[1994-12-05-WWF-Monday Night RAW] Jeff Jarrett vs British Bulldog

[Superstar Sleeze]

Jeff Jarrett vs British Bulldog - WWF RAW 12/5/94

I have a soft spot for both these guys because I started watching in the Summer of 1997. Both always come off uneven to me unless they are in the ring against Bret or Shawn. I earmarked this as something I was interested to see how it unfolded. It was very much a Jarrett match. It was very uneven. The shine was terrific and easily the best part of the match. The heat segment left something to be desired. I feel like all the criticisms laid at Shawn Michaels should be weighted tenfold against Jarrett. He really has no offense and the WWF house style does him no favors so you get a lot of chin locks. I would say the match is more hit than miss but disappointing.

Like I said loved the shine. Jarrett is celebrating the smallest arm drags and takedowns with the Fargo Strut and Reclining On The Top Rope. He goes to hip toss Bulldog, nothing doing, tries again, nah nah, and now Bulldog sends Jarrett flying. We get the worst looking strut from the Bulldog but it is endearing. Bulldog mows him down with a shoulder tackle. Great bump. Headlock - Headscissors Bulldog is rolling. Bulldog delayed Vertical. I thought was watching the second best Jarrett in WWF match. Jarrett clocks Bulldog with a right when Bulldog goes up top. Here comes the chin locks. Shawn Michaels is on commentary makes some good Bulldog napping jokes in reference to how long Bulldog was out during Survivor Series. Jarrett does a couple moves off the top neither is graceful. We trade a couple high spots with Jarrett getting a Bulldog on the Bulldog and the irony was not lost on Vince and Shawn. Bulldog gets a Fisherman Suplex which Shawn says no one ever wins with that move. Quite the swipe at Curt Hennig, wonder what that was about. Jarrett gets the best right hand of the match. Jarrett clearly knows how to work a great shine but his next best move is hai punch but WWF doesn’t really work brawls except on special occasions and that hurt Jarrett. Again the chin lock it was at least 3 if not four. Bulldog begins his comeback inverted atomic drop always a Sleeze Pleezer and then back drop. Mows him down with three clotheslines. Jarrett bails but Bulldog Military Presses him in the aisle way and tosses him back in the ring. Very cool and impressive high spot. Wait what’s this someone is hanging onto Bulldog. Jarrett wins by countout. Shawn says Bulldog was caught sleeping again. lol. It is the Roadie! Except he has not been named yet. So in case anyone was wondering this is the debut of the Roadie.

Both these guys had quiet 1994s but were poised for new programs. Jarrett would have the best stretch of his first WWF run coming up now armed with Roadie he feels like an upper mid card act. He gets featured bouts against Bret Hart and a title shot against Diesel on RAW and wins the IC Title against Razor Ramon at Rumble which kinda feels like a mild upset in this context. Bulldog was about to have the opposite trajectory as he was destined for midcard hell to be partnered with Lex Luger against the Million Dollar Corporation. This December-February stretch is littered with Luger vs MDC, Bulldog vs MDC or them together vs MDC on RAW. It is something I’m going to skip. It looks like Luger vs IRS from later this month and Bulldog vs Tatanka the week after is how the Allied Powers were born. Anyways, the finish is lame but it gets the Roadie over and establishes him as Jarrett’s new buddy. Take out the Jarrett chin locks this is a really good match, with them it is just good. Elevated a little by how much I loved the shine. ***1/4