Jerry Jarrett is the proud dad of WWE star Jeff Jarrett.
On Tuesday, WWE announced the passing of Jerry Jarrett, legendary promoter and father of WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett. He was 80.
Jarrett wrestled for the National Wrestling Alliance in the Mid-America zone, where he and his partner won multiple tag-team championships, until he decided to hang up his boots and co-found the Continental Wrestling Association with Jerry “The King” Lawler in 1977. A merger with World Class Championship Wrestling eleven years later created the United States Wrestling Association.
Not until 1997 did Lawler oust Jarrett as USWA president and assume control. However, the organization ultimately failed as the “Monday Night Wars” between WWE and World Championship Wrestling dragged on.
After rising to popularity in WWE, Jeff Jarrett would leave for WCW and become a major player in that company’s later years. Following WWE’s purchase of WCW, the Jarrett brothers established NWA-TNA (later Total Nonstop Wrestling, now Impact Wrestling).
After a disagreement in 2005 over the company’s direction, Jarrett sold his interests to Panda Energy and officially resigned. It’s possible that future WWE stars like A.J. Styles, Xavier Woods, and Bobby Roode would have their beginnings in WWE. Samoa Joe, Christopher Daniels, and the Young Bucks, three of the most well-known wrestlers in the All Elite Wrestling promotion, were also in attendance.
The wrestling community flooded the Jarrett family with condolences and well wishes after the news surfaced.
