To this day, if you ask me, I say Jeff Jarrett is one of the 10 most underrated WWE superstars of all time. I’ve always admired the way he’s been able to adapt to the times. But, when wrestling fans hear “Double J,” they often think of the ‘don’t piss me off’ era Jarrett, the WCW ‘slap nuts’ Jarrett, or even the legend figure he played in TNA. But, not I! Not I, in the least bit, folks.
I always go back to the mid 1990s iteration of Double J, the country music singing, arrogant, “ain’t I great?” Double J. In case you needed a reminder of just what a ridiculous character this was, allow me to share this clip that scrolled across the SoBros Network Instagram feed:
Just being a pompous, obnoxious ass. I love it – he’s so good at this. I like to think 1990s Jeff Jarrett actually walked around in everyday life wearing that Double J suit and the light-up Double J cowboy hat. But, even at a young age (I’m 31 now – so I was eight or nine years old during this era of Jarrett’s career), I can distinctly remember thinking, “wow – this guy’s getting some nuclear heat.”
In hindsight, that entrance music is so annoyingly Nashville that it hurts. But, back then, I didn’t appreciate it the way I do today. The best part of the whole ‘country western star’ gimmick was that he wasn’t even the one singing the songs. Remember the whole angle where The Roadie turned out to be the one laying vocals?!?! All it did was further cement Jarrett as a slimy weasel of a heel.
And, yes – I still know all the words to “Alone With My Baby Tonight.”
I loved the gimmick. Every bit of it. Everything about mid-1990s Jeff Jarrett was what a true heel was supposed to be. But, Double J backed up the bravado in the ring. Some of those matches against Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon are among the finest in the long legacy of the Intercontinental Title. Still, he doesn’t seem to get the credit he deserves for this run. But, hey – that’s what we’re here for. This little rogue media company based out of Nashville. We don’t have much of a voice, but brother, you better believe we’re going to do what we can to sing praises of those we feel deserve it.
And, I know I’m asking a lot here – but the dude’s a deserving Hall of Famer, right!?! Double J is one of the greatest Intercontinental Champions of all time. As a kid, I watched him and Michaels tear the house down at an In Your House event in the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville. The guy adapted and evolved like few in the industry have been able to. But, what’s more impressive is that he actually thrived in each evolution of his character – he’s a bona fide legend.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. A strong advocate of GSD (get shit done) and #BeBetter, he’s down to talk Tennessee Titans and Alabama Crimson Tide football over a beer any day. Check him out covering the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley, @WrestlingNewsCo
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