Global Force Wrestling thread

mrkiscool2

Big news coming through this morning!

As noted earlier, negotiations between TNA and Toby Keith, who was the main person looking to purchase the company, apparently fell through. Jeff Jarrett was expected to be a part of the promotion in a key role if the sale happened, due to his relationship with Keith. Shortly after talks between Keith and TNA fell through, Jarrett announced that he was parting ways with TNA.
On tonight's episode of his podcast, which you can listen to at MLW.com, Konnan said that he spoke with Jarrett and that Jarrett will be making an announcement this week about a new project. He said that Jarrett told him that TNA is in really bad shape, and that he doesn't know and doesn't care if they see through the year. Konnan then pretty much stated that Jarrett would be starting a new promotion with Keith.

In perhaps an unrelated note, Jim Ross noted on his Twitter last Tuesday that he had a "great meeting with a major sports concern... Could be big...and fun!" He wrote later in the week that he had dinner with Keith and others in New Orleans while he was in town for the Sugar Bowl.


Read more at http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2014/0105/568943/jeff-jarrett-to-announce-new-promotion-with-toby-keith-this-week/#ls7doQqKDxbhgW0W.99

Very interesting if through. JR and Jarrett would be extremely good bookers and if Keith could cough up the cash a lot of really good free agents out there at the minute!

hufpc8w3adnk65

Does he have the money too get this off the ground? I don't think I ever heard off him been honest

waltersobchak

Read on a "Newz" site that they want to build the promotion around AJ Styles and have been in contact with Goldberg.. Obviously take that with a pinch of salt

Palo Alto

I don't have any faith in what Konnan has to say to be honest.

hufpc8w3adnk65

Wonder will it be NWA affiliated too begin with?

Hangballlouie

MrMac84 wrote: »

Does he have the money too get this off the ground? I don't think I ever heard off him been honest

Those country singers earn mad money. Keith is worth $500 million so finance is no object.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2013/06/26/toby-keith-cowboy-capitalist-countrys-500-million-man/2/

I'm typing off a phone so you might need to copy and paste the link, sorry.

hufpc8w3adnk65

Really? Thats mental money!

rovert

Jarrett likes founding things.

Also this is kind of odd:

Meanwhile, Jarrett released a birthday video on his Twitter account (https://twitter.com/RealJeffJarrett/) for country singer John Rich, featuring messages from, among others, Hulk Hogan, Jeff Hardy, AJ Styles and Tommy Dreamer. That's an interesting mix:
http://vimeo.com/83395363

Jeff certainly seems to be buttering up these Country musicians.

Karen Jarrett is very excited going by her Twitter the pasted few hours. Even posted this:

Charisteas

rovert wrote: »

Meanwhile, Jarrett released a birthday video on his Twitter account (https://twitter.com/RealJeffJarrett/) for country singer John Rich, featuring messages from, among others, Hulk Hogan, Jeff Hardy, AJ Styles and Tommy Dreamer. That's an interesting mix:
http://vimeo.com/83395363

Isn't Jeff Hardy's TNA contract finished soon? But more importantly, is there a market in North America for a fourth major promotion?

What realistic free agents could this rumored new Jarrett company sign up?

Maybe get Bischoff and Hogan on board :P

Sirsok

[Deleted User] wrote: »

What realistic free agents could this rumored new Jarrett company sign up?

Maybe get Bischoff and Hogan on board :P

Well there is aj, Goldberg, Nash, Waltham, Matt Morgan, hardy, Steiner, Ted dibease, could utilise some foreign input, young bucks, American wolves, Jericho, rvd, sabu, dreamer, hero off the top of my head!

rovert

The Jarretts spent New Years with the Helms and Hardys families.

Karen retweeted Mickie James and Tommy Dreamer in her excitement about future plans.

If you are serious about things you would probably hire Dreamer in a backstage role.

Jeff has always been more with the talent than the office. He is also meant to be good craic away from Wrestling.

gnfnrhead

Palo Alto wrote: »

I don't have any faith in what Konnan has to say to be honest.

He broke the AJ/Punk news.

Charisteas wrote: »

Isn't Jeff Hardy's TNA contract finished soon? But more importantly, is there a market in North America for a fourth major promotion?

About this time next year.

ROH and TNA have taken big steps backwards in recent years. WWE is the only major promotion. TNA and ROH are mid level. Plenty of talent if they have the finances which it seems Keith has.

AJ Styles, Chris Hero, Matt Hardy, Kevin Steen, Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly, Matt Morgan, Devon, Luke Gallows, Young Bucks, Mickie James, Tara etc etc. You can cover pretty much every base. The only problem would be they couldnt sign most of them to exclusive contracts.

EdK wrote: »

Former TNA and WWE that's all I can say

Former both, or former TNA and current WWE?

GTR63

gnfnrhead wrote: »

ROH and TNA have taken big steps backwards in recent years. WWE is the only major promotion. TNA and ROH are mid level. Plenty of talent if they have the finances which it seems Keith has.

AJ Styles, Chris Hero, Matt Hardy, Kevin Steen, Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly, Matt Morgan, Devon, Luke Gallows, Young Bucks, Mickie James, Tara etc etc. You can cover pretty much every base. The only problem would be they couldnt sign most of them to exclusive contracts.

Not to mention all the talents who are unhappy and are in a rut where they are.
Was Adrian Street that guy in the BBC doc last year with that Bowie esque gimmick?

Riddle101

Sirsok wrote: »

Well there is aj, Goldberg, Nash, Waltham, Matt Morgan, hardy, Steiner, Ted dibease, could utilise some foreign input, young bucks, American wolves, Jericho, rvd, sabu, dreamer, hero off the top of my head!

Wow that's quite a sad list tbh. All has beens, and guys who are getting on in age aside from a few maybe. Some of those names wouldn't join a new promotion though *cough* Jericho *cough* RVD.

But I just think that if you were to start a new company, you would want new stars, otherwise you're just turning it into the same promotion TNA was. Take a page out of Paul Haymen's book I think and create new stars.

AJ Styles, Chris Hero, Matt Hardy, Kevin Steen, Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly, Matt Morgan, Devon, Luke Gallows, Young Bucks, Mickie James, Tara etc etc

Again not an impressive list. Especially with names like Morgan and Devon, and Matt Hardy has always been bland. Some are alright though.

Anyway, this new promotion everyone keeps talking about has yet to happen. When it does, it will probably takes years for them to get a tv deal. Time will only tell, but I won't be getting over excited. I really hope TNA can turn themselves around.

Just in regards to the rumor of JJ and Toby Keith starting a promotion together.

Was there not rumors that TNA was up for sale? Would it not make more sense for them to try and buy TNA with TV coverage and all in place?

rovert

Deleted User wrote: »

Just in regards to the rumor of JJ and Toby Keith starting a promotion together.

Was there not rumors that TNA was up for sale? Would it not make more sense for them to try and buy TNA with TV coverage and all in place?

And Toby Keith was the buyer. But he only wanted full ownership.

Toby probably has the ear of Country Music Television. CMT has aired Wrestling related programming before - Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Wrestling and Steve Austin's Redneck Island.

Also it is easily argued TNA is a damaged brand (and a poor name )

Moneymaker

Believe it when I see it.

jd1594

A promotion with free creative reign to Jarrett/Ross? Feels almost too good to be true. Let's see what happens. I hope for the sake of wrestling it's relatively successful.

From JRs blog

Some websites are irresponsibly running with the story that just because Toby Keith and I are friends and fellow Okies who both follow the Sooners that I'm about to do business with Toby and Jeff Jarrett which isn't true. Toby and I had dinner at the Sugar Bowl, he's a wrestling fan from the old days and, a helluva entrepreneur with deep pockets. Nonetheless the reason that we were there was to support our Sooners vs. Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and not talk about pro wrestling.

We did talk the wrestling biz some but that's not unusual for me in any conversation after a 40 year career within the genre. We also talked country music, business investments, OU football and we spent the afternoon together with ESPN's Brad Nessler who's another wrestling fan. Yes, TNA came up a time or two but that was really a non issue in our conversations.

I am not motivated to re-engage in the wrestling business on a daily basis and it would take a mighty healthy offer to consider such. The politics and paranoia that go along with today's rasslin business isn't healthy for me to be around on a full time basis especially at this stage of my life.

Plus, I have a specific philosophy regarding how the business should be presented that doesn't seem to be in fashion these days.

gnfnrhead

That seems to suggest he would be interested but only on his own terms. I dont blame him one bit. He doesnt need to work so why work for terms less than ideal?

Riddle101 wrote: »

Again not an impressive list. Especially with names like Morgan and Devon, and Matt Hardy has always been bland. Some are alright though.

Hardy is getting on in ring wise, but is still a great promo guy. For a new company, he would be a great established name and would allow it to stay away from the likes of Scott Steiner and Kevin Nash. Devon likewise. An established name who is still decent enough in the ring. None of them have to be the face of the company but they can all contribute.

I left off some former WWE guys who would most likely be available for non exclusive contracts. John Hennigan, Carlito, Chris Masters, Shane Helms, Shelton Benjamin, Melina, Maryse along with other Indy names I forgot like Michael Elgin, Drake Younger, Drew Gulak, ACH. All that is without even looking to Japan or Mexico. Two places that Jarrett has ties.

If Keith is willing to put up the money and use his connections, it will take off. If he isnt willing, it wont. It all comes down to him first.

ShagNastii

How close do you guys see the minor leagues to the WWE using ECW or WCW as a benchmark. IMO TNA are a million miles away at the moment. I always though when Angle arrived TNA would build on it's super product and become "big league" but just seemed to flounder since.

Half ass some money feuds, lose the unique six sided ring. Dare I say last few years it's been all filler very little killer.

gnfnrhead

ShagNastii wrote: »

How close do you guys see the minor leagues to the WWE using ECW or WCW as a benchmark. IMO TNA are a million miles away at the moment. I always though when Angle arrived TNA would build on it's super product and become "big league" but just seemed to flounder since.

Half ass some money feuds, lose the unique six sided ring. Dare I say last few years it's been all filler very little killer.

Lets say WWE is 100, while 0 is a local backyard fed. TNA would be somewhere around 70. Close enough to be on their radar, but not close enough to trouble them. ROH somewhere around the 50 mark, with everyone else 40 and below. This is just for the US. World wide and NJPW goes into second place for me.

shinzon

Television rights need to be negotiated before any promotion could be started without them money for the Talent, Production, Wages etc etc would run out very quick.

So any talk of a promotion starting up without that in place first is just that rumours and speculation. TNA would more then likely be the only viable option as rights are already secured. Starting from scratch would be prohibitively expensive and your going to need big money if your going down signing named talent to get noticed tbh.

Shin

gnfnrhead

shinzon wrote: »

Television rights need to be negotiated before any promotion could be started without them money for the Talent, Production, Wages etc etc would run out very quick.

So any talk of a promotion starting up without that in place first is just that rumours and speculation. TNA would more then likely be the only viable option as rights are already secured. Starting from scratch would be prohibitively expensive and your going to need big money if your going down signing named talent to get noticed tbh.

Shin

PWG are the fourth biggest promotion in the US. They run ~10 shows a year. TV is not the only way. The vast majority of companies manage just fine without TV deals. ROH only got a TV deal a few years ago. TNA ran for two years before they got a TV deal.

Sirsok

Forgot one guy Colt Cabana in my previous list!

I would love the briscoes to get signed by a major promotion, something about them has always intrigued me, as teddy hart and jack evans have! I know they are all old indy guys, but dammit they never got their chance to shine on the main stage! ( Teddy has numorous chances I know.)

But if you were building a promotion you would want the best tag teams available, the best high flyers, the best hardcore guys, the best technical guys, import the best foreign talent. Make the product different at every stage yet still coherent. Bring in the spot monkeys ( Sick Nick Mondo recently returned hasn't he?) God if only I had the financial backing! Back to extreme Warfare revenge for me so

Losty Dublin

GTR63 wrote: »

Not to mention all the talents who are unhappy and are in a rut where they are.
Was Adrian Street that guy in the BBC doc last year with that Bowie esque gimmick?

He is 73 years old. Even by wrestlers hanging on for dear life standards, that would be pushing it

rovert

Things of note that Meltzer said is that:

- He has spoken to Jeff Jarrett but Jeff can't say anything until certain things fall into place.

- AJ Styles is likely waiting things out to see where this project is going before signing back with TNA.

- There's a recognition by everyone TNA is going anywhere growth wise. So the impetus to jump to an upstart promotion would be there with some talent.

- TNA's deal with SPIKE ends in September. Opening possibility of either Jarrett group or WWE Smackdown taking that slot. Which would likely be the dead knell for TNA.

shinzon

hope it does take off but cant help thinking weve been here before with TNA, if Dixie Carters families money cant keep TNA afloat then what hope does anyone else have tbh.

Shin

GTR63

shinzon wrote: »

hope it does take off but cant help thinking weve been here before with TNA, if Dixie Carters families money cant keep TNA afloat then what hope does anyone else have tbh.

Shin

The TV deal is keeping Tna afloat if they lose that they are proper f**ked.

rovert

@RealJeffJarrett: Headed to a meeting this morning with @karenjarrett .And, folks I can assure you guys when the time is right to announce our plans, we will!

Things are happening.

hufpc8w3adnk65

rovert wrote: »

Things are happening.

Hooefully a tv deal from day 1. I know Internet and streams are the future but not the main way at the minute in my opinion.

gnfnrhead

shinzon wrote: »

hope it does take off but cant help thinking weve been here before with TNA, if Dixie Carters families money cant keep TNA afloat then what hope does anyone else have tbh.

Shin

TNA were starting to make a profit before they splashed out on Hogan, Bischoff, Anderson, Hardy, RVD, Flair etc in quick succession. Without that, they'd likely have been fine.

riffmongous

I think there could be plenty of room for another promotion talent wise. One thing thats become apparent with the WWE in the last year is that they have a hell of a lot of talent and are developing more and more, far more imo than they will be able to use. The question then is if they are able to pay for everyone to stop them competing for smaller companies and if guys are happy just to earn the paycheck instead of having a good career.

Riddle101

TNA better take notice, and use this as motivation to get back in shape. Kind've like when WCW was beating WWF in the Monday Night Wars, and forced them to change their product which led to the attitude era. TNA may not be able to compete with WWE, but they sure as hell can with a new upstart promotion looking to steal their thunder.

rovert

Jeff Jarrett wrote on Twitter that he would be releasing a video later today with his first comments since departing TNA.

Meanwhile, the potential Jeff Jarrett-Toby Keith project was mentioned during a country music news segment on Sirius XM's The Highway noting that they attempted to purchase TNA Wrestling and since that "apparently fell through" the "founder of TNA" and Keith with all his business acumen are starting their own "massive promotion."

Well then.

gnfnrhead

Jarrett('s) has been hyping this a while now. Very vague for the most part so hopefully it isnt a misdirection.

rovert

gnfnrhead wrote: »

Jarrett('s) has been hyping this a while now. Very vague for the most part so hopefully it isnt a misdirection.

Or worse an MMA company

gnfnrhead

rovert wrote: »

Or worse an MMA company

Double J Double M A was pretty awesome

Machismo Fan

Really wish somebody other than Jarrett was fronting this. He had his shot at creating an alternative with TNA.

Riddle101

The thing that gets to me about this new promotion is that this is Toby Keith's money essentially. I just feel like Keith is at risk of blowing his money by investing. Jarrett may be running it, but he doesn't have to worry about losing as much as keith if it all goes bust. Just like with WCW how they were happy to spend all that money on lucrative contracts but it was Ted Turner's money, not Eric's or anybody elses. I just wonder if Keith knows how shady the wrestling business can be.

gnfnrhead

Here it is: http://vimeo.com/86575877

Doesnt say anything definitive, but does suggest a promotion alright. Sounds like he is looking to get the talent sorted before making anything official.

Machismo Fan wrote: »

Really wish somebody other than Jarrett was fronting this. He had his shot at creating an alternative with TNA.

Look at it this way, Jarrett created the only company in North America that is anywhere close to WWE. And it was pretty much his first attempt. He is more or less retired now, has built up a ton of connections and has hopefully learned from mistakes. He has a great chance of doing something big. Why should you only get one shot? Look at all the failures Vince McMahon has had through the years and yet he keeps trying to find more stuff to do.

Machismo Fan

gnfnrhead wrote: »

Look at it this way, Jarrett created the only company in North America that is anywhere close to WWE. And it was pretty much his first attempt. He is more or less retired now, has built up a ton of connections and has hopefully learned from mistakes. He has a great chance of doing something big.

The period at the end of last year where he had more influence in TNA doesn't give me much encouragement that he's learned all that much (same old stuff like Feast or Fired and overbooked finishes). And while TNA have managed to survive as somewhat of an alternative to WWE, they did nearly go bankrupt after three months under Jarrett's helm.

Sin Eater

Slightly off topic how involved was Jarrett with Ring Ka King in India?

Don't know much about it ... but from what I understood the one season it had on TV there was pretty successful, and there was a good bit of talk of the promotion continuing into a second season(Which obviously never transpired).

I know it was backed by TNA, but was under the impression that it was very much Jeff Jarrett's baby.

rovert

Sin Eater wrote: »

Slightly off topic how involved was Jarrett with Ring Ka King in India?

Don't know much about it ... but from what I understood the one season it had on TV there was pretty successful, and there was a good bit of talk of the promotion continuing into a second season(Which obviously never transpired).

I know it was backed by TNA, but was under the impression that it was very much Jeff Jarrett's baby.

Your assumption is correct. It was Jarrett's baby. He was the person who got Endemol involved and made it a reality. Jeff Jarrett and Dava Lagana wrote the show.

I really never grasped why there wasn't a second series. I think it was just a case of the ratings being good but not being good enough. Also Wrestling in India was hard to monetize off the bat due to the amount of poverty there. The crowd was let in for free at the TV tapings.

Sonjay Dutt last week said the show was repeated endlessly for years on India TV.

Sin Eater

rovert wrote: »

Your assumption is correct. It was Jarrett's baby. He was the person who got Endemol involved and made it a reality. Jeff Jarrett and Dava Lagana wrote the show.

I really never grasped why there wasn't a second series. I think it was just a case of the ratings being good but not being good enough. Also Wrestling in India was hard to monetize off the bat due to the amount of poverty there. The crowd was let in for free at the TV tapings.

Sonjay Dutt last week said the show was repeated endlessly for years on India TV.

That sounds about right, rings with something John Cena said about China in the Steve Austin podcast. Something along the lines that China now had a good sized middle class, which more and more makes it an attractive market to break into.

Guess India doesn't have that great a middle class yet.

But with WWE making enemies of traditional media and TNA seemingly on the ropes, now would be the best time to go about setting up a new promotion.

rovert

Another Jarrett video:
http://vimeo.com/87242604

Watch for Karen's whopper earrings

Insideandout

I'm all for it if they can get it up and running. It'd be cool to have another alternative.

gnfnrhead

Starting to drag a little now. A lot of hype but no actual news or even confirmation of a company.

jaykhunter

rovert wrote: »

Another Jarrett video http://vimeo.com/87242604 Watch for Karen's whopper earrings

Karen Angle wrote:

"Professionally, we make change"

... into earrings? :pac:

New video

https://twitter.com/RealJeffJarrett/status/438058375423995904