In a fascinating interview, wrestling legend Jeff Jarrett—a man who’s been in the ring with the best of the best—crosses the streams of sports and sports entertainment, comparing NBA icons to the giants of the WWE. From identifying the wrestling equivalents of Stephen Curry and LeBron James to praising the unparalleled athleticism of Charlotte Flair, Jarrett provides a unique perspective on the biggest names in both worlds.
The “Human Cheat Code” and the “Hitman”
When discussing Stephen Curry, Jarrett speaks with warmth about the basketball star’s complete package. “With the personality and the mouthpiece and again, his parents are at the game and being a part of it, the basketball family… I just think that the story is really cool,” he said.
Trying to find Curry’s equivalent in the WWE landscape, Jarrett surprisingly landed on Bret “The Hitman” Hart.
“Bret Hart is a guy that you really wouldn’t say that you saw Bret Hart in 1985-1987… you wouldn’t say, ‘Oh. He’s going to be a really big player in the late 90’s,'” Jarrett explained. He believes both men succeeded through sheer dedication to their craft. “Bret was born into a wrestling family and Steph was born into a basketball family. So everything that goes with that, but both men learned their trade and their craft and really worked hard.”
Jarrett specifically pointed to Hart’s iconic match against “Stone Cold” Steve Austin at Madison Square Garden as a moment that solidified Bret’s legacy—a defining moment comparable to Curry’s game-changing impact.
Charlotte Flair: The Superior Athlete
Diving into the evolution of women’s wrestling, Jarrett fast-forwarded from the Attitude Era careers of Chyna and Debrato the current generation, singling out Charlotte Flair for incredible praise.
“I believe Charlotte may be the very best athlete on the entire roster in the WWE—not just females, but I’m talking about males AND females,” Jarrett stated emphatically.
He was quick to elevate her physical gifts even above her legendary father’s. “What she does night in and night out… her old man Ric [Flair] might get mad when I say this; she is a far superior athlete to her father. I don’t think people realize how athletic she is.” For Jarrett, her talent is undeniable when you look at “what she can do night in and night out, bell to bell is pretty remarkable.”
The WWE’s Big Three: LeBron, Kobe and Jordan
Jarrett used the NBA’s modern titans to categorize the biggest stars in the WWE:
LeBron James → Brock Lesnar
For the equivalent of LeBron James—the dominant, physical force—Jarrett chose Brock Lesnar.
“It’s unbelievable what he did. He left our world and went to UFC and dominated and came back,” Jarrett said. He drew a parallel between the legend of a 12-year-old LeBron and Brock’s own background as an elite collegiate and high school athlete who broke into the wrestling main event scene in “record time” and has stayed on top ever since.
Kobe Bryant → John Cena
When discussing Kobe Bryant and his famous “Mamba Mentality,” Jarrett immediately landed on John Cena.
“Cena has that killer instinct,” Jarrett asserts. He sees Cena as the man who was handed the torch and ran with it, saying, “Night in and night out with a really killer attitude… When you hear about that mentality; the Mamba Mentality… it’s Cena man.”
Michael Jordan → Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
The greatest transcendence from sports to pop culture belongs to Michael Jordan, and for Jarrett, his wrestling equivalent is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
“How can you deny Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson? The biggest box office attraction,” Jarrett asked rhetorically. Like Jordan, whose influence and earnings grew long after he retired, The Rock has become a global force. “Jordan transcended his game and The Rock certainly transcended,” Jarrett concluded. “We could be talking about President Johnson one day as opposed to ‘The Rock’.”
The Mystique of The Undertaker
Jarrett shared his deep appreciation for the career of Mark Calaway, known universally as The Undertaker, whose run lasted an almost “unfathomable” 30 years.
“I still like to call him ‘Undertaker’,” Jarrett admitted.
He finds it fascinating to see the human side of the man, and believes the persona and the person were one and the same. “You know that guy, that Undertaker guy? That really IS Mark Calaway or that Mark Calaway? He really IS the Undertaker.” Jarrett believes the Undertaker persona may be the “greatest, timeless persona ever in this industry” due to its mystique and seamless execution.
