[2004-03-17-NWA TNA] Jeff Jarrett vs Chris Harris

[El-P]

Jeff Jarrett vs Chris Harris (TNA 03/17/04)

 

They did a good job building Chris Harris as a single contender, and the crowd eats it up. First part of the match was exactly what Id like to see from Jarrett, solid veteran work (although with soft execution), playing the fact Harris studied Jarrett's work and that he isn't supposed to be ready. Some nice stuff from Jarrett, but there's something that bugs me about his work at this point : he doesn't react much to what happens, as in he doesn't show much ass. He doesn't beg, he doesn't show fear or much frustration. Basically, he works like a kick-ass heels like insecure HHH does, and it hurts his matches. One specific instance, after working a nice count-ount spot with Harris getting back in at the very last moment, Jarrett basically doesn't express much of anything where a Shane Douglas for instance would have acted like he won the match then played shock and disbelief at the fact Harris was in the ring, arguing with the ref and shit. Jeff just turned around and got on with the next move. The match turned into a Double J Special, with ref bumps galore and run-ins, which at this point gets legit funny to watch because it shows how much a carny Jarrett is. This time around, he kicks out of the two big Harris finishers clean, while Harris gets a delay (cause ref bump) before he can kick out of the Stroke (which looked awful again). Then it ends with the requisite death guitar shot. Still, an enjoyable, solid main event all around, much better than the bad overbooked brawling stuff Jarrett did with Styles at the end of 2003. Harris looked pretty good except basically not selling after a figure four, but it's obvious Jarrett was leading him. I'd like more of this kind of match from Jarrett, with more bitching and a better execution.