Marty Jones turned down Vince McMahon Sr’s offer of a WWE contract.
In 1978, the legendary British wrestler embarked on a tour of Japan. He wrestled with, and against, a number of legends, including Andre The Giant, Antonio Inoki and Riki Chosu. He also wrestled Tatsumi Fujinami 20 to 25-times, in a dream match many fans never knew existed.
The tour was organised by former WWE (then called the WWWF) boss Vince McMahon Sr (Vince McMahon’s father). After his work trip to Japan, the elder McMahon was so impressed that he offered Marty Jones a chance to wrestle in the United States.
Marty Jones revealed this in an interview with Wrestling with Johners podcast. He said that he was asked to go to America by Vince McMahon Sr, but turned it down because American wrestling was “not my thing”.
“The biggest regret of my life because I actually thought all that American wrestling was… well, crap. Yeah, in those days, there weren’t many Brits. When Tony Charles went over there—a fantastic wrestler—due to allies, all those people were just starting to get into America.
“The boss of the American team was Vince McMahon’s father, Vince McMahon Sr. At the end of the matches, he asked me if I wanted to go to America, and I went, ‘Nah, it’s not my thing.'”
Marty Jones Was Offered £500 Per Week To Wrestle For The WWE
The host asked Marty Jones if turning down the chance to wrestle in the US was one of his big regrets. The Englishman claimed it was one of his biggest regrets, and named some modern-day superstars he wishes he could have wrestled.
Marty Jones revealed he was offered £500 per week to wrestle for the WWE.
Yeah, of course. Horses for courses, you know what I mean? Obviously, because I would’ve been one of the youngest to go, and there weren’t many Brits that had been there. I mean, I’d love to be there now with people like… I mean, I’m old-fashioned. I just like wrestling, but you know, Cesaro, Dean Malenko, you know? The Miz! Those types of people. Everybody loves working with them because you can work 100%, and that was my style.
Yeah, it was a regret. He offered me something like $500. I don’t think $500 seemed right to me. A contract for $500. 500 quid now… America’s fun. It’s like $500 a week, but it’s just one of those things, you know?”
To put his blunder into perspective, that would be worth $2244 in 2024 money. That is nearly £1800 per week’s worth today, which is big money for anybody, let alone a professional wrestler in those days.
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