PWInsider.com has provided even more details on Jeff Jarrett’s immediate leave of absence from GFW, saying Ed Nordholm was the person to make the decision and met with Jarrett personally in Nashville earlier today.
Additionally, while it was noted earlier that the decision was only made a few hours before the announcement, it was said Jarrett did not know the move was coming, and he was scheduled to host a NFL Fantasy Draft party, which will now be hosted at GFW headquarters. According to PWInsider.com, the general belief is that there was unhappiness in the company with alleged “erratic behavior” and not a decision based on disappointment in creative direction. It was said this decision has been building for several months, with the final straw being Jarrett’s appearance at TripleMania, citing Jarrett reportedly stumbling on the ring steps and his physical appearance as possible signs he needed some time off.
PWInsider.com also noted the previously reported backstage incident between Bob Ryder and Jeff and Karen Jarrett as the ‘beginning’ of what led to today’s decision, although the situation was downplayed at the time, it was said to be much uglier than originally believed.
Sources told PWInsider that Jarrett is not blameless, but there is plenty of blame in the situation, including things Jarrett has taken blame for (like the Broken Hardys situation) being a case of him just ‘towing the company line’. Mike Johnson noted there was a strong belief that Jarrett was trying to stay between Nordholm and the wrestling side of business with Anthem, and noted Alberto El Patron’s GFW debut being ‘spoiled’ by Nordholm on Twitter.
In regards to his status with the company, it was said Nordholm was willing to let him go due to the Orlando Airport incident, and Jarrett was said to calm the situation, but may change with Jarrett taking an absence.
A source speaking on the situation said with everything going on Jarrett needed a break and tried to keep the peace, but he “desperately wanted his company back and wanted to prove to everyone he was right all along with his vision.”
Moving forward, it’s believed that Karen will be gone as long as Jeff is gone, but Scott D’Amore and Dutch Mantel will remain on board, as well as Jim Cornette, who just came in as an on-air character. There were a number of meeting today regarding the future of the company, with a source reported John ‘Big’ Gaburick was retained as a ‘Plan B’ if Jarrett didn’t work out, and although some downplayed it, there is some belief he inherited a lot of power within the company.
