Double J reflects on Owen Hart, TNA, sobriety, and his AEW role
Summary
– Jeff Jarrett discussed emotional moments from Owen Hart’s passing and his own personal struggles
– Jarrett reflected on leaving WWF, founding TNA, and the company’s rise and setbacks
– He also spoke about his current AEW role and his continued passion for wrestling
Jeff Jarrett is looking back on his wrestling life with honesty, emotion, and a very different perspective than he once had.
During a wide-ranging interview, Jarrett discussed his career, his personal losses, his time building TNA, and the lessons that came through sobriety. The conversation also touched on Dark Side of the Ring’s new season, which includes episodes focused on TNA’s history.
Jarrett said he was open to being part of the series because he respected the way the producers dig into stories from multiple angles. He admitted the final result was emotional and said there were parts of the story that had never been told before.
One of the most powerful moments came when Jarrett spoke about Owen Hart. He said he did not fully grieve Hart’s death until years later and explained that walking through the area where Hart fell stayed with him in a way he had never fully expressed before.
Jarrett also said he returned to work quickly after Hart’s death and did not allow himself time to process the loss. He now believes that unprocessed grief eventually comes out in other ways.
The interview also covered Jarrett’s complicated exit from WWF. He pushed back on the idea that he “held up” Vince McMahon, explaining that he wanted to be paid for money already owed before leaving for WCW.
Jarrett said he still intended to do business the right way. He described the famous payoff story in detail, including Vince handing him a check and telling him to go out and deliver.
His WCW run was another major subject. Jarrett said he looks back fondly on that period, even though the company was chaotic and often criticized.
The conversation then shifted to TNA, the company Jarrett co-founded after WCW closed. He said he saw a major gap in the marketplace and believed wrestling needed another national promotion.
Jarrett admitted that TNA’s early years were marked by mistakes, especially in communication. He said he wishes he had been clearer with Dixie Carter and others about certain decisions that later affected the company’s direction.
Still, he remains emotionally attached to TNA. Jarrett said he roots for the company and views its continued existence as meaningful because of the work that went into building it.
Jarrett also spoke about making peace with his father before his passing. He described their relationship as complicated but said sobriety helped him have difficult conversations and find gratitude.
His current AEW role also came up. Jarrett said he is happy working as an on-screen talent and is not currently involved behind the scenes.
That does not mean his business mind has gone away. Jarrett said he still sees major opportunities in wrestling, especially internationally, and believes there are markets worldwide that remain underdeveloped.
After 40 years in the business, Jarrett said his passion for wrestling is still strong. He described perseverance as part of his legacy and said he wants people to remember that he kept getting back up.
Jeff Jarrett’s career has included championships, controversy, promotions, personal pain, and reinvention. This interview showed a man who has lived through it all and can now speak about it with clarity.
