This past week saw the passing of the “Wrestling Genius” Jerry Jarrett. Jarrett at the age of 80 after his long battle with Esophageal cancer. Tributes poured in from the wrestling world after Jerry Jarrett breathed his last, with WWE remembering one of the vital figures in the wrestling industry. Jeff Jarrett had his own tribute, and he also wrestled the next week on AEW Dynamite, much to the surprise of many.
After Jerry Jarrett’s passing on February 14th, his son Jeff Jarrett, who is currently signed to AEW, wrestled on the February 15th edition of AEW Dynamite. Jarrett participated in an eight-person tag match. His team consisting of Sanjoy Dutt, Jay Lethal and Satnam Singh were defeated by the team of Daddy Ass, Orange Cassidy, Max Caster and Anthony Bowens.
It has now been revealed why Jarrett wrestled on the AEW Dynamite edition the day after his father passed away. Tony Schiavone said on a recent episode of the what happened when podcast that the AEW broadcast team discussed how they would deal with Jeff Jarrett competing so soon after his father’s tribute on the same show. In the end, it was best for Double J to wrestle.
“We discussed as a broadcast team how we were going to handle Jeff Jarrett walking in two minutes after we paid honor to his father. I think we did the best we could do, but let’s hear it for Jeff. He’s a pro. I think he thought, and I think we all agreed, it was best for him to go back in the ring after his father passed away.”
Conrad Thompson added, “He told me that his stepmom Debra of 50 years was adamant, like as they were at the hospital and all of this was happening with his dad, she looked at him and said, ‘What time’s your flight?’ He just sort of looked like, what? She goes, ‘Yea, your dad would have been pissed if you didn’t go to work, so he went to work.”
There will be a celebration of Jerry Jarrett’s life on will be held on February 21 at 11am local time at the Long Hollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville, TN. the Jarrett family has also stated that donations in the name of Jerry Jarrett be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
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