On a recent episode of his podcast “My World”, WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett dismantled the lines of kayfabe, celebrated The Natural Disasters’ entry into the Hall of Fame, and delved into other captivating subjects.
Highlights from the podcast conversation include:
On the occasion of The Natural Disasters being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, Jarrett recalls his earliest memories with Big Fred. He vividly recounts his time at the Gold’s Gym in Madison, Tennessee where Fred was known as Big Bubba at the time. The tales of Fred’s strength are legendary according to Jarrett. He also reminisces about his time on the road with John, another member of The Natural Disasters, recalling the wrestler’s fascinating personality, incredible athletic prowess, and lauding him as a ‘sweetheart’ guy. Jarrett was surprised that they were not already in the Hall of Fame, and expressed his happiness for their overdue recognition.
Discussing the balance between maintaining the illusion and reality of the wrestling industry, Jarrett mentioned his early days in the business. He recalls a time when he and his mentors would tease the public about wrestling’s authenticity, proudly declaring wrestling as ‘fake’. This, however, would only serve to strengthen the belief of their fans, because as Jarrett threw light on a popular quote, ‘Those who believe, no explanation is needed. Those who don’t believe, no explanation will do’. He insisted that the fan’s emotional engagement and connection with the performers are the bedrock of wrestling’s appeal, regardless of whether they consider it true sport or entertainment. Jarrett emphasized that words cannot alter this connection and that the focus should indeed be on nurturing a bond with the audience.
The complete conversation, including these points and others, can be found in the embedded video of the “My World – Ask Jeff Anything” episode.