[2003-11-05-NWA TNA] Jeff Jarrett vs Sting

[TonyPulis'Cap]

This is part of the aborted Jarrett vs. Hulk Hogan feud that TNA began with the aim of it headlining their first attempt at a 3 hour Sunday PPV (what was meant to be the first Bound for Glory). That match never happens, although the company do get full value form endlessly replaying the clip of Jarrett hitting Hogan with a guitar at the Tokyo Dome. This is essentially the payoff with Sting parachuted in.

At this stage Sting had done one tag match for TNA and little in wrestling other than handful of matches for touring company the WWA since the end of WCW, so that at least brings some interest. Early on there is lots of stooging and stalling from Jarrett as was his way at this point. Sting has good fire and still looks good physically, but the match just has no substance to it whatsoever. It feels very late era WCW, with weak crowd brawling and run ins to compensate for a lack of action. Jarrett gets a sleeper as his only real offence – it’s like why his Chosen One character could never get over as main eventer in WCW, he just gets beat up for most of his matches and has such weak offence.

There are tons of run ins here, including from Don Callis as a TNA Management Consultant, Jimmy Hart – who had basically been Hogan’s proxy in the storyline when they thought the match would happen – red shirt security, AJ Styles, Raven, Abyss and the match completely falls apart under all that strain to end in a rubbish DQ, given they clearly didn’t want Sting to lose, nor did they want to change the title. There is a big pop for the brawl after the bell and Sting stopping a guitar shot with his baseball bat, but other than that this is pretty useless. (* ½)