My World with Jeff Jarrett - Hard Justice 2006 [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Jeff now that we’ve gone through the major SummerSlams of your career we’re going to talk about one of the biggest live TV...mistake if you want to call it that...to happen on pay-per-view. Hard Justice 2006.

Before we get to that though we need to discuss what all is going on in TNA at this point. It’s 15 years ago so at this stage of TNA’s history...what is your exact role?

Coming off the Victory Road pay-per-view in July Sting defeated Christian, Scott Steiner & Samoa Joe in a 4-way #1 Contender’s match for the right to face you at Hard Justice for the NWA title.

You tape two TVs at Universal Studios and since this is the first time we’ve talked about TNA being from Universal Studios what was your opinion of using Universal for TVs and the pay-per-views?

Jay Lethal calls you out and wants to compete for the NWA Title instead of the X Division title. We don’t get to talk about Jay Lethal much but what was it about him at this time that made you want to put him in that type of position?

Team 3D...Buh Buh & Devon...announce they’re going to separate for the time being. Was this something they brought to creative or was this something creative thought they needed?

AJ Styles & Christopher Daniels are the tag team champions and LAX attacks them and signs a contract for a title match in Christopher Daniels’ blood. This LAX combo was Homicide & Hernandez with Konnan. What was your favorite LAX combo?

Jim Cornette is the “commissioner” at this time in TNA. What was it like working with Jim at this time?

Kevin Nash & Alex Shelley are scouting the X Division at this time. These were some of my favorite vignettes. Did you trust Nash & Alex for these and how impressed were you with them?

TNA is gearing up for it’s first pay-per-view outside of Orlando since June of 2004 with Bound for Glory in Detroit. How important is the creative when finally taking pay-per-views back on the road?

There’s also talk of expanding Impact to two hours. Who was leading those conversations with Spike and did you bring it up to Spike or vice versa? You’re only on Thursdays at this point since April and then in November you’ll get the deal done. How much back and forth is this and how hard was Spike behind the product?

There’s talk in the Torch about you Jeff, “Jeff Jarrett has long pushed for a Monday night head-to-head match-up against Raw.” Jeff were you really thinking that?

At the TV tapings we talked about earlier it comes out in the Torch that Samoa Joe and Scott D’Amore got into a disagreement over Joe’s role. From the Torch: “. It upset a number of wrestlers, including perhaps Joe, that the “leader of the promotion” Jeff Jarrett, seemed concerned primarily with getting in his spots when he interfered, without regard for how it affected everyone else. “He’s a big mark for himself,” says one wrestler. “Everybody is catching onto it now because Jarrett isn’t even trying to hide it now.” It didn’t help matters that before the match, Sting and Steiner asked Joe not to “potato” them, since Joe has a rep—some say unfair—of being overly stiff in the ring, not just tight, with his offense. However, during the match, Steiner DDT’d Joe on the ring apron which led to a welt under his eye. He also ended up with a black eye on the other side of his face.”

Did Joe have a reputation for being stiff? Do you think the criticism of levied against you is fair that you were such a big mark for yourself you were only worried about your stuff?

What do you remember of the Joe & Scott D’Amore shouting match? Do you feel he was correct at this point being in the company since June of 05 and really had one of the longest undefeated streaks in the company’s history that he could say that?

Team Canada is split up before Victory Road. Was it time to let Bobby Roode, Eric Young, Petey Williams & Johnny Devine do their thing?

From the Torch as well… “Sting lost some points in the locker room when he refused to wear an eye patch at the TV tapings last week, the day after Jeff Jarrrett threw gasoline in his face on the PPV. Sting’s reason? It would “look silly.” Sting has earned a rep over the years, and reaffirmed it in TNA, of being difficult to work with when it comes to details of storylines and angles presented to him, yet he’s not known at all as a strong idea–man for himself.

Do you remember why Sting was hesitant to do this?

Also from the Torch: Slick Johnson is close to Jeff Jarrett off–camera. “He’s practically his roadie,” says one wrestler. “He carries around his bags, fetches things for him, and makes him laugh with his jokes, which is why Jeff makes sure he gets TV time. He thinks he’s really funny”…

OK Jeff is that why Slick Johnson is all over TV? Is it time to share the Slick Johnson story?

There’s talk of issues with Senshi...Low Ki...in regards to his bookings at other independent shows and his attitude towards the booking of himself on TV. What was it about Low Ki that made him so difficult to deal with? He does an interview where he degrades the X Division. Was this an issue a lot with him speaking his mind in a manner you or the office didn’t like?

While you’re negotiating with Spike about expanding you’ve lost your key lead-in with the Ultimate Fighter finishing up. The July 20th episode drops to a .8 rating. Was this part of the discussion with Spike?

It’s reported in the Torch that Dixie Carter is starting to hang around more and more backstage. Why do you think she was and did it give you any issues with her being there?

You have contract renewals coming up for Kevin Nash & Monty Brown. Who’s handling these negotiations at this point in time?

It’s announced that Sting has accepted Christian’s offer to be in his corner at Hard Justice while you’ll have Scott Steiner in your corner.

Jim Cornette announces a town hall meeting but if you’re there for it you’ll be fired. Is Jim contributing to creative at this point in time?

Goldberg signs a retainer deal with Spike TV. Were there any negotiations happening between you, Spike/Viacom, and Goldberg for him to come in?

Ron Killings put over A-1 in a dark match and according to the Torch it raised some eyebrows. Was Ron having issues at this time and was this done as a lesson as speculated?

How are you guys doing on pay-per-view at this point? How are you doing financially?

From the Torch… “TNA’s employment philosophy is shifting towards signing wrestlers to long-term contracts with set weekly pay rather than bringing wrestlers to TV on short-term pay-per-appearance deals with the typical ten guaranteed dates.” Was this talked about in terms of making the change of how you guys did your contracts?

Austin Aries signs a deal to return to TNA. What was it about Austin that had you bring him back for another stint? He doesn’t have the best reputation over the last few years. What was your experience with him?

Jeff Hardy returns to the WWE after his TNA contract expires. What were the issues you had with Jeff during his run in TNA and did you make a play to keep him?

Jeff we’ve made it to Hard Justice and we’re gonna start the show by lighting it on fire!

That’s right in the opening match between Eric Young trying to keep his job against Johnny Devine...a small fire happens from the pyro. From the Torch: “. A burlap sack caught fire three minutes into the match following the pyro display at the beginning of the PPV. Workers put out the fire with a chemical fire extinguisher, which caused the remnants of the ashes to fall from the ceiling down to the ring and into the stands. Both men in the ring and referee Slick Johnson huddled near the ropes to discuss their next moves. After the smoke was temporarily cleared, they finished the match with Young scoring the pinfall to presumably keep his job. Afterwards, Earl Hebner ran to ringside dressed like a homeless man. Hebner was pulled away by officials. He screamed at Larry Zbyszko that Slick Johnson cost him his job and he was taking Larry down with him. (*)”

What’s going on backstage Jeff? How do you hear about it? Where are you normally stationed at during a show like this when you’re in the main event?

Were you surprised Eric Young never got to that top level guy?

So the building is evacuated and now it’s vamp time. What’s going on backstage while Don West & Mike Tenay are outside providing updates? Are you worried the show’s going to be cancelled? Are you on the phone with police, fire, PPV companies? Walk me through it all.

It’s 30 minutes before we get back to action and a #1 tag team title contender’s match between the James Gang, The Naturals, America’s Most Wanted and Frankie Kazarian & Matt Bentley has to be cancelled. Who tells them that they’re not going out there for the match?

After we finally get back in the building it’s announced that Kevin Nash is hurt and unable to wrestle Chris Sabin. Do you really think Kevin was hurt or he was pulling a gimmick here so he wouldn’t have to lose?

From the Torch: “(2) Chris Sabin beat Alex Shelley (w/Kevin Nash and Johnny Devine) to become #1 Contender to the X Division Title. The action started with a flurry, as Sabin hit a flip dive onto Shelley on the outside early on. Nash, who was in the wheelchair and had a neckbrace on, simply stared down at Sabin without flinching following the move. Back in the ring, they had a back–and–forth exchange before Devine prematurely distracted the referee while Shelley had a potential pin on Sabin. Shelley tried to use a chair that Nash slid into the ring, but Sabin drop kicked the chair into Shelley’s face. He followed with the Cradle Shock for the win. Afterwards, Nash was expressionless as he stared at Sabin in the ring. (**)

These two are just great workers and they have a good match. Did Kevin add a lot to the X Division with ideas or was he using it as a joke to use to get over?

Was Sabin supposed to win over Nash?

3. Abyss beat Brother Runt. Prior to the match, Mitchell cut a promo for Abyss. He said Runt has been fed lies by Raven, who watched the match from the top of the building. Runt debuted a new look of a Mohawk, sunglasses, and tie–dye. He tried to attack Abyss before the opening bell, but Abyss threw Runt into the crowd. The fans bodysurfed him back to ringside. Back in the ring, Abyss threw Runt headfirst into a chair in the corner, then went on sustained offense. After Runt scored with offense, enough to score a few nearfalls, Abyss squashed the referee in the corner by mistake. Mitchell threw a bag of tacks to Abyss, who dumped them in the ring. He stomped Runt’s face into the tacks. Runt used the pain to fire up. However, Abyss caught him off the ropes and dropped him chest–first into the tacks. He followed with a Black Hole Slam onto the tacks for a three count. Don West said Runt has to be questioning why he challenged Abyss in the first place. Tenay said his determination and guts have to be admired. They showed Raven, who was now ringside, looking on with his arms extended. (*1/2)

It’s hard not to love Spike Dudley but the little guy vs big man stuff here with the thumb tacks and the ref bump...can’t Abyss just beat the guy?

(4) Samoa Joe beat Rhino and Monty Brown in 14:00 in a Falls Count Anywhere match. Joe was the last one out and he went right after Rhino on the entrance ramp. Brown quickly joined the fracas, leading to sustained three–way brawling throughout the arena. Rhino charged at Brown, trying to Gore him off the stage into the tables, but Brown side–stepped Rhino and he crashed into the tables. Joe caught Brown out of nowhere with an STO off the ramp and through a third table on the floor. He covered Brown for the win. Tenay challenged the viewers, saying, “If you aren’t on your feet at home after that one, then, dammit, you don’t have a pulse.” Joe took the mic and said, “I came here looking for a fight, and whether this son of a bitch burns down or not, I got one. And dammit, we can do it all over again!”  **¾

Was Joe getting the win here redemption for him and for his push?

Monty’s losing because he still doesn’t have a deal right?

It’s tough to do hardcore two matches in a row but these guys pulled it off don’t you think?

(5) Gail Kim beat Sirelda in 5:00. Gail attacked Sirelda before the bell. Sirelda came back with a press slam then she dropped an elbow and played to the fans. You could tell Scott D’Amore trained her based on her over–acting and goofy facial expressions. Gail eventually hit a top rope neck breaker for the win. The match easily could have been cut from the show. ¼*

Sirelda...also known as Jaime D was a massive woman from the Gut Check Challenge. She leaves the promotion after this match. What was her deal?

Could this match had been easily cut?

(6) Senshi beat Petey Williams and Jay Lethal in 11:00 to retain the X Division Title. Lethal missed a top rope head butt. Petey grabbed him and hit the Canadian Destroyer. Before Petey could make the cover, Senshi kicked him aside and made the cover himself. Petey complained to Senshi after the match, but Senshi pointed out that he’s still the champion. (***)

Good match but the crowd is sort of eh for it. Was Low Ki over enough to be champion and carry everyone and a match like this?

(7) A.J. Styles & Christopher Daniels beat LAX (Homicide & Hotstuff Hernandez w/Konnan) in 15:00 to retain the NWA Tag Titles. LAX regained control when Konan crotched Styles on the top turnbuckle then he fell into the ring. Hernandez went for the Border Toss on Daniels as Homicide went for the Cop Killer on Styles, but Styles slipped out and shoved Homicide into Hernandez. Styles and Daniels quickly caught Hernandez with High–Low for the pin and the win. (***1/4)

Why wasn’t Homicide pushed more? I know everyone loved Hernandez because of his size but man oh man Homicide seems to have been over looked more than anyone on the indies in the last 15 years. How good were AJ and Daniels?

Were you scared or worried to take the Border Toss from Hernandez?

Now it’s time for your match Jeff.

(8) Jeff Jarrett (w/Scott Steiner) beat Sting (w/Christian Cage) in 17:00 to retain the NWA Title. Prior to the match, Christian Cage cut a promo guaranteeing Sting would walk out of the PPV with the NWA Title. He quickly transitioned into saying there would be a new era in TNA by the end of the show. Sting went for the Scorpion Deathlock very early in the match, but Jarrett escaped to the outside. Naturally, they brawled through the stands. Steiner and Christian watched as Sting dominated Jarrett, sending him repeatedly into the side of the bleachers where Joe, Rhino, and Brown fought. Sting went for a corner splash, but he hit the referee by mistake. Jarrett gave Sting a low blow and then he hit the Stroke. Steiner returned to the ring and handed Jarrett a guitar. However, Christian ran back out and cleared the heels with Sting’s baseball bat. Christian grabbed the guitar then told Sting to climb up top for a move on Jarrett. Sting flew at Jarrett, but Christian hit Sting with the guitar in mid–flight at 16:00. West shouted, “What did he just do?” Christian let out a cocky laugh then grinned as Jarrett covered Sting. The referee came to and counted to three. Jarrett clutched the NWA Title and stared in Christian’s direction, unsure what to make of the turn.

Another ref bump. The seconds are thrown out of the ringside area after such a big deal was made about them. It’s just a lot of overbooking don’t you think?

Did you like working with Sting and how easy was it?

What did you think of the match?

Was the direction intended to go with Sting and Christian and you go do something else?

What else can you tell us about this show?

What did you think?