James Edward Barnett (June 9, 1924 – September 18, 2004) was an American professional wrestling promoter and executive.

[4][10] WCW's shows were broadcast in Australia on Nine Network on Saturdays and Sundays; the program later also began airing in New Zealand and southeast Asia.

[3][4] Barnett used the growth of local Atlanta station Channel 17 into the national cable network TBS to promote Georgia Championship Wrestling.

[4] Tommy Rich's less-than-a-week NWA World Heavyweight Championship reign in 1981 was one of Barnett's attempts to boost Georgia gates and secure his primacy within the promotion.

While with the WWF, he negotiated the sale of the time slot on TBS to Jim Crockett Promotions, as well as contributing to the first three WrestleMania events.

[3] The promotion was subsequently renamed World Championship Wrestling (WCW) after its Saturday anchor show at Barnett's suggestion.

[1] He supported various politicians, including mayor of Atlanta Maynard Jackson, Representative Wyche Fowler, and governor of Georgia George Busbee.

In January 1980, he was successfully nominated by Carter to be a member of the National Council on the Arts for a term expiring on September 3, 1980.

[4] After being dismissed from the World Wrestling Federation in 1987, Barnett reportedly attempted to commit suicide via an overdose of sleeping pills.

[4][13] World Wrestling Federation chairman Vincent J. McMahon described Barnett in 1980 as "an outstanding promoter – probably the best in the country.

[13] Journalist Dave Meltzer described Barnett, alongside Eddie Graham, Sam Muchnick, and Vincent J. McMahon, as "the probably most influential men on the promotional end of the industry during the 60s and '70s".

[3] Writing in 2023, journalist Abraham Josephine Riesman described Barnett as "a colorful, beloved personality, a friend of celebrities, and a pathbreaker for gay men in the athletics industry".