Mick Foley recently talked about a wide range of topics on his Foley is Pod, available via AdFreeShows.
During it, the WWE Hall Of Famer paid tribute to the recent passing of Jerry Jarrett. Here are the highlights:
Working for Jerry in Memphis:
“Jerry gave me my first full-time job, which was in Memphis. Within a few days of being mentioned in the Observer, I got an offer for three jobs. I just thought that the Jarretts had the best track record. My friend Brian Hildebrand, he was known better as Mark Curtis to WCW fans, he just loved the Memphis wrestling. He just loved everything about it; the studio, the feel, the live takes and all that. I thought that would be the best decision. It was. I’m not here to talk about my trials and tribulations in that territory, as much as I am just saying how thankful I am that Jerry Jarrett hired me. And over the years, not only hired me in Memphis, even more importantly I think… when he purchased the World Class territory from Fritz Von Erich, that opened up the door for me to go there. And World Class was where I received so much positive attention, caught the eye of people, and I don’t know if any of that would have been available to me had it not been for Jerry. Not only buying the territory, but thinking enough of me and “Gorgeous” Gary Young to bring us in as a tag team.”
Jerry talking to Mick about TNA before its launch:
“When TNA was becoming a reality, and this was after 9/11. He said that studies had shown — I can’t point to the studies but — people were willing after 9/11, people were a little more willing to spend money on things that made them happy or made them comfortable. So people might opt for their regular ice cream over the low-fat versions; that’s just one example. He believed people would pay $9.99 per week to watch good wrestling without commercials. You can debate whether or not that proved to be the case, but you can’t debate that TNA was a solid alternative and got so many people their start. Between Jeff, Jerry, and Dixie, man, did they put a lot of people on the path to stardom.”
His relationships with both Jeff and Jerry:
“Nothing but respect for Jerry. My deepest condolences to Jeff. Jeff and I texted back and forth, because Jeff and I are about the same age. I think maybe three or four months apart. We kind of grew up with each other. I mean every territory except Continental, I think, Jeff was in. So we crossed paths so many times, and that was when I was… twenty-three? So I’ve known Jeff thirty-four years, and therefore known Jerry for thirty-four years. Just sending out all my best to a true wrestling pioneer.”
Quotes via 411 Mania
