Legendary wrestling promoter Jerry Jarrett has died at the age of 80

The renowned promoter is reported to have passed away after a glittering career in the world of wrestling - o cause of death or official announcement from the family have yet been made

Harry Thompson Senior Features Writer

22:57, 14 Feb 2023

[Promoter Jerry Jarrett has passed away ]

Promoter Jerry Jarrett has passed away (Image: THE HANNIBAL TV / YouTube)

Legendary wrestling promoter Jerry Jarrett who founded the Continental Wrestling Association is understood to have died age 80.

News of his passing was first shared publically by Dutch Mantell, a long-standing wrestler in the CWA set-up.

His death was then confirmed by Pro Wrestling Insider, citing historian Mark James as the original source of the information.

The Jarrett family are yet to make an official announcement.

The legendary figure founded the Memphis-based Continental Wrestling Association in 1977.

Sharing the news Mantell wrote: SAD NEWS: Im hearing reports of my friend and long-time booker/promoter Jerry Jarrett died this morning in TN.

[Jerry worked in the wrestling business for over 40 years ]

Jerry worked in the wrestling business for over 40 years (Image: THE HANNIBAL TV / YouTube)

I last saw him last year when we did the VICE show THE TERRITORIES in Atlanta.

Very creative booker. Condolences to Jeff/Deborah and the Jarrett family.

Podcast host Conrad Thompson has since noted that battling Jerry had been battling oesophagal cancer.

The revelation came during a recording with Jerrys son, AEW star Jeff Jarrett.

The recording was released earlier today.

Jerry was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 2018.

He made his own wrestling debut in 1969 for NWA Mid-America, enjoying success and going on to become a 10-time NWA Southern Tag Team Champion

He then took up promoting for the United States Wrestling Association in 1988 after stepping away from the ring himself.

He then went on to compete in the USWA, making his final fight in 1995.

Going in to business together, Jerry and Jeff started NWA:TNA in 2002.

This morphed into TNA and then on into Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling is the promotion that people will recognise today, but, following a disagreement over the direction of the firm, Jerry left in 2005.

Jerry and Jeff had a massive fallout during the exit and fell out for 10 years.

Wrestling Inc reports that the pair finally made amends agreeing never to talk to one another about wrestling.

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