Jerry Jarrett, one of the most influential figures in professional wrestling, has passed away at the age of 80. Jarrett was a major promoter in the wrestling industry, having founded the Continental Wrestling Association (CWA) in the late 1970s and later merging it with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1989.
Jarrett was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1940 and began his career in the wrestling business in the early 1960s. He worked as a referee and promoter for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and later became a booker for the Memphis-based Continental Wrestling Association (CWA). During his time with the CWA, Jarrett was responsible for bringing in some of the biggest names in wrestling, including Jerry Lawler, Jimmy Valiant, and Bill Dundee.
Jarrett was also instrumental in the formation of the United States Wrestling Association (USWA) in 1989, which was a merger of the CWA and the WWF. The USWA was a major success and was the first major wrestling promotion to feature inter-promotional matches between the WWF and WCW.
Jarrett was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018, and the company paid tribute to him on their website. “Jerry Jarrett was a true pioneer in the wrestling business,” said WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon. “He was a great promoter and a great friend. He will be missed.”
Jarrett is survived by his wife, two sons, and four grandchildren. His funeral will be held on Saturday, June 8th in Memphis.
The wrestling world has lost a true legend with the passing of Jerry Jarrett. He was a major influence in the industry and will be remembered for his contributions to the sport. The WWE and the entire wrestling community mourns his loss and sends their condolences to his family.
