Jarrett Tells Lawler to Leave The Promotion Classic Memphis Wrestling 1979

CWA Memphis Wrestling

[@MichaelWilliams-so1pq]

Met Mr. Lawler at a comic con maybe 4 yrs ago. It was late in the afternoon on Sunday and most folks had left and I shot the shit with Mr. Lawler for probably a half hour. Great guy who was personable and didn't big time me in any way. I appreciated that. Met Ric Flair the same day. He was very Ric Flair. Hit on my girlfriend and everything. Two of the greatest if not the two greatest ever!

[@ABMultimediaDesigner]

RIP Jerry Jarrett

[@manuelper]

That's the kind of angle that you can run today. The disgruntled athlete asking for a big contract fighting against the owner. Way ahead of its time.

[@jasonfrost6448]

Not really, this was 1980 so the start of free agency and big money contracts in major sports which is why they referenced Pete Rose so much. It wouldn't make sense in modern times (even back when you made this comment) since teams make Billions now and have no issue throwing money at star players so the "office" would be the villain for not paying the wrestler where as back then the wrestler is the villain for asking for too much money.

[@erikstorm8935]

@@jasonfrost6448 I think it depends on which wrestling company, to be fair. WWE and AEW, yeah. But a smaller or indie promotion, I think it could.

[@georgemaranville3305]

@@jasonfrost6448 sort of but contracts are still negotiated/argued over. Wrestling fans would easily suspend disbelief if the people in the angle didn’t have bad promo scripts written for them.

[@TheJohnnyCroat]

This is outstanding. I love that it actually feels real.

[@soonercowboy8600]

Jerry Lawler was a master behind that mic. He was a great baby face and even a better heel.

[@ograidernation1]

Lance Russell & Dave Brown ...best duo in wrestling imo ....no wonder Jerry Lawler & Jim Ross were a good combo later on

[@christophernicholson20]

FACTS

[@true0utlaw72]

Just beyond classic!

[@daviddavidson8050]

Classic Memphis wrestling moment. God, I loved Saturday mornings as a kid growing up in Southwest Tennessee and Northwest Kentucky. Memphis wrestling. NWA. Then WCW. And the early days of WW(F)E....GLORY DAYS! These guys were great! They said. Made you believe that they meant it. And put it all on the line for you to believe beyond all doubt that 99.9% of it all was real. And in many, many cases it was as we later find out via KZbin and these shoot interviews and fan-con appearances that a lot of these old guys and gals live and love to do! Lawler was King!

[@invest423]

They absoultely brought realism into the prom by bringing up (twice) Pete Rose going from the Reds to the Phillies. Never saw a promo like that and I have been watching Wrestling for nearly 5 decades. Thank you.

[@thebadaids]

Even as a kid, if it took you that long to realize that wrestling was a work, you’re just not that bright. Not too many kids believe that if you drop the leg on another man’s chest that he’s going to lay in a coma and act like he died. 😂 The fact so many of you believed it all makes me feel bad for you. The thing that fascinated me and kept me watching as a kid were the storylines and I was amazed that those guys could call a full 45 minute match in the ring. That still amazes me. There’s no way to remember and rehearse a full wrestling match like that, and I always watched trying to catch them talking to each other and see who was calling the match. Almost never caught them doing it, either.

[@daviddavidson8050]

@@invest423 that's a great point you make! I am in agreement as I have never ever seen a promo cut like that one before or since either.

[@tonyrhoton6613]

Bill dundee was the king jerry was f.g

[@wonderface334]

This is great and refreshing. Jarrett is so subtle and believable. Lawler also fantastic.

[@true0utlaw72]

Agreed. Jerry was trained by Tojo Yamamoto, same as Sid.

[@SteveHolsten]

Lawler was trained more by Fargo.

[@jad43701]

@@SteveHolsten hence his loyalty. and from what I can tell the loyalty of anybody Fargo trained.

[@AnEternalEnigma]

Jesus, this stuff is so good. Now I want to get into a time machine and be at the Coliseum on Christmas night.

[@fjccommish]

I went there Christmas night 2017. There was no wrestling show. I think Jerry is a liar.

[@ralphwatts8993]

I was probably there!😂❤️

[@freshtendrills5969]

Oh yea man. Those old smells. The cigarettes and hot dogs. I miss it.

[@gl6996]

This angle announcing that Lawler would wrestle 3rd on the card then Lawler saying he would be the main event was all to make sure the Coliseum would be packed all night for Christmas. Only in Memphis, baby...

[@timmylongstroke7812]

Yup..they covered every angle in Memphis, I think they were top notch wrestling, some of the best out there.

[@gl6996]

@@timmylongstroke7812 👍🏽

[@jasonsterling4129]

Jerry Lawler and Ric Flair were the king's of Pro Wrestling during this time!

[@tonyrhoton6613]

Dutch mantell was the king

[@JerkMidik]

Dutch was a curtain jerker lol couldn't draw flies to poo. I never knew who Dutch was until 2021 and I've been watching since 86

[@martindoll5884]

Everything that needed to be put over was done in one nest little package. That is an art form that is so lost today. The match, the title, and Ken Lucas.

[@chuckgan]

A young Jimmy Hart as Lawler's manager!

[@MisterBeauJanGels]

"Young" is relative, I suppose. He was a week and a half shy of his 37th birthday at the time.

[@christophernicholson20]

You should see him how. He still looks the same. It's the curious case of Jimmy Hart he ages backwards in time frozen in time lol

[@christopherjames9843]

@@MisterBeauJanGels If this was 1979 he was 35. He was born in 1944.

[@crow672008]

I miss the old Jerry Lawler. Look how young Jimmy Hart is. I miss Memphis Wrestling.

[@rhythmandbluesofsoul]

OMG Jerry Jarrett looked like blond Jeremy Renner

[@moxmoxley5730]

ted Bundy lol

[@matthewgabbard6415]

This is a masterful shade throwing job. To make Lawler a heel Jerry had to pretty much tell the fans he was stealing money from them

[@erikstorm8935]

And during absolutely horrible economic times. I just wonder if there was any truth to this storyline back then. The way they talked, it all sounded very believable. I know its probably not though and I'm just being worked lol.

[@fanoflakespeed9460]

I worked on Jerry Lawlers car in Memphis and To join Yamamotos car in Nashville Tennessee, all very nice to be around. Tojo was tough. People thought he was fat. All muscle.

[@martindoll5204]

Tojo was also a decorated War Veteran

[@troylowe814]

Tojo was awesome, my favorite "foreign" heel (even though he was American)

[@bigglilwayne7050]

Notice at the beginning Jerry mention Buddy as his partner in the promotion, the Welch/Fuller name always carried weight in Memphis

[@jack18888]

That moustache on Jimmy Hart, my gosh they both look so young. Hard to believe Lawler is nearly 70, and Hart is over I think.

[@jamie.777]

This man is AMAZING!!!

[@dtogo4286]

Jimmy Hart cracks me up.

[@tonyrhoton6613]

He may been on crack

[@calbudd2838]

This was great TV. Way ahead it's time.

[@johnnyawesome4167]

wow Jeff look just like his daddy Jerry

[@antoniusjohnson3824]

Well you know.

[@secondpower993]

Antonius Johnson Huuuuuuuuh???

[@jungle7315]

Jerry Jarrett rocking those late 70's threads. Looks like he was on his way to the disco!.

[@bigroy38]

RIP Jerry Jarrett.

[@TheHannibalTV]

Looking forward to interviewing Jerry Jerrett for The Hannibal TV next week

[@hhh123837]

I can't wait for his full interview to come on KZbin

[@michaelkpate]

@@hhh123837 I was watching the Jerry Jarrett interview and KZbin recommended this to me.

[@eliburris2834]

You always do a good quality job on those interviews brother.

[@kingsports1113]

THE HANNIBAL TV Damm why destroy the von Erich like that lol damn

[@youvandal411vm]

I'm watching your videos and back tracking to the source of the material. Love it!

[@leegraves8878]

King wanted some time off lol.

[@robdangripp9406]

1000000000000000000000000 times better than RAW or Dynamite in 2022

[@shaolin1derpalm]

After being a manager for many years, Jarrett if thd face here for me lol.

[@marka.graffakasnakebitenat3736]

If I'm correct, Jerry Jarrett is Jeff Jarrett's father.

[@The_Real_DCT]

He is. Sadly Jeff didn't inherited his dad's head for buissness after listening to Jerry talking about what happened to cause him and his son not to speak for five years as well as seeing the mess that was GFW. The short version was after WCW folded Jeff had no where to go as he was still on Vince's shit list and so Jeff talked Jerry into starting up TNA and Jerry left his son to run it the way he saw fit and well between Russo, Jeff's old WCW cast offs buddies, Jeff trusting a crook with part of the buissness and getting ripped off and TNA going broke forcing Jeff to bring in Dixie and her daddy and the additional stress of dealing with those two idiots resulted in Jerry having a heart attack from stress and Jerry being forced to take a potential wrestler and getting him signed with Vince to get away from the mess as Jeff wouldn't let him leave but by Jerry pulling that stunt Bob Carter fired Jerry and bought his stake in TNA and Jeff felt he was stabbed in the back. So they didn't speak for five years.

[@marka.graffakasnakebitenat3736]

@Gene Bone well dipshit. I put that statement up there just to get really stupid SOB's like you to respond. And, sure enough, dipshit, you responded.

[@BigOrangePred]

And then Lawler broke his leg and almost bankrupted the company.

[@Filmation77]

Tony Khan should use this in his angle against MJF

[@friedchickenicedtea]

The problem is is that Tony Khan is a bigger heel than Friedman.

[@1965kdb]

Even though this is a work, it's still funny to watch one of the cheapest promoters in history claim he would have to raise ticket prices to sign somebody.

[@nellbowie7986]

1965kdb lol

[@Jesusislord3334]

A whole $1.25

[@scott917]

@@Jesusislord3334 well the prices back then were $4,$5 and $6. that was the prices for seats at a Monday night show. so $1.25 increase was pretty decent chunk.

[@jordand5616]

1965kdb dude AWESOME point! Brother can YOU EVEN IMAGINE how much $$$ this guy has made let's say for over 20-25 years by low balling and down right fucking the boys on payoffs 7 NIGHTS A WEEK!!! Think about the beginning of like TNA, just if people back then ordered 5,000 PPVs a week for awhile he was cleaning up back then for that little bit. Once him & Lawler went 50/50 they stilled fucked the boys so I CANT IMAGINE how much LAWLER has in his bank account either!

[@stevemtc1]

Bony Fulton said you’ll show up to this company in a thirty thousand dollar Cadillac and leave in a three hundred thousand dollar Greyhound bus

[@buford1977]

WOW,now I wanted to see them run down the card-actually makes you WANT to WATCH! good stuff

[@popachellione6799]

This is great reality television, not today's garbage.

[@crabbyoldgamer3028]

Wow. Compare this to the scripted crap of today with the wrestlers shouting everything with that sing song cadence.

[@DMS-pq8]

Absolutely right

[@tylerxxyz8621]

A dollar and a quarter was a shitload back then

[@phillipstankey8881]

Making Lawler jerk the curtain...classic. How times have changed...in 1980 people sided with management...by 1996 it was Austin as the common man taking on management and the people sided with Austin

[@robdangripp9406]

Jimmy Hart looks like a young Ron Jeremy

[@trxxxtr]

Awww the good ole days! I miss sat afternoons watching this show after all the cartoons were done playing we had this great show to look forward to. I remember this interview also....there were a lot of childish shit going on behind the scenes between these 2 then. I do mean childish! All the TRUE fans knows exactly what jerry was doing. Love him but back then he was a mess and actually strtd thinking "in real life" he was the shit...lol He became a spoiled brat kid.

[@timmylongstroke7812]

Lawler spilled the beans about how wrestlers were traveling and being paid chicken feed to stay in the business, guys had it tough, I think it built the caracter as a man to take the punishment they did.

[@14DaveHunter]

The shoot of this, Lawler was part owner of the promotion.

[@fblassie]

Lawler was a great heel.

[@jamalyoung-zq9gl]

Jerry Jarrett Jerry Lawler jommy hart bill dundee gold of Memphis wrestling

[@davem1212]

Lol I miss these days ... ( raise prices $1.25 For Jerry’s contract but not doing it .. classic ). I wish those were the price raises today

[@shane-irish]

Well you know

[@larryduvall9475]

talking about the king

[@jims.6393]

This is a promoter This is booker

[@williamarchibald1378]

Well, you know.

[@paulsilas9070]

Everything is a Work!

[@SteveHolsten]

Here were the match results for the Christmas night 1979 show at the Mid-South Coliseum 1. Buddy Wayne beat Jerry Bryant 2. Slim the Hillbilly beat Ken Wayne. 3. Paul Ellering beat The Grappler. 4. Steve Regal beat Jimmy Hart. 5. Ricky & Robert Gibson beat Southern Tag Champs The Assassins via DQ. 6. Ricky Morton & Big Red beat Tojo Yamamoto & Sonny King in a "Texas death" match. 7. Jerry Lawler beat Steve Regal. 8. Jerry Lawler beat Ken Lucas

[@AnotherPilot1]

Jerry Bryant sold cars in Memphis on Mt. Moriah and died of ALS/Gehrig's...so sad.

[@SteveHolsten]

@@AnotherPilot1 Very sad...

[@erikstorm8935]

Buddy Wayne, the father of wrestling prodigy Nick Wayne? Thats how I know Buddy as a Millennial lol. If its indeed the same Buddy Wayne. But yeah, I know Nick's dad had a stellar wrestling career. And a well known trainer, as well.

[@diablo666541]

Jarret really screwed wccw up no wonder Kevin didn't trust him .

[@theninthheart4736]

What’re you talking about.? Wccw was a joke

[@mrbobevans]

Jerry Lawler looks like Tom Jurich.

[@christophernicholson20]

I thought that was Roddy Piper in the thumbnail Jeff Jarrett dad looks just like Piper I was like " I didn't know Piper wrestled here in Memphis"

[@theninthheart4736]

Jeff Jarrett dad...? You mean Jerry Jarrett..?

[@randyjohnson7734]

Hit the road Jer

[@JackBarrett7]

Jimmy Hart was YOUNG in this lol

[@tdw5933]

Lawler was part owner

[@timmypaxton5376]

Memphisflinstonewrestlersandbedrockmemphiswrestlingfansanddinoreffs

[@smokeymayrand4757]

It sounds like the king is president of his own fan club

[@MichaelWilliams-so1pq]

Great wrestlers don't lack for confidence. See Ric Flair for further detail.

[@frankpalancio8471]

Jimmy Hart is sporting the Ron Jeremy look.

[@christophernicholson20]

I was gonna say he looks like Sonny Bono or Paul McCartney

[@johnhawk1969]

I think this is when/why Lawler went to FL for a bit

[@johnhawk1969]

@Darrell Dunn true

[@jimcharnoske9614]

Is That Ron Jeremy With Jerry Lawler ? :D

[@catfatherb2072]

Yes

[@tysman621]

Jimmy hart

[@stingrey1571]

i know cant watch or listen to jerry without hearing bruce prichard's voice, HUUHHHH!!!

[@volodymyrbilyk6315]

Young Jerry looks a lot like Jeff

[@nellbowie7986]

Lawler was Jarrett's partner

[@robertstephens1885]

Not at this point...he was far and away Jarrett's biggest star and he booked but he didn't become part owner of the promotion until 83/84

[@nellbowie7986]

robert stephens go read his book

[@SteveHolsten]

I thought they became partners in 1981

[@nellbowie7986]

Zeal for Truth buy it and see

[@kingsports1113]

Nell Bowie they were needing over money around this time

[@kingsports1113]

Jimmy Hart Capricorn the goat with king

[@fjccommish]

What happened after this? Did Lawler end up as the last match?

[@kingsports1113]

Broke his leg

[@erikshen1107]

Who's the guy behind Lawler....A young RON JEREMY???

[@loladiusnachnamius3643]

well you know

[@dustydiamond2618]

is Jerry Jarrett Jeff Jarrett dad???

[@The_Real_DCT]

Yes, that's Jeff Jarrett's dad. He also was the one who helped Jeff start TNA which resulted in the two not speaking to each other for years. Basically the stress of watching his son make mistake after mistake like bringing in Russo, WCW cast offs, trusting a crook with advertising and such for the weekly PPVs and such with TNA and then dealing with the Carter's lead him to have a heart attack so he pulled a stunt to get fired from the company as Jeff wouldn't let him leave so he found a guy with a good look and some potential and after Dixie turned the guy down, he took him to Vince which he knew would get Bob Carter pissed off and got fired and Bob bought his stake in TNA and him and Jeff didn't speak for five years.

[@dustydiamond2618]

@@The_Real_DCT thank you for the inform

[@angelmontes8602]

Sounds like the so called CEO Mercedes Mone

[@altfactor]

Didn't Lawler actually sign with the WWF by the time this bit was taped?

[@mr.perksy]

Lawler didn’t sign with WWF until 1992.

[@chriswarfield7520]

3:53 who let a little green alien into the matches?

[@DixiePokerAce]

Jimmy Hart?? I thought that was Sonny Bono.

[@wkmac2]

Jerry wants more money for his own pocket and is throwing Lawler under the bus as the heel scapegoat. LOL! Classic storylines.

[@zacharycarter9887]

Lol they paid him he was an owner at this point

[@jasonsterling4129]

Look at young Jimmy Hart

[@kingsports1113]

Jerry Lawler wanted his fair share of the money

[@tonyrhoton6613]

A real thief jimmy hart worked 4 food

[@carloslozada470]

Negotiations ? It's a work

[@diablo666541]

Who is that behind king

[@CWhernidsy]

That’s a very young Jimmy Hart

[@itcummifaegg]

Well... ... ...you know.

[@kingsports1113]

LMAO 😂 LMAO😂 LMAO😂 LMAO😂 LMAO Jerry Jarret house was bigger than Jerry Lawler lol so Jerry Lawler wanted to quit lol

[@jameschilders7423]

Oh my, a $ 1.25, MY DAD would tell you it rook all day to earn. It actually did, because he made 45 cent an hour.

[@michaelconnors7668]

The Green Bay Packers should follow Jerry Jarrett example. It's only right. It's only fair.

[@roxannestorm2616]

I think he's related to Jeff Jarrett.

[@theninthheart4736]

....uhhh, wut..? What’re you talking about????? 🤨

[@michaelsuder486]

Is Lawler a heel or face here? I can't tell

[@theninthheart4736]

It’s his heel turn

[@Votedjt2024]

Jerry Jarrett is the greatest championship all time and Jerry the king Lawler is the greatest championship all time Jerry the king Lawler is my favorite wrestler all time my childhood favorite wrestler all time on memphis wrestling and Jerry the king Lawler and Jimmy hart is closed friends on memphis high school on early years and Jerry the king Lawler is Jimmy hart frist manger on Jimmy hart closed friends on memphis high school buddies friend with Jerry the king Lawler

[@kevinbrown-ge6sz]

Jarrett has a nice, thick head of hair.

[@hhh123837]

1 and quarter increase??? Really??? 😊😊😊😊 💸💸💸💸💸

[@jad43701]

remember tickets were only between 4 and 6 dollars back then. So $1.25 was a heck of a jump.

[@hhh123837]

@@jad43701 👍👍👍

[@nicke1903]

Go n make some Chicken Salad Jerry, let The King Wrestle.

[@theninthheart4736]

Wut

[@aaronwarren8344]

Huhhhhh???

[@ogloc2222]

Aaron Warren Well... You know...

[@mphsrick43]

Wonder how many people knew back then that Lawler was given a part of the promotion to leave Gulas and move with Jarret when they left channel 13 for channel 5.

[@roberttormejazz]

zero

[@kingsports1113]

I did n Jerry Lawler wanted to leave Jerry Jarret because Jerry Jarret mansion was bigger than Jerry Lawler

[@fanoflakespeed9460]

Tommy Rich should have never been with this elite.

[@diablo666541]

Jerret brought rich in before he wrestler rich was working at gas station.

[@josephcostello695]

Too bad WWE don't take notes.

[@CollectingCardboard]

Growing up in the WWF territory in the early 80's, I wasn't too familiar w/ Memphis & the southern territories. That being said, I truly couldn't tell if this was a work/angle between Jarrett & Lawler, *OR* ....if it was legit, heat!?!!? There was *ZERO* sense of "comedy" or fumbling with lines, etc. Can anyone confirm the "legitimacy" of this spot....???

[@celebrategout1008]

well you know uhh

[@stephenharlow4064]

So is that J-E-Double F J-A-Double R -A-Double T Dads

[@dare2727]

yes and he is/was a wrestling promoting genius

[@theninthheart4736]

What’re you talking about... ? The father is much more famous than the son, duh

[@theninthheart4736]

@@dare2727 can you not detect bad sarcasm ...?

[@ibeliveification]

Is that Jeff Jarretts dad?

[@jonathanturbide2232]

Yes, that's him.

[@theninthheart4736]

Wtf are you talking about lmfaoo. Jerry is much MUCH more famous than his son. He’s widely considered the second greatest promoter ever behind Mac Mahon jr, duh. No one knows who his son Jeff is. Are you goofy...?

[@theninthheart4736]

@@jonathanturbide2232 😂🤦🏻‍♂️🤣

[@michaeltaylor8835]

is the Jeff Daddy??

[@keithhicks3006]

Yes