10. The Jarretts
For much of the 1970s and 1980s, one of the most famous wrestling promoters in the country was Jerry Jarrett. Originally starting as a wrestler and tagging with such Memphis legends as Jackie Fargo and Tojo Yamamoto, Jarrett began to learn backstage aspects of the business. He became a very successful promoter, running shows throughout the southern states and becoming a staple of Tennessee wrestling. Jarrett would promote various companies like the Continental Wrestling Association, the USWA, WCCW, and, eventually, TNA. In fact, Jerry was such as respected booker and promoter that he was the man who was going to take over the WWF if Vince McMahon went to jail during his steroid trial in the mid-1990s. After the sale of WCW to the WWF, Jerry saw a need for a number two wrestling promotion and founded NWA: Total Nonstop Action with his son, Jeff. Jeff Jarrett has been a staple in the wrestling community for almost 30 years, debuting in his father's CWA promotion as a referee and winning the USWA Southern Heavyweight title 10 times. He moved to the WWF in 1993, beginning his gimmick as a country singer who wanted to use wrestling to sell his new (non-existent) album. After a brief run in WCW, Jarrett rejoined the WWF just in time for the Attitude Era where he switched to a more serious gimmick and became an effective heel Intercontinental champion. Jarrett did not leave the WWF on good terms, having a money dispute with Vince McMahon on his last day with a company and, as a result, he was fired for real on live television during the last WCW Nitro. In 2002, Jarrett would go on to form NWA: TNA with his father, capturing the NWA title six times during his run with the company and being a staple in the main event. TNA would survive for far longer than anyone expected, moving from the regional Fox sports channels to a national television deal with Spike TV. Jarrett would also help to establish the Ring Ka King wrestling company in India, an attempt by TNA to increase their global market. In late 2013, Jarrett resigned from the company he created and went on to form Global Force Wrestling, promising a new and exciting wrestling product for today's generation. He would also promote New Japan's Wrestle Kingdom pay-per-view, bringing Jim Ross out of retirement to do commentary for the event.