https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r0Je11fzZY
All these guys are picked now so I can share this, a match I was thinking about for a few days. Despite what the booking is, and the convoluted rules, I remember watching this at the time and feeling that this was what a PPV main event was supposed to feel like. It seemed like their title actually mattered, and even though they fucked up like always by having Jarrett win, this match shows me exactly what's wrong with WWE. WWE always does shit to make these kinds of matches feel like they don't matter at all, and because of that they now have the TNA 2010 level ratings they richly deserve.
Jarrett was a great heel, and TNA chose to build their company in a way that was completely different than how most other wrestling companies have been built. WWE has always decided to build their company around having the top babyface demolish all challengers, only to later job them out in the worst way possible and effectively bury those babyfaces in the eyes of all the fans. Sometimes they keep pushing them and doing this over and over again for years. With TNA making matches like these, they had a lot of guys who should, or were, or did become stars, in this match here with Jarrett. TNA was also smart in establishing a clear second group of X Division and tag team guys who also busted their ass in an attempt to finally get those WWE paychecks. AEW decided to do this with Jericho, but the key difference is that they didn't stick them all in one match. In putting all these TNA guys in this match, and by consistently doing this, it was a showcase for them that usually allowed those guys to get paid a hell of a lot more money either by TNA or WWE. Jarrett and TNA both were also really good in making fans feel like the results of title matches were truly unpredictable and that anyone could win. I'm not going to give Vince Russo any credit for that, because ultimately that responsibility lies with the performers and those who announce the matches. If only Vinnie Mac knew that.
These days it is clear to me that Jarrett's reign as the top heel was ultimately a success. While he was a good worker, and definitely better than a lot of other guys who have been top heels in other companies, I would not argue that I really enjoyed this run. Maybe I would if I watched it all again, I must repeat that I really hated it at the time. But, his reign as a top heel led to a money mark pouring hundreds of millions into a company and luring in people that were so incompetent they made Jarrett's run on top look much better. Jarrett also now has his WWE job back as a result of all this, so they recognize his success the same way everyone should.
Perhaps most importantly is that WWE was going to give basically everyone who got over in TNA either pushes on Sunday Night Heat or $500 a week to be job boys in OVW. Guys who left WWE would have had absolutely nowhere to go without TNA, and WWE did take a lot of guys away from TNA and give them a good payday. This could only have happened if TNA had existed in the first place to showcase their talent. To me this solidifies Jarrett's status as one of the most important figures in wrestling since the turn of the century. I'm not trolling either. That company still exists because it was willed into existence.
I totally get why nobody picked him before now, but I think he's better than Randy Orton for example. Guy who cared a lot and gave everything in the ring vs. guy who never gave a shit about any program ever