Jeff Jarrett Explains Why TNA Never Had A Developmental System

(Photo Credit: AEW)

WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett, who is also All Elite Wrestlingโ€™s Director of Business Development, took to an episode of his โ€œMy World with Jeff Jarrettโ€ podcast, where he talked about a number of topics including why TNA Wrestling never had a developmental system.

Jarrett said, โ€œWell, the financials of starting a development can fluctuate enormously. But at this stage, independent wrestling had begun to get healthy. Obviously Ring of Honor is out there, and they have developed and brought a lot of guys in. And then you know, Japanโ€™s promotions. Guys were getting work out there. We werenโ€™t in a position financially to just start writing checks. Itโ€™s โ€” the amount of money through the years at NXT, massive. But you know, thereโ€™s always a different lens to view that through. You look at โ€” I mean, Major League Baseball is another set of circumstances that theyโ€™re going through right nowโ€ฆ but, you know, Major League Baseball is whittling down their developmental system. They see more upside in theNIL and kids being developed in colleges. And not in AAA, AA, high single [A], low single, rookie and all that. So just kind of evolving with the times, thatโ€™s why I think in a lot of ways, me being a wrestling junkie has always kind of kept me in tune with different guys in different places, in different promotions all over the world. And I think because the cream truly โ€” I believe this, Iโ€™ve been taught this, but Iโ€™ve seen it firsthand. The cream always rises, always rises to the top. If youโ€™re good at this, and youโ€™re gonna get work, and youโ€™re gonna get buzz. No matter what level it is, youโ€™re gonna keep going up and up and up.โ€

โ€œAgain, we didnโ€™t have the ability. But we kept our ears on the pavement and tried to hear about new things. Because you know, when I heard read that quote from Jim Cornette, I could plug in Jerry Jarrett, Jerry Lawler, so many different people. Because guys that book Dutch Mantel โ€” I mean, Dusty. I can remember me and Dusty talking about the Asylum shows when he was driving up every week. And I would pick his brain on a Wednesday afternoon when I have just โ€” I donโ€™t say a lull in a spot. He would sit out in the arena and hold court, and entertain guys. And then other days, he would be into what heโ€™s doing that night and whatever. But I can remember him just say, โ€˜All right, who you got coming up?โ€™ That generation, weโ€™ve talked a lot before we got going on the territory days. The way those promoters really kept goingโ€ฆ is the turnover, the massive turnover in talent continually. And I think thereโ€™s a real upside. And when I look at AEW, the massive talent roster, I think there is a brilliance in it. Because it can keep people super, super, super fresh, and a constant turnover. And you know, there is so much upside. And historically speaking, thatโ€™s just how our business works. I mean, to Cornetteโ€™s quote, itโ€™s easy to say we are a TNA or to have a developmental. Itโ€™s a whole nother thing to finance that thing. But there is truth in that.โ€

On being selective about taking risky moves:

โ€œIโ€™ve got a ton of respect for guys that maybe go above and beyond, and take those kinds of risks. But again, I think at times, taking the crazy bump, high risk now โ€” like I think, Mick Foley. Iโ€™ll just use the first one that comes to my mind. Fell off Hell in the Cell, a calculated risk. And he got carted out but came back and โ€” you know. The carting out, he wove that into a story. So, it was a crazy bump but it was a part of the story. The thing that Iโ€™m thinking through now Conrad, as you say that, is that to take a high-risk move for the sake of taking a high-risk move? I think youโ€™re shortchanging yourself, or maybe taking a shortcut yourself. And not really maximizing charisma, promos, storytelling, drama that you can build in the match without doing those.โ€

โ€œI get it, thereโ€™s a balance out there. But at the end of the day, thank the Lord that โ€” Iโ€™ve had this viewpoint that was ingrained in me โ€” people remember the moments of emotional attachment. A promo, a 1-2-3. Yes, they kind of care how you get there. They do, but they donโ€™t. But they remember the emotional attachment as opposed to the guitar solo. I just โ€” you know, they want to remember the hook of the song or whatever it may be. Thereโ€™s so many different analogies you could bring together. But man, itโ€™s a slippery slope, Conrad, because injuries can happen, as we all know, in an instant. And then youโ€™re on the shelf for months at a time.โ€

You can check out the complete podcast in the video below.

(H/T to 411Mania.com for transcribing the above quotes)