10 Classic Jeff Jarrett Matches You Need To See
5. Vs Raven (TNA Weekly Pay-Per-View, April 30th 2003)
Considered by many to be the first blockbuster main event in TNA's history, this ugly brawl was the well-built highlight of April 30th's weekly pay-per-view show.
Jarrett was admittedly miscast as a gutsy babyface at the time, though Raven's stellar work as a unforgiving pr*ck helped the pair get away with a choice of-its-time hardcore war for the NWA Heavyweight Title.
Raven had referred to the title as his 'destiny' since shockingly arriving from WWE earlier that year, with Jeff considered the gatekeeper of the belt and company against the misanthrope and his gang of ex-ECW acolytes.
The blurred babyface and heel divides aided the drama, organically establishing WWE's much sought-after 'big fight feel' in the relatively tiny TNA Asylum as Raven the invader represented a pleasant change of pace for those becoming gradually sick of Jarrett's 'Hogan+Austin' superstar act.
The complaints of Jarrett's unconvincing dominance were growing louder from this point - 'Double J' sustained an ungodly amount of punishment from Raven's crew before Sabu appeared to make an unlikely save, but he was at least able to parlay the increasing distaste into a run as a better-suited megalomaniac heel.