Jeff Jarrett: I Didn't 'Hold Up' Vince McMahon

Jeff Jarrett has disputed the long-held narrative that he 'held up' Vince McMahon during his 1999 WWE contract negotiations. Jarrett revealed that during this period, McMahon was preoccupied with preparing WWE for its public stock offering. Consequently, Jarrett's contract discussions were managed by Jim Ross, who acted as the intermediary. Jarrett explained that his contract was set to expire just before a pay-per-view event where he was scheduled to face Chyna.

With negotiations stalled and his contract expiring, Jarrett secured a deal with WCW. He then returned to WWE with leverage, demanding immediate payment for his upcoming match. This demand was amplified when Jarrett reminded Ross of a previous instance where WWE had reduced his pay despite his wife's serious illness, a situation stemming from Linda McMahon's directive that he not travel for house shows. Jarrett ultimately doubled his requested payment for that night's match, which he then successfully competed in, losing the Intercontinental Championship.

Jarrett asserted that his intention was never to skip the match, citing his professionalism and respect for the business. He indicated that the confrontation was not a true hold-up, but rather a strategic negotiation rooted in past contractual issues. Following this, Jarrett went on to co-found TNA Wrestling, a promotion that became pivotal in professional wrestling.