During a recent edition of his “My World” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett discussed TNA’s hiring practices in 2005, when future legends like CM Punk and Bryan Danielson were grinding on the independent circuit.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On whether they debated signing Samoa Joe or CM Punk: “Neither serious conversation, we wanted Joe. I think I’ve, yeah, I’ve told this story a couple of different times. Had a breakfast with Mick Foley, and he was very high on Joe. Others were high on Joe. A lot of folks were high on Joe. When I saw Joe for the first time, I damn sure was. And so we locked in on him. You know, when you’re hiring talent and we hired Joe without a TV deal. We were optimistic, but we were that’s why, just the timing of man, maybe that’s the thread here.”
On the what if situation: “Conrad, have you heard me compliment any one single wrestler more than Brian Danielson? I just hold him in the highest of regards. But you know when, when they’re up, quote, unquote, for deals. And you know, we couldn’t hire everybody the Carters. And I get it, and I respect to this day just how tight the budgets were in our growing phases now, little resentment when they doubled the budget, when Hogan then came in and miraculously had more purse strings, but that’s a whole other podcast. But no, so the short answer is, Conrad, no, we never considered either guy. And look at him both great talents, but Danielson in particular, his ability to tell stories is in a lot of ways unparalleled. And, you know, damn Conrad, the what if of that? Now, he would have succeeded in any promotion. He did succeed in any promotion. But, man, that’s a fun avenue to walk down to think about.”
