Jeff Jarrett Discusses Similarities Between TNA And AEW

Jeff Jarrett sees a familiar blueprint in AEW’s rise, and he believes the company’s diverse roster is the clearest link to what made TNA stand out during its formative years.

In a new interview with The Sportster’s Adam Barnard, Jarrett reflected on how both promotions carved out space in the wrestling landscape by showcasing talent fans might never have discovered otherwise.

Jarrett noted that when WWE absorbed WCW at the end of the Monday Night Wars, the industry suddenly had a void. TNA stepped into that opening in 2002, and nearly two decades later, AEW did the same when it launched in 2019.

Jarrett Praises AEW’s Global Mix of Talent

Jarrett said every roster develops its own identity, but AEW’s stands out because of how many wrestlers are coming into their own on a major stage. He pointed out that before AEW existed, many of these talents weren’t widely known, and fans are now watching them grow week after week.

He compared that to TNA’s early years, when the company introduced concepts and wrestlers that didn’t exist anywhere else. The X Division, AJ Styles, and a wave of new faces helped define TNA’s identity and gave wrestlers a platform they wouldn’t have had otherwise.

Jarrett emphasized that success often comes down to preparation meeting opportunity. When promotions like TNA or AEW open the door, the wrestlers who are ready rise quickly.

He closed by highlighting AEW’s global reach, calling the diversity of its roster one of the promotion’s strongest traits.

“Every roster, no matter how you slice and dice it, ends up kind of being different. But one thing that I will say about the AEW roster, it’s super diverse, and there’s a lot of folks that are coming of age and that you get to witness week in, week out, that before AEW started, you might not know this guy. Same thing with TNA, before TNA started, there was no X Division. There was no AJ Styles. You could fill in the blanks and all that kind of stuff. But the old definition of luck, preparation meets opportunity. Guys that have been prepared, they get the opportunity at a TNA or AEW or whatever it may be. Cream always rises to the top. So, yeah, there are similarities there. But, man, when you look at, to me, the AEW diverse roster, the global aspect is very impressive.”