Ranking Every Major Monday Night Wars Jump From WORST To BEST
11. Jeff Jarrett
A two-parter with the same finale, Jeff Jarrett jumped twice under the belief that his new home represented a chance of upward mobility.
He was right and wrong: the WWF was free of Hulk Hogan’s creative control, but he flourished only as a very entertaining midcard act. He thought more of himself, and so left his second red-hot promotion (!) under the ambitious idea of elevating WCW as a main event talent.
On the October 20, 1997 RAW, Jeff Jarrett went the shoot route by accusing Eric Bischoff of nepotism—with significantly less of the fury and comedy—but far more racism!—Steve Austin had unleashed two years prior in ECW. Jarrett made sure to bury Austin, incidentally, which ultimately scuppered a pitched main event programme.
And so it was off to WCW, in which the Chosen One chose the worst possible time to debut. On the October 18, 1999 Nitro, he smashed Buff Bagwell with his guitar seconds after the ‘Stuff’ “went along” apathetically with the “script”. Vince Russo had unspooled the guts of pro wrestling, leading to drastically unpopular confusion—and Jarrett slipped on them.
Remove the delusions of grandeur, and Jarrett was great—but he ain’t no headliner.