20 Most Epic Wrestling Matches That Weren't Supposed To Be Epic
17. Jeff Jarrett vs. X-Pac (Summerslam 1998)
The Attitude Era featured a weekly competition, often from the top of the card to the bottom, for the best match and most entertaining character. X-Pac and Jeff Jarrett were two of the best mid-card wrestlers in WWE in 1998, a fact that was arguably best showcased by their matches against each other. Pac had a fantastic year when he returned from the New World Order to join Degeneration X. While he was pushing the envelope, Jarrett was keeping it old school in more of a throwback role that would have made the New Generation proud. When Pac and Jarrett collided, it was as if two eras were, too. Hair vs. Hair added an element of importance to their Summerslam 98 match and they were given ample opportunity to seize the day and steal the show. They had a great match, challenging the bigger stars such as Austin, Taker, Rock, and Triple H to keep pace. It was on that night that Jarrett lost his signature 90s locks and entered the next phase of his career with the close-cropped cut that he maintained through his WCW and most of his TNA tenure. Excellently paced and psychologically sound, Jarrett vs. X-Pac was one of Attitudes finest examples of mid-card wrestling.
"The Doc" Chad Matthews has written wrestling columns for over a decade. A physician by trade, Matthews began writing about wrestling as a hobby, but it became a passion. After 30 years as a wrestling fan, "The Doc" gives an unmatched analytical perspective on pro wrestling in the modern era. He is a long-time columnist for Lordsofpain.net and hosts a weekly podcast on the LOP Radio Network called "The Doc Says." His first book - The WrestleMania Era: The Book of Sports Entertainment - ranks the Top 90 wrestlers from 1983 to present day, was originally published in December 2013, and is now in its third edition.
Matthews lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.
