Jeff Jarrett says a 1996 back injury made him realize his weight was putting him at risk.
On My World with Jeff Jarrett, Jarrett said he had been trying to get up to 240 pounds before he hurt his back in a WWF match in February 1996.
“This time frame was when I told myself no more because I had tried and tried and tried to get to 240. The highest I ever weighed on a scale was 238, and I was trying, just kind of the dumb mindset, but I was trying like crazy to get 240,” Jarrett said.
“Had this injury not happened, I don’t know that I would have ever looked at it and said, ‘Okay, I’m too heavy. I don’t care what it is. I will get hurt if I stay this heavy. Period.'”
Asked about his ideal weight, Jarrett said 220.
“Oh, I’m positive. I felt entirely different at 225 or 227, 228, losing 10 pounds. I could tell a difference in the ring.”
Jarrett said it was the first time he had been out of action for a long stretch.
“This is the first time in my career. I went through that car wreck in ’92. I think I missed one Monday, and that was from whiplash.”
Transcription by Global Force Entertainment.