Jeff Jarrett shares his thoughts on AEW launching live events.
All Elite Wrestling launched in 2019, and the company didn't hold a house show until The House Always Wins event in April 2021. AEW signed Jeff Jarrett as both an on-screen talent and the Director of Business Development in November 2022. Once he joined the company, it became clear that the company had plans to start running more live events, as AEW President Tony Khan discussed the possibility. In February 2023, AEW announced that it would launch a series of non-televised live events, titled House Rules, on March 18.
Speaking on Under The Ring, Jarrett discussed the process of launching live events and stated that he believes AEW might have ups and downs with it, but the company will start slow and start picking up the pace. He also stated that he thinks the move comes at a good time for AEW, as he referenced a report that indicated that WWE decreased its number of live events.
“It’s gonna be a crawl, walk, run process. I believe the strategic mindset is [to] absorb as much information as we can, as quick as we can, to truly make.. there’s no plan perfect. We’re gonna have our ups and downs, we’re gonna have our hits and our misses. But coming out of the gate, there was a report online about how many shows WWE has reduced their non-televised live events, and we haven’t been in the market since the launch of AEW. So I think the timing’s real good, I think the day that our television show airs, live on Wednesday, and kind of dovetails into Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. I think we’re gonna start slow and start picking up the pace and kind of figure out [how to] eliminate the negative and accentuate the positive, and keep progressing," Jarrett said.
Jarrett went on to describe how he's excited because he sees the launch of live events as an opportunity for growth. He stated that TV tapings and pay-per-views are important, but the non-televised live events are also beneficial in a number of ways. The legend stated that working with live events is right up his alley.
"I could not be more excited because it is a real growth opportunity, I think. That’s what the business, the real essence of it is. I was born and raised here in Nashville, and there’s artists who come to town, that move to town and literally spend their life savings to move here, write songs, try to be an artist, but their goal is to get out on that road and play their music. In the wrestling industry, obviously the TV is the utmost importance, and our pay-per-view weekends, but at the end of the day, getting out, and yes, it’s a private center. It’s also a marketing initiative. It is also how you hone your craft, but there’s so much upside to it. For me, to be blessed to have a part of it, I’m pumped in so many ways. At this stage of my career, when I look back on it, what an opportunity that’s in front of all of us. The Khan family launched AEW, it’s up and running, and wildly successful, and now here come the live events, right up my alley," Jarrett said.
Jarrett recently stated that the development of talent will always be part of his DNA. Check out his comments here.
AEW President Tony Khan discussed the possibility of expanding the company's pay-per-view calendar. Click here to see what he had to say.
Check out the card for the February 15 episode of AEW Dynamite here.
If you use any of the quotes above, please credit the original source with a h/t and link back to Fightful for the transcription.
