My World w/ Jeff Jarrett - The Magnificent Seven [Show Notes] (Patreon)

We’re going to get into one of the all-time booking errors - in my opinion - WCW in 2001! Now we covered Vince McMahon firing you on live TV way back on our second episode - be sure to check that out in our archives. But we’ve never discussed the creative that was going on in WCW - and man oh man it’s a doozy.

The Magnificent Seven

The "Magnificent Seven" was formed and led by the on-screen CEO of WCW Ric Flair in January–March 2001 in WCW. The group included Scott Steiner and his valet Midajah, U.S Champion Rick Steiner, Jeff Jarrett, Lex Luger, Buff Bagwell and Road Warrior Animal.

The group formed at the Sin PPV on January 14, 2001. Scott Steiner was defending his title in a four-way match that included Sid Vicious, Jarrett and an unnamed wrestler. Flair inserted Animal as the mystery man and recruited Jarrett so Steiner could keep his title. However, none of it was needed as Sid broke his leg when he came off the ropes for a move.

Kind of seemed at this point, WCW was maybe grasping at some straws and maybe trying to recreate some of the nWo magic by putting this group together. What's your memories of first hearing about the idea for this group?

Was this the original lineup that had been talked about from the start, or was other guys talked about but decided not to be used for this?

How did you feel about being included in the group?

Did you prefer being in a group or being by yourself?

From the Observer:

“The PPV ended revealing Road Warrior Animal instead of the originally planned Rick Steiner as the mystery man, a decision made largely because the feeling was too many people expected it to be Steiner, but that kind of booking because one or two percent of the audience knows and changing stories for that reason is a Russo mindset that they need to get away from. But the match was terrible before Sid was injured, with some of the most pathetic looking offense ever seen. Bischoff told the wrestlers the next day that they found out that Vicious had a broken back that he didn't even know about. Vicious was in incredible pain and his lower leg actually had to be held in place to keep it from flopping sideways. But forgetting about the injury, it's one thing to have a bad main event in the ring that draws money, although past experience shows that ultimately hurts in the long-run. It's another to have one even worse that doesn't.”

You have Bischoff doing creative - but he hasn’t bought the company yet - this is one of those no one knows what the hell is going on moments…

“The original plan was for Sid to make a comeback, have Steiner up for the choke slam when the mystery man would come down. Everyone would freeze and the guy would tell Sid to choke slam Steiner, but when he did, he'd turn on Sid and do something that would allow Steiner to make the pin. Even with that original plan, it was still Animal, 41, as the big surprise, another 80s name, in a company that desperately needs to reinvent itself from its current perception as a company featuring outdated talent on top….”

Just a rudderless ship at this point was it not?

“Scott Steiner retained the WCW title over Sid Vicious and Jeff Jarrett in 7:53. The show was way long at this point. The match consisted of them doubling on Sid, and Sid making the most pathetic comebacks. Sid did a double suplex and nearly killed Jarrett in the process, dropping him almost on his head. Sid choke slammed Jarrett but Steiner saved. Flair's music played and the mystery man came out. By this time Sid had broken his leg and was on the ground immobile. The mystery man weakly attacked Sid and had Steiner pin him, then unmasked as Animal. -**

What's your memories of Sid's injury? Did you see it happen?

Were you able to talk to him in the back afterwards?

Is this the most serious injury you’ve ever seen in a ring?

“The next night on Nitro, Flair revealed all of this as a plan, announcing the creation of the stable which he named "The Elite". That prompted The Insiders (Nash and DDP) and Rick Steiner to come out and confront the group as Nash challenged Scott Steiner to a title match. WCW's Commissioner, Ernest Miller, came out and booked the title match, which ended in a disqualification as both sides interfered.”

The Elite! What a name that would’ve been instead of the Magnificant Seven right?

Nitro 1/15/01:

From the Observer:

“The opening segment was just like the last Bischoff/Russo return with new sides being drawn. Instead of New Blood vs. MC, it's Flair's team against Nash's team.

The good guys were led by Nash, Page and Rick Steiner while the bad guys were Flair, Animal, Steiner, Bagwell, Luger and Jarrett.

This was the perfect opportunity to put new faces, whether it be Awesome, Konnan, Rection or O'Haire in with the big boys instead of guys like Animal or Rick Steiner who serve no purpose and just serve as "blocks."

Speaking of Mike Awesome, how do you feel he was used in WCW? Did you ever see him in ECW, he was the ECW World Champion when he came to WCW, do you think he should've been booked more like he was in ECW?

Did the babyfaces need new blood?

Did the company need new blood?

“The opening segment had all the guys mentioned come out, with the heels doing a mock funeral of Goldberg's career. Flair just showed up as a heel as if everyone had read the internet that he turned and he was the one who screwed Goldberg and it wasn't that Animal and Steiner conspired against Flair but that Flair was in on it. He did explain that much on TV, but he never explained to the actual fans why, although he did explain that it was a long-term plan.”

These funerals - and we’ll get to another one later - what did you think of them?

On the following episode of Thunder, Miller booked Totally Buff in a match against KroniK, which they won after Jarrett interfered. DDP came to help and Flair booked DDP and Jarrett to fight in the main event. That match ended in a no contest as Nash, KroniK, Miller, Scott Steiner, Luger, Bagwell and Animal interfered.

So you got Flair in charge…but Ernest Miller making matches…and every match has interference. Creative is always subjective…but this wasn’t good creative was it?

On a special Tuesday Nitro, Nash demanded a title shot against Steiner at SuperBrawl Revenge, which Flair agreed to if Nash defeated Buff that night.

Miller booked a match between Luger and DDP, where the winner will referee the Nash-Buff match, and banned Buff and Nash from interfering in that match.

Luger won his match after Jarrett hit DDP with a guitar so he would be the ref for the Nash-Buff main event.

Nash won his match after DDP knocked Luger out and counted the pin with Luger's hand, prompting a big brawl in the ring.

Did it feel like the company was heading into the abyss at this point?

Thunder 1/24/01:

From the Observer:

“Jarrett beat Morrus in a solid match, ending when Wall interfered choke slamming Morrus. They doubled on him until DDP came out of the crowd for the save….”

What did you think of working with Bill Demott?

The story just ended up being Flair & Nash a lot - did you feel like you were just a side player?

On the next Nitro, Flair signed Dustin Rhodes to a contract, but he and Animal would attack Rhodes, until Dusty Rhodes came to his son's rescue.

Jarrett and DDP were about to have a match, however Jarrett won by a count out after the police escorted DDP away in handcuffs following an alleged assault and battery complaint.

In the main event, Nash defeated Totally Buff to get his title shot vs. Scott Steiner at SuperBrawl Revenge.

The idea of you working with Flair & Dusty - that had to be exciting right?

How did you like working with Ric during this time?

You worked with him in 96 when you were in WCW, was he the same to work with during this time as he was then?

What was Dusty like at this time?

Thunder 1/31/01:

From the Observer:

“Rick Steiner pinned Jarrett clean with the Steiner driver. Said to be bad…

Any memories of this match?

Was Rick tough to work with at this point in his career?

Thunder 2/7/01:

From the Observer:

“Flair came out with Animal, Bagwell, Luger, Jarrett and Steiners, who are now called "The Magnificent Seven."

What did you think of the change of the name from the Elite to Magnificent Seven…

“Main event was Nash & Page over Jarrett & Rick Steiner when Nash power bombed Steiner. Show ended with another stand-off confrontation with Flair's guys against Nash's guys.”

What was the backstage atmosphere like at this point in WCW?

The following week you’re in the main event of the Valentine’s Day Thunder for the go-home show for SuperBrawl…

Thunder 2/14/01:

From the Observer:

“Main was Jarrett & Rick Steiner over DDP & Rhodes which included a Scott Steiner run-in and Jarrett pinning DDP with the stroke and the show ended with another huge brawl.

Report was that it overall wasn't a good show. At least from those there live, there was no sign of Nash on Thunder, and apparently the selling point of the show is that they don't know if Nash will be ready for the PPV or how ready he'll be, which is a very strange way to try and hook people to buy a show by telling them that the babyface isn't going to be ready for his title match.”

What did you think of this idea - does it help sell pay-per-views?

At SuperBrawl Revenge…

From the Observer:

“The temporary elimination of Kevin Nash and putting as much heat on the heels, in particular CEO Ric Flair, as a way to build the new ownership group when they come in to be big babyfaces, was the key piece of business at the SuperBrawl PPV on 2/19 at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium.

“8. In an impromptu match, Kanyon pinned Diamond Dallas Page in 8:15. To explain this, Jeff Jarrett showed a tape where Page said he'd face Kanyon anytime, anywhere, so Jarrett said Flair ordered the match to take place at this point. Kanyon came from under the ring to attack Page. They had a hot match. Page juiced from having his face jammed into the ring steps. Page hit a killer uranage for a near fall. Page kicked out of a Kanyon cutter. Page got another near fall after Kanyon collided with Jarrett. After a ref bump, Jarrett hit the stroke on Page and Kanyon pinned him with the flatliner. ***¼ ”

Do you know what the point of this was to have DDP work twice? Does this help anyone?

“9. Page pinned Jarrett in 8:30. This match began immediately. Both bouts were cut well back in time because the show was running long. They brawled outside the ring. Page DDT'd Jarrett on a table that didn't break. The announcers were trying to sell the bloodied Page's comebacks as a life or death struggle. Guess they had to since he's in the main event on the next PPV. To Page's credit, he came out of the show looking like a big star and put on a hell of a performance in both matches. Page got several near falls until Kanyon came back and attacked him. Jarrett clocked Page with a chair to the head but he kicked out. Jarrett went to hit Page with the guitar, but he moved and hit Kanyon instead, and Page then gave Jarrett a diamond cutter for the pin. ***½ ”

So Kanyon gets the win over DDP but you put Dallas over here - did that make any sense to you?

Nitro 2/19/01:

From the Observer:

“Nitro on 2/19 in Huntsville, AL was just a show. Not terrible, although it lacked in star power. The angles at least made sense to build to the PPV.

It opened with a funeral for the career of Nash, and bringing up Goldberg, Sting and Booker T to build for their return. All I know is if I die, I want Flair delivering the eulogy. He, with a straight face, said that Nash was a special kind of athlete who comes around once in a lifetime.”

I get the idea - all the babyfaces go away - then they come back when the company is finally purchased - but man looking back - there was a lot of babyfaces being written off - what did you think of the long term plan for this?

“Jarrett did a segment where he came out like he was Eddie Murphy in Nutty Professor with all the fat padding to imitate Dusty Rhodes. The idea was good. But the segment was terrible and seemed like it would never end. Crowd didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Jarrett did a bunch of ridiculous Dusty spots on some job guys to take bumps for him the way the Horseman used to in the 80s. That should have been funny, but for some reason, it wasn't. Jarrett just isn't funny, even with good material.”

Jeff - what did you think of this segment and the suit?

What did Dusty think of it?

Do you think you’re funny?

“Jarrett gave one of the guys the shattered dreams. Dustin came out for the save, but Rick Steiner attacked him allowing Jarrett to clock him with a guitar. You can make fun of his dad for 20 minutes, but steal his move, and then you're in trouble. Schiavone and Hudson talked about the death of Dale Earnhardt the previous day in Daytona. They gave this more time and emotion that virtually all the wrestlers deaths on TBS and TNT have gotten over the last 20 years….

The funeral for Kevin Nash being the day after Dale Earnhardt’s passing…did anyone think this was a good idea?

Thunder 2/21/01:

From the Observer:

“Jarrett beat Crowbar. Rhodes did a run- in after the match.

Palumbo pinned Luger clean with an inside cradle. They are trying to establish Palumbo & O'Haire as babyfaces.

Main event was Scott Steiner beating Morrus.”

WCW had a lot of good young talent - but they never really got anywhere. The likes of Palumbo & O’Haire - could they had been successful with more time if WCW was still around?

Why do you think some of those guys never ended up being stars? Was it the WWF?

Nitro 2/26/01:

Main was Jarrett over Rhodes with Flair as the ref. Flair played total heel ref. Crowd was dead and match was boring. Flair did all sorts of goofy spots and bumps but didn't DQ Rhodes anyway. Rhodes kept beating on Flair & Jarrett, but looked terrible in doing so. At one point it seemed like Flair was a statue waiting forever for Rhodes to nail him so he could bump. Finish saw Flair hit a low blow to set up the stroke in 8:37.”

I mean - getting to do this - with Flair and Dustin - this had to be a highlight right?

Nitro 3/5/01:

From the Observer:

Jarrett came out to wrestle Dusty. Ric Flair came out with padding to look like he was 400 pounds and a mask. It was obvious it was Flair because he couldn't help but do a Buddy Rogers strut. Jarrett pinned him right away. Dustin came out and they fought until Flair unmasked. Flair, who turned 52 last week, really looked bad taking one bump when nothing even remotely was even aimed at him to miss, let alone hit him. Flair & Jarrett did a few chairs to the back when the real Dusty showed up.

The Rhodes' cleaned house and this time it was Jarrett who took a bump from an elbow that missed by about 18 inches, made worse by it being shown in the replay. Rhodes after all these years got to call the padded up Flair "fat boy," which was what Flair used to taunt him as in the 80s.

Did you enjoy doing this?

Nitro 3/12/01:

From the Observer:

“Rhodes and Jarrett opened the show with an impromptu brawl ending when Rhodes gave him the shattered dreams kick, which is now called the Dust buster…

The idea of working with Dustin week after week - was it too much?

How messy was WCW creative at this time?

By this point, WCW have been running Nitro & Thunder together in one building on one night for months - did it feel like the end?

They’re barely running house shows…how much money are you missing out on?

The shows are drawing under 4,000 fans - did you ever imagine that when you left the WWF in 1999?

Thunder 3/14/01:

From the Observer:

“The main event is Jarrett & Rick Steiner over DDP & Rhodes. Building totally empty at this point. Ref bump. Flair did a run-in and got bounced around, allowing Jarrett to hit Rhodes with his guitar for the pin. Everyone from the locker room ran out, thereby violating the rule enacted to explain the logic of nobody helping DDP on Nitro, and the heels ended up running off.”

Working on TV - with these guys - and the building is empty…that’s got to be rough isn’t it?

The final WCW PPV - Greed:

From the Observer:

“The biggest story backstage involved Lex Luger & Buff Bagwell, who may have greatly hurt whatever slim chances (Bagwell) and virtually no chance (Luger) of being picked up by the WWF with their reaction to being asked to put over Chuck Palumbo & Sean O'Haire. Both complained loudly about it to the point most wrestlers thought they were babies, and the way they stormed out of the building after the meeting to go to the gym made a lot of people think they weren't going to come back.

The match itself was booked for 8:00 and it was supposed to be O'Haire pinning Luger with the “Sean-ton” bomb clean. Instead, after doing a lengthy interview (which was on the script), they went into business for themselves and did a spot where they knocked each other out and laid down for O'Haire to do his move on both of them and pin Luger in 54 seconds. This was from the Kevin Nash school of doing a job, where if you do it quickly, nobody takes it as seriously as if you lose a hard-fought longer match.

Then both oversold the effects of it for several minutes, including Bagwell trying to spoof his legitimate neck injury by not moving. Both men laid in the ring motionless while people at home were watching a video package building up the Cat vs. Kanyon match doing almost a caricature of being paralyzed, which came off to the fans live as a blatant exposure of the business, and then when the cameras were back on, Bagwell moved, teasing a re-occurrence of his famous neck injury.

Most of the wrestlers and virtually all of the agents were furious….”

Jeff - what did you think of their actions here?

“9. Dusty & Dustin Rhodes beat Ric Flair & Jeff Jarrett in 9:58. Flair wrestled the match in slacks and a Hawaiian shirt. Tony Schiavone pointed out that the two had never opposed each other on PPV, and talked about their famous Starrcade matches (16 and 17 years ago) being before the company that formerly owned this company had PPV. Fans popped huge seeing Dusty in, particularly with Flair. Flair & Jarrett did their job to make Dusty look good, bumping for all his pots. He did the elbow drop on Flair but Jarrett saved. Dustin pinned Flair with one of the sloppiest looking inside cradles ever. After the match, Dusty pulled down his pants, to reveal red what could be called briefs, but not in his case, and gave Jarrett the Rikishi stink face. **¼ ”

What did it mean to you to be a part of the only pay-per-view match Flair & Dusty had together?

What was it like being in the ring with these guys?

Chat me up about the stinkface!

Nitro 3/19/01:

From the Observer:

The very strange next to last episode of Nitro on 3/19 from Gainesville, FL had Dusty said he was going to eat 33 more burritos and said in Texas they call it Stink Facey.

Did it feel like the end?

The main event on the show, believe it or not, was Flair kissing a donkey with the writing "Dusty's ass" on it. They beat up Dustin. Dusty made the save. They beat him up. Dustin saved. Flair & Jarrett had their faces rubbed into the donkey and kissed it as the show ended.”

That would be the last time you appeared on Monday Nitro…crazy to think about that isn’t it?

On the next episode of Thunder, Flair booked Dustin against both Scott and Jarrett, where Steiner won with his lead pipe only for Booker to make the save. Before the match, Flair was found laid out in his locker room.

That would be the last time you’re seen on WCW TV. What an end it was wasn’t it…

Was there any long term plans for the group that didn't end up happening because WCW closed?

How would you rank the Magnificent Seven?

Was it a highlight of yours to do this run - working with these legends?