WWE: The 10 Craziest Jim Ross Reactions To Amazing Spectacles

7. Is This The Invasion We'd Hoped For?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BScTM3IqbEk On paper, it was an event for the ages. The New World Order (Hogan, Hall, and Nash) were clashing with none other than The Rock and Steve Austin (in two separate WrestleMania 18 matches). Talk about legends colliding, the old guard and the new. Scott Hall brings Kevin Nash out with him, for his singles match against Steve Austin. JR complains that Nash is an unfair advantage, and Lawler complains when Austin attacks Hall as soon as the bell rings. JR retorts, "What do you want him to do? Stand around and wait to get beat up?" It's a different brand of wit from Ross, as only he can make a line like that funny. He plays the long-suffering sage to Lawler's King Of The Obvious here. Jerry comments that Vince McMahon is on his way to having a great night, if the nWo has a good showing. "God, that's was I was hoping for when I woke up this morning, that Mr. McMahon would have such a happy day!" The fake longing and glee in JR's voice makes this line hilarious. Things go south for his boy Austin when Nash intervenes, and takes out the ref. This gets good ol' JR's blood boiling, "This is some serious, serious carnage... a handicap match for all intents and purposes." A gaggle of refs come and escort Nash backstage, so the match can continue. Hall sneaks in a Stunner on Stone Cold, but Austin kicks out on one of the legit closest 2 counts ever. He administers several Stunners of his own, the final one resulting in an unforgettable bump by Scott Hall. He gets a three count, and celebrates with some Canadian beer in the Toronto Skydome. "Go ahead, you can say it, it was a slobberknocker" laments Jerry Lawler. "It damn sure was a slobberknocker", confirms JR. I included this moment because if you watch the match on mute, it doesn't come off as that big a deal. You expect Nash to interfere and you expect Austin to prevail. It's actually a much shorter match than it's made out to be as well. But here's the thing: Jim Ross can make a big deal out of something so that you buy it, even if your better instincts might tell you to do otherwise. You don't feel like you're being fed scripted lines or gross exaggerations. On paper, this was supposed to be a super-compelling story. And Jim Ross made it that way.