What Is The Future Of The Jarrett/AMW Alliance?

THE CORNERSTONES OF TNA WRESTLING
Can anyone stop the newfound alliance of Jarrett and AMW?
By Bill Banks

Throughout the course of wrestling history, there have always been stables that ruled their respective promotions with an iron fist. From The Freebirds in World Class, The Four Horsemen and later nWo in WCW as well as DX in WWE, each new era in professional wrestling brings with it a group that completely dominates the opposition – and in many cases the entire promotion, management included.

In the 1980s when wrestling hit network television, fame, fortune and mountains of cash were on the mind of every wrestling star. The stakes increased in the 90s with the cable network wars. More money, more power, more fame, more fortune - wrestling had gone Hollywood. With so much on the line, competition – and violence – increased. It was survival, both of the fittest AND the smartest. The groups that truly dominated their era were made up of the “best of the best” in the promotion at that time. No one could beat them, and management couldn’t stop them because they had all the power.

This isn’t to say the newfound alliance of Jeff Jarrett and America’s Most Wanted have earned rank with the above names just yet – but all the pieces are falling into place for these cornerstones to dominate a new era in TNA Wrestling.

When the deal with SpikeTV was announced, the TNA roster began to mirror a reality television show. Alliances were made, rumors and innuendo spread, newcomers were watched carefully. With fame and fortune at stake and the network television spotlight up for grabs, some interesting things began to happen behind the scenes in TNA Wrestling that resulted in America’s Most Wanted finding common ground with longtime enemy Jarrett.

After the SpikeTV announcement, Jarrett began telling anyone who would listen that jobs were now on the line. According to Jarrett, management supposedly had a “list” of talent to be cut to make room for newcomers from the now-infamous “Black Wednesday” firings from the competition. Few took Jarrett seriously at the time, but his words began to make sense when additions were made to the roster, including Rhino, Samoa Joe, as well as rumors of Team 3D and Gail Kim circulating the internet. More “visitors” began popping up backstage looking for a spot, management scheduled more meetings with them, and more gossip spread throughout the locker room. Jarrett had a plan, and the execution started with simple paranoia.

Eventually, Jarrett brought his case to Chris Harris and James Storm, the longtime tag team kingpins in TNA Wrestling. During that backstage interview, something interesting occurred – unlike everyone else, AMW paid attention to what Jarrett was saying. They listened. Harris and Storm heard the rumors like everyone else – Team 3D was coming, and it was only a matter of time before their spot was in jeopardy. Jarrett’s words had finally struck a nerve with someone, and he knew it.

But, after having dominated the tag team ranks in TNA since its inception, why would America’s Most Wanted be concerned? Again, it was the paranoia. Success eventually breeds arrogance, which eventually breeds paranoia. Still at a young age, they had already established a tag team dynasty in the wrestling world. Even when they weren’t wearing the tag team gold, everyone knew it was only a matter of time before they reclaimed it. But, some say success made AMW too confident – too cocky. Perhaps they began to believe their own hype and it all went to their heads. In any event, they made it crystal clear they ruled the tag team ranks, and there wasn’t room for anyone else in their yard.

In August, the backstage locker room politics reached a whole new level – with AMW squarely in the middle. All eyes were on them. Many wondered how Chris and James would react to the rumors about Team 3D. They became more outspoken, more reckless. America’s Most Wanted felt the pressure to protect their positions at all costs – and that’s when the unthinkable happened.

On September 15, Chris Harris and James Storm traveled to Oldcastle, Ontario, Canada – a few minutes from nearby Windsor. Weeks prior, an agreement was made by management to allow the NWA World Heavyweight Title to be defended at a show under the “Border City Wrestling” promotion, with Raven defending against former champion Jeff Jarrett.

What we know is this – during the event, Jarrett and AMW held a closed door meeting prior to the main event title match. The plan, possibly weeks in the making, was revealed to AMW in every detail – from Team Canada Coach Scott D’Amore setting up the show and title match under the TNA radar in Canada to AMW’s involvement that night. In a decision that forever changed their careers, and the future of TNA, they shook hands with Jarrett and left the room.

The entire wrestling world saw the results – Raven was screwed out of the NWA World Heavyweight Title when AMW aligned themselves with Jarrett in a shot heard ‘round the wrestling world. For the promise of money and power, Harris and Storm traded in their hard work and dedication. In order to protect their dynasty, AMW turned their backs on the fans.

Things couldn’t have worked out any better for Jarrett – after all, he was once again the NWA World Heavyweight Champion, he had the best tag team in wrestling watching his back, and TNA was theirs for the taking with the debut of “iMPACT!” on SpikeTV. Certainly, Harris and Storm got a nice bonus from the champion for their actions, which probably paid for Harris’ new $3000 designer suit and Storm’s new $2000 Resistol cowboy hats (one for his new dog as well), which they proudly wore on the first “iMPACT!” standing proudly next to Jarrett.

Step one of the plan had succeeded and this was probably just the beginning. They planned to formally announce their TNA takeover on the first SpikeTV show, but their night of celebration was rudely interrupted by Team 3D and Kevin Nash. The war was on, but Jarrett and AMW had already made the first critical move – getting the World Title back on Jarrett.

What is so scary about the newfound alliance of Jarrett and America’s Most Wanted is that like the other groups that dominated their day, they are the “best of the best” in TNA – the true cornerstones. Jarrett rules the singles ranks, while AMW owns the tag teams.

Despite the arrival of Team 3D and the return of Nash, Jarrett and AMW are surely carefully planning their next step. Without a doubt, the NWA World Tag Team Titles are still on AMW’s minds, and getting them would only add to the group’s power over TNA management. Will the championship committee attempt to do everything in their power to counter Jarrett and AMW with Team 3D and Nash, or will Jarrett’s political savvy have them in full control before long?

The next few weeks will begin to tell just how dominating the alliance of Jarrett and AMW can become in the wrestling world. If AMW can cut Team 3D off at the pass and Jarrett can topple Nash at “Bound For Glory”, the road is wide open for them to call all the shots. Don’t think the rest of the roster isn’t taking notice of Jarrett and AMW’s power grab in recent weeks. Surely, someone has to be tempted to offer their services as part of the group. Would Jarrett and AMW add another? Might Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe or one of the other dominant X Division stars be thinking about their future in a different way? What if Jarrett and AMW unleash an all-out assault on The Naturals for the tag team gold? The possibilities of what Jarrett and AMW could do are limitless.

However, with more money and power, there could be a price to pay. If they keep their focus on collective domination, they’ll rule TNA for years to come. If jealousy and greed begin to tear them apart, their mission will have failed. Time will tell which road Jarrett and AMW will ultimately take.

Regardless of the future of the alliance, one thing is for certain – the fans still want to know why. They want to truly understand the mindset of Chris and James when they shook hands with Jarrett. They want to hear the whole ugly truth from AMW’s mouths, no matter how selfish, sickening and greedy it all sounds. AMW deserve everything they hear and more from the masses who once cheered them. The fans deserve nothing less than the opportunity to blast them for what they did.

The sad fact is, when that day comes for the fans to pass their judgment, America’s Most Wanted will probably care less. In the end, they gave it all up for what mattered most to them – the money, the power, and the chance of ruling TNA with Jeff Jarrett with an iron fist.


excerpts from The Bank Shot on TNAWrestling.com