On the latest episode of “My World” on AdFreeShows.com, Jeff Jarrett and Conrad Thompson discussed TNA Hard Justice 2008. That show featured the culmination of the rivalry between Booker T and Samoa Joe. Jarrett also talked about TNA’s backstage culture during this time period, Tomko quitting the company, Vince Russo trying to get Sting to turn heel, Kurt Angle vs. AJ Styles and several other topics.
Jeff Jarrett was asked what Booker T meant to TNA:
“The Main Event Mafia was the most successful faction, without question,” Jarrett said. The ratings, when those guys got together and then we clearly drew a line in the sand against, their opponents were AJ Styles, we named them Frontline, the younger guys. Me and Mick (Foley) were compassionate with both sides. We were generationally in the Main Event Mafia era, but we also wanted to see the young guys up and coming.”
Jarrett continued, “All of that was reality based, good compelling TV, and Booker was very important. You look at the five guys that were in the Main Event Mafia. It goes without saying. I think Booker was frustrated, I think mentally where he was at in his career. He had been on the road for so many years with WCW. Then the turmoil on the end of his career in WCW. He became World Heavyweight Champion, but the business was tanking in so many ways. It wasn’t his fault. He goes to WWF, and Austin, and has that run, and everything that goes with all that. By the time he got to us, I think he was burned out, but sometimes his head wasn’t in the right place. He came to Orlando and when you work for, really, two companies, and super capitalized, TNA was an adjustment. I got it loud and clear. It was an adjustment for him, and from a financial perspective, he was making less money than he made in the two prior stops, so that’s hard, but Booker is super important to the era of The Main Event Mafia and the success of it, no doubt about it.”
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If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit AdFreeShows.com with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
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