Jarrett Gone Indefinitely

TNA had a PPV last night. I didn't watch it, and gauging from the reactions at both A1 and F4W, it was pretty atrocious. Still, I won't review something that I haven't watched, but I found a kernel of news coming from the event pretty interesting. Turns out Jeff Jarrett wasn't at the PPV last night and was pulled from television indefinitely. (Thanks, Jason Powell and The Net!) Jarrett's camp has given the reason that he's taking some time off to recharge the batteries and attend to personal matters. However, this timing is curious seeing as a pretty saucy rumor has come to the surface.

It turns out that a person claiming to be in the know backstage at TNA called up Bubba the Love Sponge's satellite radio show and said that Kurt Angle's ex-wife Karen, a former TNA television personality, has shacked up with Jarrett. He also claimed that Dixie Carter was threatening to buy out Jarrett's stake and kick him off the board of directors. The rumor has not been substantiated by anyone of note; Bubba left a message with Kurt Angle, but no one responded back to them.

Now, I'm not going to comment further on the pillow talk because really, what consenting adults do with their own time is their business and no one else's. However, the ramifications within TNA could be huge, especially if Jarrett is forced out. The only thing more shocking would have been if Linda McMahon divorced Vince, won the WWE in a settlement and then forced him out. I mean, TNA was built as a vanity promotion for Jarrett after WCW was purchased by the WWF and wouldn't take him in. Speaking of which...



That still gets me every time, although I'm not sure what's funnier, that Vince holds a grudge over something that was his fault, or that he blatantly misspells Jarrett's name, or that my indifference towards Jarrett being rammed down my throat in WCW's dying days made it funny that he was packaged "DO NOT WANT" by the WWF.

Aaaaanyway, if Jarrett is in the process of being squeezed out, could this mean that brighter days are on the horizon? Well... it depends on whether Dutch Mantell was swept out with him. Vince Russo too, although if he stays, well, at least they'll try to elevate the younger guys. I mean, Russo may be the most incoherent, uncohesive bookers of all-time, but he's got a track record of trying to get younger guys over.

Regardless of whether Jarrett leaving means potential improvement on the way, it's still a huge blow to the company's legacy. I mean he's the in-character founder, and by all means, a decent guy out of the ring when he's not trying to get the whole show booked to make him look like 1985 Hulk Hogan. For him to get squeezed out for things that should have been kept private would be embarrassing to the company and horrible for a guy who was with the company for all that time. Of course, this is all hearsay at the moment, and not a lick of it could be true. However, I smell the faintest trace of smoke in all of this, and you know the cliché.

This story will undoubtedly unfold more over the next few weeks, but for now, it could be a sign of many things for the beleaguered promotion. Jarrett could be forced out, but if I'm forced to deal with 50-somethings holding all the major belts, then what's the point? As a fan, I want to see AJ Styles and Chris Daniels and the other young guns do what they do. I want to see an alternative place for indie stars right now to get their time in the sun without having to forfeit their identity. I want to see an alternative to the WWE so I can have more wrestling to enjoy.

Is that too much to ask?