Jeff Jarrett: WCW Failed to Utilize Bret Hart After WWE
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Jeff Jarrett on the Shock of Joining WCW and its Chaotic Environment
Table of Contents
Initial Excitement and a Rude Awakening
On the latest episode of My World With Jeff Jarrett, the WWE Hall of Famer discussed Bret Hart’s departure from WWE to WCW following the infamous Montreal Screwjob. jarrett shared his own mindset when he made the jump to WCW, and the realization that it was a vastly different environment than he was used to.
“I’ve said it many times. In ’96 when I went - maybe two months in? Six weeks in, a month in, like real quick.And Kevin Sullivan and him laying out the Four Horsemen. ‘Hey, Jeff, I want you and Flair-‘ you know, all that kind of stuff.As much as I was motivated, my eyes were like, ‘holy crap, this is gonna work out.’ I was so damn excited to get this possibility.”
“But you talk about the reality, the foundational – I was just shook to my foundation – is that, ‘Hey man, we’re not in Kansas anymore. This ain’t Jerry jarrett running the show, this isn’t Jerry Lawler running the show. This isn’t Carlos Colon running the show.’ This is a wholly different animal. This is corporate wrestling through and through. So if you think you’re talking to The Boss, try again, pal. As there’s no such thing as The Boss. I’ve really had that complete understanding and shared that conversation with my old man multiple times.”
The Chaotic Creative Process and Hogan’s Influence
Jarrett described a disorienting experience with conflicting information and a lack of clear direction within WCW’s creative team.
“It’s just like, ‘This is crazy.How the hell is this ever – I’ve never been a part of something like this.’ And as the months went on, and – you know, Flair had his inner ear problem, and then I get told one story. And then Kevin Sullivan’s like, ‘Well, we don’t really know. Let me talk to Eric.’Well, I don’t know, as can’t do-‘ All the different he said/she said. And ‘This may or may not happen,’ and not just because of injury, because of the creative.And ‘I can’t do this,’ and the reality is, Hogan’s go…”
Jarrett’s comments paint a picture of a company struggling with internal dialog and a creative process heavily influenced by the unpredictable nature of hulk Hogan’s involvement. This internal disarray contributed to the perception of WCW as a less organized and strategically focused competitor to the WWE.
The Contrast with Previous Promotions
Jarrett specifically highlighted the difference between WCW and the more personal, family-run promotions he had previously worked with, such as those led by Jerry Jarrett, jerry Lawler, and Carlos Colon. These promotions, while smaller in scale, offered a more direct