Jeff Jarrett on Launching Global Force Wrestling and Life After TNA

Fred: What’s up, everybody? This is Fred Richani of TSC News, and I have right here on the line pro wrestling legend Double J, Jeff Jarrett, who looks to take the wrestling world by storm with Global Force Wrestling. Jeff, how’s it going?

Jeff Jarrett: Wow, Fred, what an intro. I appreciate you having me on, and I’m looking forward to talking Global Force Wrestling and specifically the Grand Slam Tour, which kicks off in less than two weeks.

Fred: You did the TNA thing for over 10 years, and people can say what they want, but it was a company that provided a national and worldwide platform for people to apply their craft and make a living. You’ve been in the business God knows how long. Why start a brand-new promotion instead of enjoying family life and chilling at home?

Jeff Jarrett: It’s in my blood. It’s my passion. I’m in my 29th year of actively being in the business, but my family has been in the business since the 1940s. My grandmother got into the business. She didn’t wrestle, but she did about everything besides that. My dad followed in her footsteps and promoted, then wrestled, then went back to promoting, and that’s what I did. As a teenager I helped at shows with concession stands, setting up the ring, taking tickets and ushering. Then I had my active wrestling career, founded TNA in 2002, and now in 2015 we’re about to embark on a really cool grassroots initiative to spread the word about Global Force Wrestling.

Fred: Say you and I are stuck in an elevator and I ask for your pitch. How will Global Force Wrestling separate itself from WWE, TNA, Ring of Honor and other promotions?

Jeff Jarrett: Two things jump off the page. With all brands nowadays, whether it’s “The Voice,” “American Idol” or sports, social media is an enormous part of it. We’re going to be engaged with our fan base not just daily, but almost hourly. In professional wrestling, people will tell you what they like, and more importantly what they don’t like. Second, we want to put on hard-hitting, very competitive professional wrestling. WWE does what they do better than anybody else, and they’re sports entertainment. We’re going to be professional wrestling, and the very essence of that is guys getting in the ring and competing. Everyone knows pro wrestling isn’t just a sport, but we do compete: to have the best match, to be in the main event, to sell the most merchandise and tickets and to get the best reaction. If you’re going to be part of the Global Force roster, you’re going to have an incredible amount of passion to be the very best you can be every time you step in the ring.

Fred: Your first TV tapings are July 24 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, with three nights scheduled, but we don’t know yet where you’ll end up. Any update on the TV situation?

Jeff Jarrett: There are some things I’m going to hold close to the vest. But we’re in a unique set of circumstances, not just in wrestling but in the world. Cable television is at a real crossroads, and some industry insiders couldn’t agree more. What we want to do is go to Las Vegas and shoot really compelling content that aligns not just with the United States but globally, because we’re in discussions with multiple global partners. People are cutting the cord as services like Netflix and HBO Now gain prominence, and TV and the internet are already intertwined, from phones to tablets to desktops. Streaming services have been true game-changers. Look at the WWE Network. Who would have thought two or three years ago that there would be only one true pay-per-view, with everything else streaming and Vince getting $9.99 a month from network subscribers? The game has changed in all distribution methods.

Fred: At least at the WWE level, wrestling has evolved into more of a TV product. Is it a problem that there’s less focus on individual monthly pay-per-views?

Jeff Jarrett: That’s subjective. At the end of the day, it’s a business, and you have to become profitable. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. The TV show drives live events, and live events drive merchandise, so it all works hand in hand. Look at the music business. Ten years ago it was about selling CDs with 10 to 12 songs, then selling one song for 99 cents, then streaming, and now the money is back in touring and merchandise. The wrestling business is evolving, and we’re all adapting. That’s a big part of why I was excited to get the minor league Grand Slam Tour off the ground, because touring is the real building block of creating awareness. WWE has been around 50 years. They’re the industry standard. They’re Coca-Cola, and there is no Pepsi in our business, just a bunch of other soft drinks, and I say that with all due respect. Two years ago there was no Lucha Underground, New Japan wasn’t on AXS and Ring of Honor didn’t have a cable deal. Now you’ve got TNA, Ring of Honor, New Japan and Lucha Underground. Where does Global Force fit in? We’ll take it one step at a time and keep creating brand awareness.

Fred: What were the biggest lessons from TNA, successes or failures, that you’re applying to GFW?

Jeff Jarrett: First and foremost, I’m laser-focused on brand awareness, and that starts with a grassroots approach. I live in Nashville and have a lot of friends in the music business. They take an act that gets pretty big in one city, branch it out to a couple of other cities, then regionally, then to radio. It’s a building process. Pro wrestling is no different. You go from A to B, B to C, C to D. That’s why we’re so heavily engaged on a local level, partnering with minor league stadiums and ball teams in these cities, and we’re highly engaged on social media, which is instantaneous around the world.

Fred: There’s a lot of excitement around GFW, Lucha Underground, which may be renewed for a second season, and Ring of Honor, which is set to debut on Destination America. It’s kind of the opposite for TNA, which may not be on TV by the end of September. What advice would you give the guys there?

Jeff Jarrett: The reality is that you and I and many others don’t know the actual facts, whether it’s rumor or 100 percent truth. I was in a similar situation in WCW, hearing this and that. What I did back in 2000 and 2001 was get up every morning and say, “I’m going to be the best Jeff Jarrett I can be today and do the very best I can for WCW today.” When you do those two things, you’re doing the best for the wrestling fans, and they’re the ones who ultimately put food on your table. That would be my advice. I can’t comment on the rest, because I don’t know the facts.

Fred: Any plans to wrestle?

Jeff Jarrett: I’ve said it over and over: I am not part of the Global Force Wrestling roster. Am I saying I’m retiring? No, and I’m not going to do one of those 15 retirement tours. Wrestling was my first love, and I’ve done it for over 29 years. I’m very proud of my career, but right now all my energy is going toward promoting Global Force Wrestling.

Fred: How’s your body holding up?

Jeff Jarrett: Good. I still train three or four days a week and get cardio in seven days a week. That keeps my sanity, and you’ve got to stay healthy to keep your energy up.

Fred: Jim Cornette is scheduled for a few GFW shows. Is that an appearance capacity, or could Corny leave his sabbatical and get back in the swing of things?

Jeff Jarrett: Right now he’s scheduled for a couple of events, and we’ll have a legend on every Global Force Wrestling show. From wearing a promoter’s hat for many years, I know wrestling is a three-generation form of entertainment. Grandparents can bring their grandkids, and the grandparents or parents may remember the legend and be introduced to the new stars, while the kids may know the up-and-comers their parents haven’t heard of. As for Jim and me, we go way back. His mother and my grandmother were best friends for many years, and my father was very instrumental in getting Jim into the business. But as far as Jim getting back into the business day to day, for Global Force or anybody else, I don’t foresee that happening, though I may be wrong.

Fred: Jim Ross has said many times on “The Ross Report” that promotions like Ring of Honor, TNA, Lucha Underground, AAA and New Japan should work together, because there’s strength in numbers. Global Force seems open-minded about working with AAA and New Japan. Are you looking to form other relationships?

Jeff Jarrett: I’ll echo what Jim said. WWE has arguably 85 to 95 percent of the market share in the world, so I believe it’s silly and juvenile not to work together. I’m not saying get in bed together or marry each other. I’m saying have a loose working relationship. When I can help another promotion, or another promotion can help me, it makes business sense, because it creates more brand awareness for all the brands: Lucha Underground, New Japan, AAA, Ring of Honor, TNA, House of Hardcore. If I send a Global Force talent to another brand, it helps Global Force and hopefully helps them, and vice versa. That’s the mindset to have in 2015.

Fred: There’s excitement from an unlikely place too. The MMA audience was excited to hear Chael Sonnen is joining GFW as a commentator. What’s it been like working with “The Bad Guy”?

Jeff Jarrett: What a skill set and what a unique individual, with an incredible passion not just for life but for professional wrestling. He knows his stuff. He’s told the story online and on our YouTube channel: He pursued us. He talked to Jim Ross, got my number, we had a healthy text exchange and multiple phone calls, and we arrived where we are today. He’s an expert MMA analyst for ESPN, but he has a lifelong passion for pro wrestling that goes back to the territory days of Don Owen in Portland, Oregon.

Fred: Any chance we see him in the ring down the road?

Jeff Jarrett: That’s TBD. We’ve agreed to address things one at a time, and right now Chael is focused on being the very best expert analyst he can be.

Fred: I know you’ve got a ton of interviews to do. The floor is yours to tell us what’s coming up with Global Force Wrestling.

Jeff Jarrett: Go to GlobalForceWrestling.com for all the latest breaking news and information about the live events and the Vegas tapings, and our social media handle is @GFWwrestling. I appreciate the support, and I look forward to talking to you again once we’ve got a couple of Grand Slams and the Vegas tapings under our belt.

Fred: Jeff, thanks so much for your time.