10 Classic Jeff Jarrett Matches You Need To See

Ain't He Great?!

Kurt Angle Jeff Jarrett
ImpactWrestling.com

An objectively good wrestler will make a Monday Night Raw in-ring return against all odds this week, but lukewarm takes on his in-ring skill probably won't enter the promotion of his battle with Elias

Like Jim Cornette, Alundra Blayze, Ultimate Warrior and other former pariahs that unexpectedly spoke on WWE's Hall Of Fame stage in recent years, Jeff's mere presence on the card will be the ultimate pre-show talking point. In 2018, 'Double J' went into the Hall primarily to sell tickets to curious punters keen to have a live experience of the latest unlikely WWE return. After breaking those million guitars, he finally drew a dime. Post-SuperBowl, can his match against a fellow guitar-swinger draw a rating?

An underrated performer on his day and one over-criticised for his faults, Jarrett's goalposts were admittedly always moved due to his familial and political links, but the art of the art-form was in more than just his genetics and silver tongue. A deserving Intercontinental Champion, and a safe - if unremarkable - slot-filler in main events, Jeff could go even when the aforementioned advantages meant he didn't really have to.

10. Vs AJ Styles (TNA Hard Justice 2005)

Kurt Angle Jeff Jarrett
ImpactWrestling.com

Jeff Jarrett's oft-criticised reign of terror in TNA during the mid-2000s was typically as much to do with what was happening on the other side. Whilst 'The Game' held Raw's World Title hostage in WWE, 'Triple J' appeared to be doing much the same in his own outfit.

Time has been kinder to his tenures though, with his efforts to keep the NWA Heavyweight Championship rooted in stability and security for the good of the TNA brand rather than his own fragile ego. Furthermore, when he did deign a colleague worthy of going over for all the marbles, he'd usually pick a performer that wouldn't fall on their a*se.

Such was the case in 2005 when AJ Styles heroically dethroned the 'King Of The Mountain' at the company's Hard Justice pay-per-view.

With referee Tito Ortiz looking on and bringing a slither of mainstream attention with him, Jarrett entered in a star-making display for the man perhaps most intrinsically linked to the troubled brand he'd fought to keep alive. It spoke to the rash judgement of the company that the 'Phenomenal One' was already a Triple Crown winner before it was even a year old, but he was an exponentially better performer in the two years since. Their main event relied less on the psychology-free razzle dazzle of the X Division, rounding AJ's edges as he grew into a shared topline role.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 30 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz", Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 50,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett