On the 2025 finale of the “My World” podcast, Jeff Jarrett and Conrad Thompson took a critical look at WWE‘s recent direction, emphasizing that corporate priorities are now outweighing the interests of wrestling fans. The discussion highlighted the Jeff Jarrett WWE criticism, especially focusing on high-profile celebrity involvement and Wall Street’s influence on WWE’s decisions throughout the year.
Celebrity Influence Overshadows the Wrestling
Conrad Thompson identified the participation of Travis Scott as the lowest point in WWE’s 2025, calling it a clear misstep. He argued that incorporating Scott into major spots such as John Cena’s retirement and the WrestleMania main event felt like a move that would age poorly in WWE’s history. According to Thompson, this celebrity-driven approach was, in his view, short-sighted and detrimental to the legacy of these key wrestling events.
“The ugly for me this year was Travis Scott’s involvement,”
Thompson remarked.
“His involvement in the John Cena retirement tour, his involvement in the WrestleMania main event… I have to be honest, when people talk about that WrestleMania main event, years from now, it will not be remembered fondly. This is not something that will get better with age. And I don’t know, it just felt short-sighted.”
– Conrad Thompson, podcaster
Jarrett contributed background details about rumors surrounding Scott’s reluctance to get physically involved in WWE matches. Thompson brought up Logan Paul’s comments, pointing out that Scott reportedly did not fully commit to his role, and WWE’s prioritization of celebrities went largely unreciprocated in enthusiasm.
“Hasn’t it come out recently? Did Cena say this that essentially, Travis Scott’s like, ‘Hey, that shit is too real for me. I ain’t taking that bomb, so I’m gonna make my millions over here’?”
– Conrad Thompson, podcaster
“Logan Paul said on his podcast, Impaulsive, that he just no-showed… Apparently WWE certainly made him a priority, inserting him into the main event of WrestleMania, and it doesn’t feel like those feelings were reciprocated.”
– Conrad Thompson, podcaster
Corporate Decision-Making Shapes WWE’s Direction
The discussion shifted to the wider issue of business priorities influencing WWE’s creative choices, especially with The Rock’s prominent return to the spotlight. Thompson described the process as driven more by executive interests, naming Ari Emanuel’s outreach as evidence that corporate leaders are behind these headline moves—comparing it unfavorably to late-era WCW, known for its business-first mentality.
“The story of how The Rock got involved… Rock says, ‘Hey, I got a call for [Ari Emanuel], saying, hey, we need, we need some Rock dust. Can you come sprinkle it on us at Elimination Chamber?’… It feels like a business person making a wrestling call, which sounds a little WCW 1998 to me.”
– Conrad Thompson, podcaster
Jarrett echoed Thompson’s concerns, stating bluntly that WWE’s top priority now appears to be satisfying Wall Street over maintaining its connection with wrestling’s core audience.
“The leader in the marketplace, the company that’s been around forever… they have fundamentally shifted their decision-making process, and then they answer to Wall Street, as opposed to wrestling fans,”
Jarrett said.
“I think that is the biggest ‘bad’ out of 2025 because it’s very clear that’s the decision now.”
– Jeff Jarrett, WWE Hall of Famer
He raised the possibility of long-term drawbacks, suggesting that WWE’s alignment with TKO Group Holdings, and the resulting focus on shareholders, risks diminishing the show’s appeal for its traditional audience.
“I think the residual of Ari and team answering to Wall Street, as opposed to the, you know, really listening to their audience, it’s going to be interesting. It really is going to be interesting, because we’re in the entertainment business. They’re in the entertainment business.”
– Jeff Jarrett, WWE Hall of Famer
Comparisons from Pop Culture Highlight the Shift
To clarify his argument, Jarrett invoked the music industry, noting how decisions once made for fans’ enjoyment have shifted towards maximizing profitability. He reflected that profit-driven choices might run counter to long-term audience engagement, drawing a parallel between wrestling and other entertainment businesses.
“[Toby Keith] didn’t used to write songs to figure out what radio wanted played,”
Jarrett explained.
“He figured out, ‘I’m going to write what’s going to make the most money.’ And there’s just a difference in what makes money is writing for your fans.”
– Jeff Jarrett, WWE Hall of Famer
Future Implications for WWE’s Identity
The intense, passionate discussion on the podcast pointed to 2025 as a pivotal year for WWE. Jarrett and Thompson’s conversation underscored a divide between longstanding wrestling traditions and the growing influence of high-profile business executives like Ari Emanuel. With TKO Group Holdings at the helm, and a shift in creative priorities, fans and insiders alike will be watching closely to see if WWE can reconcile corporate objectives with the loyal audience that built its legacy.
As the year moves forward, the Jeff Jarrett WWE criticism raises important questions about how much longer the company can successfully balance Wall Street demands with the expectations of wrestling enthusiasts around the world.
