[1995-05-29-WWF-Monday Night RAW] Jeff Jarrett vs Undertaker

[Superstar Sleeze]

WWF Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett vs Undertaker - WWF RAW 5/29/95 KOTR Qualifying Non-Title

A rare, marquee, competitive Undertaker on RAW against an opponent who is not someone you think of as a Taker opponent, the current IC Champion Jeff Jarrett. I have said it before I think Jarrett was the first of many over-pushes, start-stop pushes of Vince. From Tito through Razor, the IC title was either for someone on the come-up or a really over upper mid card act. I guess Bulldog and Marty were kinda flukey champs but they were transitional. Jarrett was the champion for the entire first half of 95. I like Jarrett and he was saddled with a terrible gimmick and even worse slate of challengers but he definitely was not ready.

As for Taker, he was in Million Dollar Corporation Hell. Kama has stolen the Urn and melted it down into a chain which is kinda cool honestly. It wasn’t pushed too hard on commentary but the only way to kinda explain this match is Taker’s powers have been diminished because the Urn has been taken because Jarrett gets way more offense than I expected.

I have really grown to appreciate Taker’s approach to these matches where he is a monster baby face against a smaller, cheating heel but that was NOT on display here. They played the match pretty straight and Taker was bumping & selling for drop kicks like he was Bob Holly which takes away from the mystique and the uniqueness of the match. It was a good match but it was not true to the Undertaker character. It is a shame. 

Jarrett tries to play cat & mouse but after a couple punches he tries an Irish whip bad idea. Taker takes a handful of Jarrett glorious golden locks and snaps him down. Taker looking strong early with usual Taker goodness. Roadie gets involved and Jarrett surprisingly clotheslines Taker over the top but that it is just to set up the cool spot of Taker landing on his feet and gozzling Roadie. Jarrett attacks from behind and slams Taker’s head into the steps. I wanted one more big kill shot before we go into Jarrett hitting drop kicks that fell the Almighty Undertaker. Jarrett’s heat segment is very alright at least he doesn’t chin lock. He actually works the leg and uses the Figure-4. Roadie gets thrown out; Bearer takes off his jacket and is ready to fight him…a little Percy Pringle coming out there. Jarrett gets a Lawler fist drop as the big climax. Then it is Zombie Sit-up! Big pop! Taker just nails that spot so well. The two Chokeslams and the Tombstone. Taker really nails his gimmick. He is so good at this. 
 

Like I said it is a mechanically good match and I really enjoyed Taker’s finish run but they played it so boring. There was no interesting wrinkles. It just wasn’t true to Taker’s character. *** 1/4