Post by Head Booker on Nov 15, 2006 7:14:06 GMT -6
JJ speaks out on everything in his TNA Conference Call....
Jeff Jarrett was part of a conference with the media today to promote the prime time Impact and Genesis PPV on Sunday. Below are the highlights.
- On holding WWE up for money at No Mercy '99: Said he was not under contract and was at the show discussing TNA business. Said it was a business situation and an agreement was worked out.
- On TNA's drug policy: Said TNA works with performers on an individual basis and helps those who need help.
- On having a Monday night timeslot against RAW: Said if it was the best thing for TNA, he would want it. Said that the Thursday slot is good for them right now because TV viewership is high that night and Thursday is closer to their PPV days.
- On bringing in Warrior and/or Goldberg: Said the two are similar in that they both rose fast and then backed away from the business, but concluded by saying "never say never."
- On Vince Russo: Said that Russo was a changed man and that he knew exactly what Russo's strengths and weaknesses are and that he will play Russo to his strengths.
- On Jim Cornette: Said Cornette has wisdom that can't be taught and that he and Russo know that business comes before ego and will work together.
- On Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle being the most important TNA match ever: Said that at this point, every one of their PPV main events is the most important. Said TNA is only as good as its last show and doesn't have history to fall back on like WWE does. Said that they expect Joe/Angle to be spectacular and that Joe is an example of cream rising to the top in TNA.
- On whether Joe/Angle is being rushed: Said that a match can be booked many different ways and that there is no right or wrong. Said that with Impact moving to prime time, now is a good time to go for it.
- On the one hour Impact moving too fast: Jarrett said they are named Total Nonstop Action for a reason, but did say that they are in uncharted waters using four hours of TV to promote three hours of PPV. Said that a lot of talent doesn't get the time needed.
- On doing projects like WWE Films: Said TNA does have talent that works on outside projects like Kevin Nash, Christian Cage, and Gail Kim, but added that TNA's focus is pro-wrestling.
- On WWE's decision to keep the show going the night Owen Hart died: Said there is no way to know what Owen would have wanted and said the entire situation still seems surreal today.
- On the TNA/Connecticut situation over the weekend: Said in all his years, he has never heard of two shows in two different towns on back-to-back days being shut down. Said that somebody obviously didn't want TNA running there and that they are investigating what happened.
- On the James Gang/WWE promos: Said they have more to say and to tune in to Impact.
- On WWE wrestlers wanting to jump to TNA: Said people wouldn't believe the guys who call TNA and added that Christian Cage and Kurt Angle were just the beginning.
- On TNA's ratings: Said that right now Impact is in the 1.0 range but that they have an uphill battle because they don't have the audience that WCW built over years on Saturday nights when they debuted Nitro. Said that every move TNA has made for their TV product has turned out to be a positive thus far.
- On whether his goal for TNA is to be #2 or #1: Said that a #2 promotion behind WWE can be very successful, but that the ultimate goal is always to be #1. Said that TNA doesn't have the resources or roster size that WWE has but that they won't stop trying to be #1.
- On doing combined MMA/wrestling events: Said the concept works in Japan but that U.S. audiences are different.
- On Monty Brown: Said TNA had "severed ties" with Brown.
- On Scott Steiner: Said Steiner likes to pick his spots and that a prime time return would be good for him.
- On all the on-air references to WWE on TNA programming: Said the fans know WWE exists so it doesn't make sense to try and act like it doesn't.
- On who will take over as TNA's top heel: Said the floor is wide open for someone to step up. Said he likes what LAX is doing, but noted that TNA's roster is so deep that anybody could step up.
- On Chris Jericho: Said Jericho is a great performer and a smart guy who has managed his money well. Said that Jericho will return to wrestling when he is excited about a product, not just for a payday.
- On the criticism he gets from the internet: Said that if he is generating a response, that's a positive. Said that in this business, you have to have tough skin and that the bottomline is TNA continues to grow and debuts in prime time this Thursday. Said that everyone will always want to play booker because that's part of the appeal of wrestling.
- On Impact being live: Said being live would help tremendously but noted that being taped also gives them benefits via post-production.
- On Lita going to TNA: Said he didn't know what her status was. Said that women can add a lot to pro-wrestling.
- On bringing in Daniel Puder: Said they had talks with Puder months ago. Said that Bubba the Love Sponge has done a good job hyping up Puder/Angle, noting that Bubba has learned to promote from the best (Hulk Hogan).
- On Sting: Said he is in great condition and is motivated and that talks are ongoing for a new deal.
- On a TNA developmental program: Said it would be the right thing for them down the line, but that they aren't big enough for that yet and need to continue to focus on growing.
Source: 411Mania.com
Jeff Jarrett was part of a conference with the media today to promote the prime time Impact and Genesis PPV on Sunday. Below are the highlights.
- On holding WWE up for money at No Mercy '99: Said he was not under contract and was at the show discussing TNA business. Said it was a business situation and an agreement was worked out.
- On TNA's drug policy: Said TNA works with performers on an individual basis and helps those who need help.
- On having a Monday night timeslot against RAW: Said if it was the best thing for TNA, he would want it. Said that the Thursday slot is good for them right now because TV viewership is high that night and Thursday is closer to their PPV days.
- On bringing in Warrior and/or Goldberg: Said the two are similar in that they both rose fast and then backed away from the business, but concluded by saying "never say never."
- On Vince Russo: Said that Russo was a changed man and that he knew exactly what Russo's strengths and weaknesses are and that he will play Russo to his strengths.
- On Jim Cornette: Said Cornette has wisdom that can't be taught and that he and Russo know that business comes before ego and will work together.
- On Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle being the most important TNA match ever: Said that at this point, every one of their PPV main events is the most important. Said TNA is only as good as its last show and doesn't have history to fall back on like WWE does. Said that they expect Joe/Angle to be spectacular and that Joe is an example of cream rising to the top in TNA.
- On whether Joe/Angle is being rushed: Said that a match can be booked many different ways and that there is no right or wrong. Said that with Impact moving to prime time, now is a good time to go for it.
- On the one hour Impact moving too fast: Jarrett said they are named Total Nonstop Action for a reason, but did say that they are in uncharted waters using four hours of TV to promote three hours of PPV. Said that a lot of talent doesn't get the time needed.
- On doing projects like WWE Films: Said TNA does have talent that works on outside projects like Kevin Nash, Christian Cage, and Gail Kim, but added that TNA's focus is pro-wrestling.
- On WWE's decision to keep the show going the night Owen Hart died: Said there is no way to know what Owen would have wanted and said the entire situation still seems surreal today.
- On the TNA/Connecticut situation over the weekend: Said in all his years, he has never heard of two shows in two different towns on back-to-back days being shut down. Said that somebody obviously didn't want TNA running there and that they are investigating what happened.
- On the James Gang/WWE promos: Said they have more to say and to tune in to Impact.
- On WWE wrestlers wanting to jump to TNA: Said people wouldn't believe the guys who call TNA and added that Christian Cage and Kurt Angle were just the beginning.
- On TNA's ratings: Said that right now Impact is in the 1.0 range but that they have an uphill battle because they don't have the audience that WCW built over years on Saturday nights when they debuted Nitro. Said that every move TNA has made for their TV product has turned out to be a positive thus far.
- On whether his goal for TNA is to be #2 or #1: Said that a #2 promotion behind WWE can be very successful, but that the ultimate goal is always to be #1. Said that TNA doesn't have the resources or roster size that WWE has but that they won't stop trying to be #1.
- On doing combined MMA/wrestling events: Said the concept works in Japan but that U.S. audiences are different.
- On Monty Brown: Said TNA had "severed ties" with Brown.
- On Scott Steiner: Said Steiner likes to pick his spots and that a prime time return would be good for him.
- On all the on-air references to WWE on TNA programming: Said the fans know WWE exists so it doesn't make sense to try and act like it doesn't.
- On who will take over as TNA's top heel: Said the floor is wide open for someone to step up. Said he likes what LAX is doing, but noted that TNA's roster is so deep that anybody could step up.
- On Chris Jericho: Said Jericho is a great performer and a smart guy who has managed his money well. Said that Jericho will return to wrestling when he is excited about a product, not just for a payday.
- On the criticism he gets from the internet: Said that if he is generating a response, that's a positive. Said that in this business, you have to have tough skin and that the bottomline is TNA continues to grow and debuts in prime time this Thursday. Said that everyone will always want to play booker because that's part of the appeal of wrestling.
- On Impact being live: Said being live would help tremendously but noted that being taped also gives them benefits via post-production.
- On Lita going to TNA: Said he didn't know what her status was. Said that women can add a lot to pro-wrestling.
- On bringing in Daniel Puder: Said they had talks with Puder months ago. Said that Bubba the Love Sponge has done a good job hyping up Puder/Angle, noting that Bubba has learned to promote from the best (Hulk Hogan).
- On Sting: Said he is in great condition and is motivated and that talks are ongoing for a new deal.
- On a TNA developmental program: Said it would be the right thing for them down the line, but that they aren't big enough for that yet and need to continue to focus on growing.
Source: 411Mania.com
