My World w/ Jeff Jarrett - Main Event Mafia [Show Notes] (Patreon)

This week on My World we’re going to be discussing how the Main Event Mafia was formed Jeff.

Jeff - who’s idea was it to put the group together?

When is the idea thought of?

How far out did you plan the story?

The seeds were slowly planted for the group formation back in May of 2008 when Kurt Angle turned on AJ Styles on an episode of Impact.

Impact 5/22/08:

“From the Observer:

Booker pinned Styles in the other King of the Mountain qualifier when Tomko shoved Styles off the top rope. They only gave these guys 4:10 and they were the longest match on a two hour show. Tomko, 3-D and Booker all beat down Styles, who bled. Booker held Earl Hebner down and bullied him out of the ring.

They continued the beatdown with nobody helping Styles until Karen Angle came in. Karen slapped Brother Ray in the face. He then bullied her and made her run from the ring. She came back with Kurt, who had a chair.

Ray told Kurt to turn around as Karen was comforting Styles, and they started arguing and Kurt waffled Styles with a chair. It was about as heavy duty an angle as you could do. I just don't know if the bad stuff on the show kills the context to where something like this won’t bring out any emotional reaction.”

Meltzer is critical of the overbooking nature for this to…excuse the pun…make an impact. Did you find that happening a lot?

Turning Kurt here - he had been turned A LOT during his time in TNA. Did you think this one was the one to bring Kurt back to the star status he had?

What is your goal at this point in time for the story…to elevate Kurt or the others?

Tomko wasn’t long for the role though. Why did he leave the company in 2008?

Then at Victory Road in Houston, Sting attacks Samoa Joe during the TNA World Title match with Booker T:

Observer:

The main event was a weird one. Booker was the local face and Joe was booed more than anyone on the show. They finish saw three referee bumps. Joe was giving Booker a beating and Sharmell was screaming that it was enough. At one point Sharmell slapped Booker, and this led to Joe punching the guy next to Sharmell (described as her personal security, actually a wrestler from Booker’s PWA). Booker bled after being run into the post and never made a comeback and Joe kept beating on him after the refs were down. More security ran in and Joe took care of all of them and then was choking Booker out.

Sting’s music played and he came from the entrance. Sting came in and told Joe to stop. Joe left the ring with Sting and you figured Joe was going to attack Sting, since there’s always a swerve. Instead, Joe jumped back in the ring and started attacking Booker. Sting jumped in the ring to yell at Joe to stop. Keep in mind, for the national audience watching on PPV, as limited as that might be, Joe is still the babyface, although tempered, Booker just turned heel, and Sting was not planned to be turned. Joe flipped Sting off and Sting then clobbered Joe with a baseball bat.

Then Sharmell grabbed the title belt and gave it to Booker, so Booker left with the belt, which would be okay I suppose if TNA hadn’t done that same angle a couple of times in the last year or so.

The descriptions from those there said there was a lot of heat at the finish. They thought it was the wrong kind of heat. It wasn’t the heat that I thought was the problem, as much as the confusion. Booker didn’t long strong at all. And his wife asking Joe for mercy while the match was still going on only made him look worse. Joe hardly came off as a face. Sting was out there trying to protect Booker, who had just turned. And the idea was to build a Booker vs. Joe cage match. But to tell that story, something should have happened during the match to cause a fluke finish that a cage would prevent. Instead, it came off like Booker didn’t deserve a return and the heat was transferred to Sting vs. Joe, and right now there are no plans for that direction, since after the cage match, the next program was to be Joe vs. Kevin Nash. There was a “Fire Russo” chant going after the show went off the air.”

How did the process of putting this group and story together change throughout the months? Do you think there was too much gaga going on for main events?

At Hard Justice, Sting attacked AJ Styles following the Styles/Angle last man standing match:

Observer:

Angle was put on a stretcher, but Styles knocked him off the stretcher and gave him a suplex on the ramp. Then the lights went out and it was Sting giving Styles a scorpion death drop.

It should be noted that Styles claimed he and Sting had talked and everything was water under the bridge. Nash started yelling at Sting for attacking Styles.

Did everyone know at this point in August where the story was going? Were you happy how this was all coming together?

“Impact 8/14:

Torch:

–A brief video package aired regarding questions of

Sting’s path. Then they went to footage of what happened as Nash followed Sting through the entrance tunnel to the back. Sting told Nash he’s not confused at all. He said the difference between you and me is patience. He said his biological time clock is ticking really fast and he should check his because it’s now or never. That was well–produced as the background noise and imperfect lighting made it seem very candid and not “part of the show.”

You were leaning into more and more of this isn’t supposed to happen but it is happening it feels like. Is this Russo?

“Impact 8/28:

Torch:

Sting made his entrance wearing his facepaint and robe carrying a baseball bat. He said a few months ago he had a long, in–depth interview with Tenay. He said one of the questions regarded whether he was considering retirement. He said he considered it, but he wondered what it would mean if he turned things over to the next generation. He said he knew the answer to that question, but he couldn’t let it happen. He said it would be a grave mistake. He said they would spit in the face of it, just like they spit in his face.

He said at Victory Road, Joe could have taken the 1–2–3 at Victory Road and walked away, but he wanted to bloody his opponent, “a jewel in pro wrestling.” He said Booker is a legend in the business. Some fans cheered. He said he involved himself in the match because he wanted to help him and reason with him. He said he saw him as someone who could carry the torch for the company, but he rejected everything he said and flipped him off. He said that is no way to show respect for someone who paved the way for him to have a job.

He said when he was his age, a young Ric Flair took him under his wing because he believed in him the way he now believes in Joe. He said he respected what Flair had to say. He said he respected all of the older wrestlers because without them, he couldn’t be a wrestler.

He said then there’s Styles who one day is calling him Mr. Sting and the next a coward. He said Styles is wrong when he claims Sting owes him something. Sting said he paved the way for him, so he owes him nothing.”

I’m going to stop right there for now Jeff before we continue with the Torch recap. This story is slowly turning into the main eventers vs the undercard young guys. Is this too much like Millionaire’s Club vs. New Blood? What do you think the differences were between the two stories? Were you mindful of that story when you were putting this together?

“Sting finally paused after saying all of that without a period or a breath. He said Styles should be thanking him every month when he pays his mortgage because it’s because of him. He said there are a whole lot of the guys in the back who are spoiled rotten brats. He said not all, but most. He said one way or another, he is going to bring respect back into this business where it belongs even if he has to be the parent nobody wants to listen to or the babysitter. “If you think I’m wrong, you come and tell me to my face,” he said.

Tenay said it’s been a time of reflection for Sting. He began, as usual, needlessly restating what Sting just said. Styles entered the ring and told Sting, “You’re wrong. You’re dead wrong.” He said he looked up to him and idolized him, but he never disrespected him ever and you know it.” He asked Sting who helped get the company started. Sting said he wanted to help him, too, because he saw he and Joe as the future of the business. Sting said you can’t respect someone and call them a coward all in one breath. He asked him what he did at Hard Justice to his opponent. He said he took things a step further than he had to. He said he could have scored the pin and walked away.

He said Angle is a World Champion in WWE and TNA and an Olympic Gold Medalist. He said Styles may disagree with him and might have a problem with his tone. He said he’s going to take his bat and put it in his hand and turn his back and let him hit him over the head. (Do it!) Styles stared at the bat, then grabbed it. Sting turned his back. He shoved him when he paused. Styles turned Sting and took a swing. Sting blocked it, kicked him in the gut, and gave him a Scorpion Death Drop.

Jeff Jarrett’s music played. Sting stood over Styles and laughed. Tenay said it’s obvious to him Sting isn’t the only one who is playing mind games. That’s where it ended.”

Why the tease of your music here? What did you think of Sting in this role?

Bound For Glory 10/12 from Chicago, Nash turns on Joe:

From the Observer: “After spending months peaking everything for Bound for Glory, including the debut of Mick Foley, the return of Jeff Jarrett, plus a Sting heel turn that it appears only the people working for the company and people who read about the company are even aware has taken place, this has to be a feeling of frustration.

The idea of building a strangely put together adaptation of the 80s New Japan program New Leaders vs. Now Leaders has really been vague.”

Is that where you got this idea from…New Japan?

“Sting, who not only was cheered by the fans, but by the end of the match, was working as the babyface, captured the TNA title from Joe in the main event, as in doing the program the way they want, you need to have faces chasing a heel champion. I recognize how little sense that makes when the guy who is supposed to be heel world champion is the babyface. The move makes it clear Sting has agreed to stay for another year. The finish saw Kevin Nash interfere, and hit Joe with a terribly weak bat shot after Nash had seemingly helped Joe by taking the bat away from Sting in a swerve finish to be unpredictable that is done so often in wrestling as to be far too predictable.

Nash had signed weeks ago, as first reported, but apparently the booking team told him to lie about it (which he did to everyone, not just media people but even to some long- time close friends). TNA even took his name off the web site, all to build for the “shock” of his return. When he came out, there didn’t appear to be any shock at all, and his heel turn was to help the person that nearly everyone watching by that point figured was the babyface, win the title.”

Do you think Sting embraced the role as a top heel as if you watch this match - he really did seem to work as a babyface.

Why keep it quiet regarding Kevin resigning?

Why all the swerves?

Why were you on the other side of this feud as a babyface? Did you think it would help AJ & Joe?

.

“One thing they need to work on is naming both warring factions and making it clear to the audience who is on what side. As it stands right now, there isn’t even a name of the feud, and while we know Sting, Booker T, Nash and Kurt Angle lead one side, they don’t even do interviews together. We know A.J. Styles, Samoa Joe and Jeff Jarrett are on the other side, but once again, they need to be grouped together as NWO-like factions. The factions need to be merchandised heavily and above all, the babyface side needs to be portrayed as cool.

The problem is, neither side is particularly cool, and most fans seem to have no idea who the babyface side is.

But the age group thing is screwed up since Jarrett and Foley are both looking to be on the young wrestlers side, which is why age and former star status shouldn’t be pushed as much as a more focused group vs. group dynamic.

The respect thing may have been a nice catalyst to send Sting over with some logic, but the heels need to be heels.”

Hard to disagree when you look at it this way…but I get you’re trying to give AJ & Joe the rub right?

On Impact 10/16:

“Nash did an interview and reminded people of the old saying, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” Well, at least Nash gets his old sayings right. He said he decided to turn on Joe ten months ago when Joe disrespected him and Hall and had been waiting and biding his time to do so.”

When did you think to include this part of the story? We’re going to cover Turning Point later this year - but were there any issues putting Nash and Joe together in a ring?

Finally on Impact on November 23rd…the group comes fully together…

From the Torch:

Jeremy Borash sat backstage with Kurt Angle. Borash said Angle is promising an announcement that would trump Foley’s later. Angle said he’s going to change the face of professional wrestling, not just TNA, forever. He said he made a few phone calls to some “very, very, very important people.” He said as of midnight last night, the deal was done. Borash asked what that had to do with Booker T. Borash turned and asked Booker, sitting next to Sharmell, what he had to do with this. Booker said from this point on they take what they want, and they want respect. His accent has never greatly bothered me before. This week it was almost unlistenable.

The camera panned over to Kevin Nash who was also in the room. Nash said wrestling has always been about money, power, and respect. As Nash talked about Joe not respecting him, Booker interjected with “respect” in his hideous accent three times. Nash said Joe made it personal, which is why he came back. Borash said all three are icons, but elsewhere backstage there seems to be uprising against them.

He said he thinks the odds may be stacked against them. Angle said this business was built on honor, dignity, and respect. He said they are three of the greatest wrestlers of all time, but there is one more. He then revealed their fourth alliance member - Sting. He walked in wearing a suit sans facepaint. Sting said, “J.B., you look like you’ve seen a ghost. Why look so surprised, J.B.” Sting said they tried it the nice way, but it didn’t work. He said they have 75 years of experience between them. He said they asked nicely, but there will be no more asking - only demanding. He said it’ll be all business from now on. He then walked away. Angle laughed. Angle toasted Booker and Nash and christened themselves The Main Event Mafia.

Could Sting’s first full-fledged official heel turn have been more anticlimactic? He half turned and the turned back and then went ambiguous, and now we’re supposed to be shocked and care? Really poorly done in the micro and macro. However, if the end result is a solid heel faction without all of that ambiguity, then that’s ultimately good going forward.”

What say you Jeff? Wade Keller didn’t like it. Did you?

Was this the way to do it - backstage - so you can control the reaction?

Was this the group you had in your mind when the idea started to form?

Any issues with Sting showing off his face without paint?

Where did the name - the Main Event Mafia come from?

From the Torch…”Also on 10/23, Booker T unveils the Legends Title:

-Booker T and Sharmell walked to the ring with the

briefcase. Tenay said that mystery is about to be revealed.

Booker talked in his accent about immortalizing Booker forever.. He pulled out a new championship belt with the TNA logo on it with a pinkish- red strap. A chant began of “Booker T! Booker T!” He said it is called the TNA Legends Championship. He said the title belongs to him and him only. He introduced himself as the TNA Legends Champion.”

This is some good silly shit isn’t it Jeff?

Who’s idea was the title?

Scott Steiner joins the group a week later:

Observer:

“Angle then got a chair and hit Abyss with it for the DQ. Angle kept beating on Abyss until Morgan made the save. Booker & Nash came in. Then all the babyfaces came in. Scott Steiner then came in with a pipe and hit everyone except he may have missed Petey Williams. They physically did seem to acknowledge the pairing but it wasn’t brought up in commentary so couldn’t have been that important. Then Sting in his Real Estate Steve outfit (suit and tie, no face paint) came out. Styles spit at him, so Steve laid Styles out with a scorpion death drop to end the show.”

Meltzer calling Sting Real Estate Steve does tickle me. Scott being added to the group makes sense does it not?

“Turning Point 2008:

Observer:

One of the top matches saw Booker T retain the Legends title beating Christian Cage in a bout where, if Cage lost, he’d have to join the Main Event Mafia. But the next night at TV, the Mafia (Sting wasn’t part of this as apparently either there is a booking reason or a Sting refusal reason, why he won’t do heel things while booked in a heel role–and he has turned down tons of ideas in the past saying he doesn’t “feel them.”) gave Cage a beating because Kurt Angle said they had found out he was leaving for WWE and were giving him his going away present. Cage was also not at TV. His contract expires in a few weeks.”

Jeff - I can’t believe this is scripted but it is. Why was that?

Were you having issues with Sting being cooperative with storylines as Meltzer says? You got a lot of top talent in this story…how tough is it to navigate?

From the Torch on the Impact from 11/27:

The show opened with the naming of the face squad The Front Line. They already had an entrance with the words “Front Line” before announcing their name. The key thing was Rhino basically burying everyone in the ring not named A.J. Styles and Samoa Joe with the line that they need new members to fight the Main Event Mafia because the rest of the guys aren’t experienced enough.

Final segment had Styles, Joe and Rhino, along with the Main Event Mafia all in the ring while Angle called out 3-D. 3-D went on this long speech about why they were going to join the Main Event Mafia, saying the Mafia would now become the Magnificent 7. But it was a swerve, and they attacked the Mafia. I thought it was funny when 3-D said they wanted to be remembered alongside the great tag teams of all-time like the Road Warriors, the Steiners and Harlem Heat, and there was Nash, whose team with Hall drew ten times more money than Heat being dissed and he even had this look on his face selling it. It ended up in a brawl and all the Mafia members but Angle were out of the ring. They teased putting Angle through a table but Angle was saved at the last second. Crowd was real hot for this angle, booing 3-D heavily when it appeared they were going to join the Mafia, which is weird since the crowd had cheered the Mafia most weeks leading up to this. They popped huge when 3-D joined the Front Line.

This is one of the hottest angles TNA ever did…why do you think it resonated so hard with the Impact Zone?

Observer 12/1:

The company realized TNA Originals was a weak name, particularly when Rhino and Team 3-D were being brought into the group and eventually Jeff Jarrett and Mick Foley would be involved. There was talk at first of doing a name based on “X” for Xtreme except for the DX connotations. At one point the idea was Team Xtacy, seriously, until someone realized that could be a bad idea. So it became TNA Front Line.

How much work is it coming up with these types of things and names and gimmick then trademarks? How’s the final say on these things?

And that is how the Main Event Mafia is formed. Is this the most successful group in TNA history in your mind?

We will discuss the rest of the Mafia storyline another time…Jeff how great was this to relive?

Anything you would change - wish you could do differently - with the launch?

Did you see the immediate effects of having this many stars - not just to revenue but to the budget of TNA for talent?