When names like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, Junkyard Dog, Fabulous Freebirds, Von Erich Dynasty, and Jerry “The King” Lawler are mentioned, many instantly think of beloved Southern wrestling legends who worked under former WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon. Some fans believe that McMahon showed favoritism toward wrestlers from the North, treating Southern stars unfairly. However, Jeff “Double J” Jarrett strongly disagrees with this notion.
On the “My World” podcast, the six-time WWE Intercontinental Champion shared, “If you were from the South, I personally don’t think Vince would give you two strikes…I never saw Vince as having that kind of bigotry. I never did.” Jarrett also pointed out that Vince, while based in Tampa, was far from a Southern snob, highlighting that Hulk Hogan—the biggest box office star McMahon ever had—definitely wasn’t from New York City, yet was embraced wholeheartedly.
Many of the Southern wrestlers listed became key figures in WWE history, winning some of the company’s most prestigious titles. Despite McMahon’s well-known flaws that eventually led to the end of his career, he always recognized and nurtured talent irrespective of their origin, elevating wrestlers with that undeniable “it” factor to legendary status.
If quoting from this article, please credit “My World with Jeff Jarrett” and Wrestling Inc., which provided the transcription.
Fan Take: This clarification by Jeff Jarrett challenges the long-standing myth of Vince McMahon’s regional bias, emphasizing that talent and charisma were the true currencies in WWE’s rise. For fans, it reinforces the idea that great wrestling transcends geography, and the sport’s history is rooted in diverse, dynamic performers coming from all corners of the country.
