Jerry Jarrett Shoot Interview

There aren’t many Holy Grails left in the shoot interview world, but RF VIDEO is proud to exclusively give wrestling fans the very first shoot DVD with Jerry Jarrett! One of the most elusive men in the wrestling business, Jarrett was the “get” of all “gets” as he has literally been everywhere on the wrestling map and was an integral part in many of the biggest, most successful, and controversial companies. WWE. WCW. Memphis. TNA. Jarrett was a key member of management in four of the most newsworthy companies in wrestling history, and for the first time EVER he talks about his experiences to RF VIDEO! Wrestling historians are going to love all the time that Jarrett spends talking about what it took to turn the Memphis territory into one of the most significant wrestling promotions of the 20th century that drew television numbers that dwarfed even the best Raw and Nitro ratings. Jerry Lawler. Nick Gulas. Jackie Fargo. Andy Kaufman. Bill Dundee. Eddie Graham. Lance Russell. Roy Welch. Working with the NWA. You won’t believe all the wonderful stories involving Memphis. But that wasn’t the only territory Jarrett worked for, so you’ll also be getting a ton of stories involving Bill Watts, Junkyard Dog, the Von Erichs, Rock N Roll Express, Paul Heyman, Hulk Hogan, and every single big name you can think of. Working high up in both WWE and WCW, Jarrett has a unique perspective on the two biggest wrestling companies of all time. He saw first hand the highs and lows and has a lot to talk about. Jarrett also gives his side to the creation of TNA, one that is wildly different from the History of TNA DVD which TNA put out. Jarrett walked us through the first year of TNA and all the pitfalls, including Jay Hassman, Ultimate Warrior, Randy Savage, The Johnsons, and of course the delusional Vince Russo. TNA fans are going to be mesmerized by this section as it is truly much watch material. On a personal note, this interview was emotional to be a part of as Jarrett explained what happened to his family and how they have become divided. Wrestling has given Jarrett so much in life, yet it has also taken an equal amount away. Each and every viewer will come away from this incredible interview with a new understanding of the man that is Jerry Jarrett. You’ve heard the second hand stories. You’ve read all the third hand reports. Now hear it all, everything, straight from the man himself. Howd you break into the business How much of the business were you exposed to when your mom took tickets Early memories of Nick Gulas Early memories of Roy Welch Is it true that you started promoting when you were 14 How successful were you Was it hard to do business with the boys being so young Was it hard to leave the business when you went to college What kind of advice would you give someone trying to get into the business How did you wind up refereeing Can you talk about the night a riot broke out when you were refereeing Was it more difficult than you thought Can you talk about how you worked your way up promoting shows Why did you want to start wrestling Memories training with Tojo and Sailor Moran How difficult did they make it on you Memories of Tojo Was it hard to pick up What was your first major program Why do you think you were such a successful wrestler Did Roy Welch take it hard when you opened up your own company Memories of wrestling a scaffold match How crazy was the party scene back then Could a territory be successful today Memories of Jackie Fargo What made Jackie so successful Early memories of Jerry Lawler Early memories of Bill Dundee Do you think Memphis was the first hardcore area Memories of a young Hulk Hogan How tense was the promotional war with you and the Poffos Was it frustrating being a part of the NWA Could something like that work today Were you surprised when Vince went national Did you think it would work Did you attempt to get cable Why do you think the Pro Wrestling USA partnership didn’t work Did you ever petition the NWA to give Lawler a run Who was the most successful drawing NWA champion Memories of Bruiser Brody Who were some of the more difficult wrestlers to work with Can you talk about your relationship with Eddie Graham Any good Sputnik Monroe stories Any good Jimmy Valiant stories How old was Jeff when he told you he wanted to get into the business Did you think he would become as successful as he did Memories of Fritz Von Erich Do you think he made a mistake not going national when the Freebirds and Von Erichs were hot What made Lance Russell so good Was there an angle you booked in the 80s that failed and made you realize the territory was in trouble Was Austin Idol hard to work with, he had a bad reputation holding promoters up, etc Can you talk about working with Jerry Lawler What made him so good How did the idea to do music videos come about Why do you think Nick Gulas let George wrestle How did the split with you and Nick come about Why do you think his son Brian never reached Lawler’s lengths of popularity. Was it harder to compete with Vince when he started using bigger, muscle headed guys Why did you guys send the Rock N Roll Express to Bill Watts Why did you give Sylvester Ritter to Bill How did you discover Paul Orndorff What do you remember about the promo where Jos LeDuc cut his arm Is it true you tried to buy the AWA How frustrated were you when Lawler broke his leg in a football game and what kind of changes did you make Who was someone you are surprised never got over Gary Hart called you a thief, what was the fallout between you guys about How did you wind up booking Georgia Memories of the territory Thoughts on Jim Barnett Who’s idea was the empty arena match Did Flair and Mulligan try and buy a territory in opposition to you Is it true that Lawler and Lance Russell thought about opening a territory How did the whole Andy Kaufman deal come about Was he difficult to work with Did he try and stay in character How did you guys all get on Letterman How accurate was Man on the Moon Was Lawler’s title run over Hennig too late for business What made the angle work so well How did the sale of World Class come about Was it hard to book the Von Erichs because of their reputation Do you think Eric Embry was a good booker Did you regret the decision to buy Fritz’s territory Was it hard to travel back and forth Do you think Fritz was bitter over the sale How did you wind up actually working for Vince McMahon Do you get along with him Is it hard to have to answer to someone Was there an adjustment period for you Do you think Vince has done more to help or hurt the business What did you learn from Vince as a promoter/booker Were you surprised when Jerry Lawler went to work there How did you wind up working in WCW Was it as disorganized as they say What made you finally get out of the business Did you miss it Did you feel like you still had it in you Why do you think Memphis folded after you sold it How close were you to buying WCW Are you glad you didn’t buy it Do you think Vince blew the invasion angle How would you have booked it What made you decide to start TNA How do you answer critics who say Jeff started it so he could have a place to wrestle As a promoter, can Jeff Jarrett still draw money How difficult was it to get off of the ground Did you have any conversations with Vince when you were getting TNA off the ground When you started contacting guys, were you surprised as to how much things had changed when it came to booking guys Can you talk about trying to book Warrior and Savage Warrior called the things you wrote in his book about him lies, how do you respond You called Vince Russo delusional in your book, can you expand on that Are you shocked at how supportive Jeff is of him Are you surprised he is still writing for TNA Can you talk about Dusty Rhodes trying to hold you guys up for more money You tell a story in your book about the heat between Sean Waltman and Ken Shamrock, can you talk about that When you tried to book Dan Severn, did you know ahead a time he was unavailable thus you could make your own champion How important to you was it to have the NWA name What happened with Jay Hassman Are you proud of TNA’s era that you booked Was Bob Ryder in over his head What was the whole idea behind the Dupp Cupp You have taken shots at Dave Meltzer and newsletters over the years for hurting the business, yet in your book you talk a lot about constant communication with Wade Keller. Why Wade? What was the idea behind the Johnsons How did you meet Dixie Carter Were you surprised they wanted to buy Are you surprised TNA got on Spike Do you regret selling You have said that you would not let your grand children watch TNA. Why? How would things have been different if you never brought Russo in to TNA Were you shocked when Brian Lawler shot on his dad Did you find the book you wrote therapeutic Would you be paying Kurt Angle a rumored 500k a year if you still owned TNA Can TNA ever compete with the WWE Why do you think the business on a decline Thoughts on the Benoit family tragedy What are your thoughts on all of the deaths of the past few years and which in particular hit you hardest Does the lack of kayfabe today surprise or bother you Thoughts on newsletters Have you been contacted over the last several years for an appearance here and there by the WWF What do you think is the biggest missing ingredient from the wrestlers on the independents Would you like to go into the WWF Hall of Fame Do you still watch wrestling Favorite road stories Do you want to write another book What advice do you have for aspiring bookers Any regrets