Why Did Jarrett Leave In 99?

[The Sexy Psychotic]

The title says it all, why the hell did Jeff Jarrett leave WWE in 99 for WCW?

By this time WCW was starting to go down hill, and tbh he wasn't doing that bad in WWE, I mean wasn't he supposed to be fueding with Austin around the Summer time, but it got pulled? My point is, he was doing fine, sure maybe he would have never gotten to the big time like he has, but still, he was in the Top-MidCard.
Did WCW offer him the spot he eventually got? Or was it all down to simply Russo leaving and wanting Jarrett there, because I do know that Russo was a huge JJ fan, infact he was strongly pushing for Jarrett to be in the Rock's position at SS98.

[gordon]

Russo and Jarrett are friends, and Russo basically promised Jeff a big push and a lot of money to make the jump with him.

They both planned Jarrett's exit to happen after his WWF contract had expired so he could get a few hundred grand out of Vince McMahon to wrestle without one and drop the IC title.

[Jimmy]

The reason the feud with Austin got pulled is because Austin didn't see Jarrett as a top guy, and if the guy (Vince's most trustworthy guy) in the WWF didn't see Jarrett as anything more than IC Champion than that's where he was going to stay, much like Owen did until his death.


As Cam said Jarrett was tight with Russo plus Jarrett felt he had been burned by the WWF for cutting his salary the previous year after his wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

[Adam]

Mar 24, 2011 10:05:52 GMT -5 @gordon said:

They both planned Jarrett's exit to happen after his WWF contract had expired so he could get a few hundred grand out of Vince McMahon to wrestle without one and drop the IC title.

Didn't that only happen because of an oversight by Jim Ross that allowed Jarrett's contract to expire the day before a PPV? Obviously demanding a pile of money is on Jarrett; but I thought the whole contract issue was JR's fault.

[threehgame]

Mar 24, 2011 10:21:05 GMT -5 Adam said:

Mar 24, 2011 10:05:52 GMT -5 @gordon said:

They both planned Jarrett's exit to happen after his WWF contract had expired so he could get a few hundred grand out of Vince McMahon to wrestle without one and drop the IC title.

Didn't that only happen because of an oversight by Jim Ross that allowed Jarrett's contract to expire the day before a PPV? Obviously demanding a pile of money is on Jarrett; but I thought the whole contract issue was JR's fault.

There were rumors someone that handles the contracts (a lawyer or someone in Talent Relations) buried the contract so no one realized it until Jarrett Showed up the day of the PPV and said he wanted over a hundred grand for the match.

[Himmy!]

Mar 24, 2011 10:18:35 GMT -5 Jimmy said:

The reason the feud with Austin got pulled is because Austin didn't see Jarrett as a top guy, and if the guy (Vince's most trustworthy guy) in the WWF didn't see Jarrett as anything more than IC Champion than that's where he was going to stay, much like Owen did until his death.


As Cam said Jarrett was tight with Russo plus Jarrett felt he had been burned by the WWF for cutting his salary the previous year after his wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Damn, I never knew Jarrett was supposed to do something with Austin. Thanks for posting.

[Raine]

Austin had a choice, who to pick as his next feud opponent for Summerslam 1999, it was from HHH, Jarrett or Billy Gunn. Obviously he chose Tripper not seeing the other 2 as top tier guys. The rest is history.

[Himmy!]

Mar 24, 2011 12:28:52 GMT -5 Raine said:

Austin had a choice, who to pick as his next feud opponent for Summerslam 1999, it was from HHH, Jarrett or Billy Gunn. Obviously he chose Tripper not seeing the other 2 as top tier guys. The rest is history.

That makes sense. I remember Billy getting a bit of a push when he had the match with The Rock.

[Deleted]

He left because of two things.

- Owen Hart's death.
- He was put in a fued with different women, jobbing to them.

[Deleted]

he left because the guy that kept him on TV and kept pushing him with McMahon was leaving.

Russo suggested JJ for big things in summer 99 as stated above.first to win KOTR then to challenge Austin(and defeat him cleanly at SS99)

Austin said no way and Vince was already looking in HHHs direction because of the superior heel heat he had been getting since WM15.

Vince decided to give Gunn the W at KOTR 99 to build him up to top level status too but as we know it didnt stick.

Owen Harts death had nothing to do with JJ leaving.he and Russo had it well planned out....his demands the night before No Mercy are well documented

[Raine]

As Joker says Russo is the main component in JJ leaving nothing to do with Owen, he was going if Owen lived or died.

[Jimmy]

I think Owen's death did play a factor, personally. Not saying it played a huge part but Owen was one of Jeff's best friends so you don't really know how that might have played into his decision making had Owen not died as he still would have been in the WWF.

[Deleted]

well Owen being there didnt stop him from jumping back and forth a couple of times before Jimmy.

but in one respect your right-nobody can say for sure

[Blackbird.]

Who knows, maybe Owen would have jumped ship too, to be with Bret in WCW.

[Deleted]

Mar 26, 2011 15:03:16 GMT -5 Blackbird. said:

Who knows, maybe Owen would have jumped ship too, to be with Bret in WCW.

Owen wanted to jump ship after the screwjob but it would have crippled him financially to do so and Bret talked him out of it.presumably this situation was long term.several wrestlers on thier shoots say that Owen was just biding his time and saving his money until his contarct ran out so he could retire.

it cost Smith a fortune to walk away after Montreal.

["The Visionary" Eldniw]

Mar 25, 2011 13:27:22 GMT -5 JokerFC said:

he left because the guy that kept him on TV and kept pushing him with McMahon was leaving.

Russo suggested JJ for big things in summer 99 as stated above.first to win KOTR then to challenge Austin(and defeat him cleanly at SS99)

Austin said no way and Vince was already looking in HHHs direction because of the superior heel heat he had been getting since WM15.

Vince decided to give Gunn the W at KOTR 99 to build him up to top level status too but as we know it didnt stick.

Owen Harts death had nothing to do with JJ leaving.he and Russo had it well planned out....his demands the night before No Mercy are well documented

Yup this pretty much says it all.

[K5]

Mar 24, 2011 12:46:08 GMT -5 Himmy! said:

Mar 24, 2011 12:28:52 GMT -5 Raine said:

Austin had a choice, who to pick as his next feud opponent for Summerslam 1999, it was from HHH, Jarrett or Billy Gunn. Obviously he chose Tripper not seeing the other 2 as top tier guys. The rest is history.

That makes sense. I remember Billy getting a bit of a push when he had the match with The Rock.

hence also why billy had won the king of the ring previously - the wwe had thought he was going to be a huge star at one time. for his size, he was extremely athletic.

[Bartman]

Mar 27, 2011 7:27:03 GMT -5 JokerFC said:

Mar 26, 2011 15:03:16 GMT -5 Blackbird. said:

Who knows, maybe Owen would have jumped ship too, to be with Bret in WCW.

it cost Smith a fortune to walk away after Montreal.

I thought Smith/Neidhart were granted releases from their contract, but not Owen. That's what I've always read anyway.

[K5]

yea, smith/neidhart were granted releases - as bret was hugely disappointed in smith for returning to the wwe in 99, but smith wanted nothing to do with wcw after that back injury.

[Rule 30]

Mar 27, 2011 16:02:17 GMT -5 K5 said:

Mar 24, 2011 12:46:08 GMT -5 Himmy! said:

That makes sense. I remember Billy getting a bit of a push when he had the match with The Rock.

hence also why billy had won the king of the ring previously - the wwe had thought he was going to be a huge star at one time. for his size, he was extremely athletic.

Man imagine what it would of been like if Billy Gunn went somewhere after his feud with The Rock.