Along with its well-known base of musical entertainers, Hendersonville is also home to one of the most famous professional wrestlers of all time – Jeff “Double J” Jarrett. Recently, Hendersonville Lifestyle sat down with Jeff to find out more about him and his many accomplishments in the wrestling world.
Why professional wrestling?
“I was bitten by the wrestling bug at an early age. I especially love the sports entertainment side of professional wrestling. It is a very unique form of entertainment that draws from Hollywood, Broadway and the sporting world, and blends it all together to create a great fan experience.”
When did you start wrestling professionally?
“I have been wrestling since April 6, 1980, so as of last month, I celebrated my 40th year as a professional.”
How many matches have you had so far in your career?
“Over my 40 year career, I have competed in over 5,000 matches.”
Where was your first match, and who was your opponent?
“My first match was at the Mid-South Colosseum in Memphis, and my opponent was Tony Falk. In ended in a 10 minute draw.”
What is the most unusual venue that you have ever had a match?
“I have wrestled at all kinds of places ranging from high school gyms to New York’s Madison Square Garden the Royal Albert Hall in London. However, I think that my most unusual venue was in Jerusalem.”
How do you train to keep yourself in wrestling shape?
“I train regularly at UFC Gym in Hendersonville in order to stay in wrestling shape. Fitness is a passion for me – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.”
Who was your favorite wrestler growing up?
“Without a doubt, it was the fabulous Jackie Fargo – often imitated but never duplicated. I loved his strut so much that I patterned my own strut after it.”
Who was your mentor?
“I have had three mentors who influenced me, Jerry ‘the King’ Lawler (ring techniques), my father (wrestling mindset and psychology) and my grandmother (business side of wrestling).
What is your favorite wrestling memory?
“My favorite wrestling memory was when I won my first heavyweight title in the United Center in Chicago – the house that Michael Jordan built. I grew up as a Bulls fan, so to win my first major title there made it very special for me.”
How did you come up with your signature guitar move?
“When I made the move to the WWF in 1993, I took on the Double J persona. Since I am from the south, I thought that Double J should have a guitar. It fits with country music, and it adds depth to the character.”
What was it like to be the Titan’s 12th man back in 2018?
“Being selected to be the 12th man was a very unique experience. I have always been a huge Titans fan, and I had gotten to know a lot of the guys on the team, including the late Frank Wycheck, Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones, Zack Pillar and Jevon Kearse. On a side note, I recently became partners with former Titans coach Jeff Fisher for the new Nashville Kats arena football team.”
What was it like wrestling in front of the hometown Hendersonville crowd during last fall’s Pig Fest?
“Wrestling at Pig Fest was amazing. Despite having wrestled all over the world, I had never competed in my hometown. I had no idea that it would be such an emotional night, especially with my family being there. It turned out to be one of my favorite nights in my entire career.”
"I have never really felt like I have had a full-time job. That's because of my love and my passion for wrestling.”
Hendersonville legend Jeff “Double J” Jarrett is widely known for being one of the most successful professional wrestlers in the history of the sport. He is a is a third-generation professional wrestling promoter, and a two-time Hall of Famer who has earned over 80 championships.
Along with his ring success, Jeff also founded two wrestling companies – Impact Wrestling and Global Force Wrestling. In addition, he is the director of business development for All Elite Wrestling, a popular series that airs weekly on multiple cable television networks including TBS and TNT, with content watched by viewers in over 130 countries.