The Reality of Wrestling: Jarrett’s (Possible) Face Turn
By Phil Clark
With the recent T.V. interviews with people like B.G. James, Sting, and Jarrett himself, it should be no surprise that one of Vince Russo’s big planned angles is a face turn for Jeff Jarrett. This is a gutsy call for Russo as turning the biggest heel in your promotion face is no easy task. Right away, this may bring cringes to many people remembering how The E failed in trying to turn Austin heel in 2001. However, today is a new day and Jarrett isn’t as over as a hell as Austin was as a face going into the turn. Not only that, but Jarrett seems to be kept off of TNA programming as a tactic to prepare for the turn than because he was taking up the majority of the show and not providing quality entertainment. Most people will laugh off Russo’s attempts here, but it might be too early to say that the turn will be a complete failure.
P.C. Says: The Jarrett face turn could work, but only if it happens in the mid-card
Most people will think that I’m out of my mind saying this, but I do believe that a Jarrett face turn has a chance. While most people will think of this too simplistically by just saying, “Jarrett’s a hell, case closed,” I don’t see it that way. Remember, until the end of 2003, Jarrett was TNA’s #2 face behind Raven and A.J. Styles was the company’s #2 heel behind Shane Douglas. Times change, people are booked to change.
The first thing to remember here is that it will be Vince Russo booking this face turn. It is no secret that Vince Russo and Jeff Jarrett are good friends. Russo was the one who gave Jarrett a big main-event push in the dying years of WCW and Jarrett repaid him by getting him a writing job in TNA not once, but twice. Only this time, Russo has absolute power. So why not help out a friend right? Also, when it comes to turns coming over a long period of time, Russo hasn’t been that bad at writing them; it’s the shock turns that have helped damage Russo in the eyes of wrestling fans (anybody remember Goldberg’s heel turn in 2000?).
Also, the main reason people hate Jarrett is because he’s still booking himself to look like the top star in the company. That may have been ok back in 2003 and 2004 when the company was still on the rise, but now TNA is in a position where they have to move up or they will sink into oblivion. In times like these, Jarrett is not the guy to be promoted as the top guy. Most people, especially the Internet crowd, saw the X-Division as what would make TNA. That notion has been proven true as the X-Division more than any other part of TNA’s product is what helped get TNA T.V. deals with Fox Sports Net and SpikeTV. If Jarrett’s time in the main-event has truly ended, I guarantee the anger towards Jarrett would die down at least a little. Did you notice the fan reaction to Jarrett’s title win at Slammiversary. It wasn’t that the #1 heel in the promotion just won the world title, but that Jarrett once again booked himself to win the world title for no real reason. The fans finally snapped and that began the summer’s long tradition of throwing trash at Jarrett. However, if he were in the mid-card of every PPV following the face turn, there wouldn’t be as much anger. Not only that, but if programmed with the right heel or a worker that could be extremely effective as a hell, then the turn would have a chance as well.
The Reality is”¦when Jarrett took back creative control at the end of last year, things began to go downhill. Under the “booking committee” comprised of Mike Tenay, Scott D’Amore, Jeremy Borash, Dutch Mantell, and Bill Banks, TNA got the best run of shows in its history as every PPV TNA had from June-December 2005 had either one standout match or deserved Card of the Year mention. Jarrett’s poor booking single-handedly ruined Christian Cage’s World Title run and his heel turn is looking more and more like it was something new for him to do rather than a meaningful turn leading to new programs against different wrestlers (shouldn’t he be getting the title shot against Sting?). Not only that, but the X-Division is in trouble for the first time ever as the insanely stupid feud with Kevin Nash produced nothing and the recent barrage of title changes (something Russo and Jarrett are both known for) have diluted the belt. So, with all of this turmoil in the creative department, you bring in Vince Russo? I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt, not because he’s found God (something I don’t buy), but because if the “no smut” rule is actually enforced by TNA, Russo will have to concentrate on the aspects of wrestling that he can actually book well. However, I do understand the worry that many TNA fans and Jim Cornette possesses.
PLUGS
Since he’s been plugging my column for about the last month or so, here’s to my #1 fan Dave Ditch: Read The Puroresu Pulse.
