Jerry Jarrett, a profressional wrestler-turned-promoter who founded the Memphis-based Continental Wrestling Association in 1977, died Tuesday. He was 80.
Jarrett’s death was originally reported by former wrestler Dutch Mantell, and the WWE also tweeted condolences. While no cause of death was given, Jarrett reportedly had been battling esophageal cancer.
Jarrett, the father of WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett, was a competitor in the National Wrestling Alliance’s Mid-America promotion. In 1977, he retired from the ring and started the Continental Wrestling Association with fellow Memphis wrestler Jerry “The King” Lawler,” Fox News reported.
RIP Jerry Jarrett…a man who brought me in from Puerto Rico and kinda shaped my career. Rode a million miles with him picking his brain. Actually, Memphis with Jerry was eons ahead of the other territories in presentation and story. Taught me tons about booking. @WSI_YouTube pic.twitter.com/XTFyzAbP2L
— 𝔻𝕣. 𝔻𝕦𝕥𝕔𝕙 (@DirtyDMantell) February 14, 2023
The Continental Wrestling Association merged with World Class Championship to from the United States Wrestling Association in the late 1980s, Wrestling Inc. reported. Jerry Jarrett sold his controlling stake in the promotion to Lawler in 1997.
After five years of consulting work with World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE), the Jarrett father-and-son team formed the promotion Total Non-Stop Action, which would evolve into Impact Wrestling, according to Wrestling Inc.
Jarrett would later sell his stake of the company to Panda Energy, Fox News reported.
Jeff Jarrett wrote a tribute to his father on Wednesday in the form of a poem over several tweets, ending it with the hashtag #Dad.
WWE is saddened to learn that Jerry Jarrett has passed away at age 80.
— WWE (@WWE) February 14, 2023
WWE extends its condolences to Jarrett’s family, friends and fans.https://t.co/7icnWQmuD0
Jarrett maintained a close relationship with the McMahon family over the years, first with Vincent J. McMahon and then his son, current WWE CEO Vince K. McMahon, Pro Wrestling Insider reported.
“Jerry Jarrett was an incredible wrestler, one of the best storytelling minds ever, a trailblazing promoter, and a visionary whose family roots in wrestling will endure forever,” All Elite Wrestling tweeted.
The elder Jarrett wrote two books about his time in the business, an autobiography co-written by Memphis Wrestling historian Mark James, and a book about the planned launch and execution of the TNA brand, Pro Wrestling Insider reported.
Success is failure turned inside out,⁰The silver tint of clouds of doubt,⁰And you never can tell how close you are,⁰It may be near when it seems afar,⁰So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,⁰It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit! (4/4) ~ #Dad
— Jeff Jarrett (@RealJeffJarrett) February 15, 2023
