You know I’ve seen this happen countless times. There comes a point when you have employer/employee. When the employee comes to basically a fork in the road in their business life, if they have the ability to move on and don’t need the paycheck anymore and feel like they can’t work under these conditions anymore such as Mick, he moved on. My hat’s off to him, the a guy didn’t stick around and be disgruntled. If he wasn’t happy, it was time for him to move on. The worst thing a talent can do is stick around and just let things fester. Because they need the paycheck they stay, but they’re miserable, which isn’t doing anybody good, it’s doing everyone a disservice themselves included and life’s too short. If you’re not happy with the situation, move on. If you’re unhappy with it, be constructive about things and try to make a positive change, and realize that you’re not the ultimate decision maker and move on. I’ve got an immense amount of respect for Mick Foley. We go back basically he came to Tennessee in 1988, and I got started in 1986 so we go back man years. I respect his as a performer immensely but more as the person that he is.”
The recent passing of Randy Savage and his work in Memphis with the Jarrett family:
The Poffo family and the Jarrett family have a long and storied history. There were some very heated situations back in the early 80’s and then Randy came to work for my family’s promotion. In the mid 80’s when the WWF was plucking all the top stars out of every territory, Randy walked in and said that he was going, but he offered to stay as long as needed to “do business” on the way out. That’s something that my family certainly never forgot. My grandmother spoke very highly of Randy, my Dad and obviously I do. The in-ring performer that Randy was and the “it” factor and the charisma, everyone knows that side of it. But Randy was a man’s man, and you know, obviously tragic news, but I can’t say enough good about Randy. I really, really can’t – professionally and personally.
Transcribed by Rodney Rogers