JEFF JARRETT VS. 1-2-3 KID

This is the final quarterfinal match this year, with the winner facing Owen Hart in the semi-finals. Jeff Jarrett enters first as Randy Savage, Gorilla Monsoon and Art Donovan welcome us back to ringside. 1-2-3 Kid enters, Donovan asks who he is, instead of what he weighs and says he looks more like a boxer. Savage just clears up that Kid is the lovable underdog.

JEFF JARRETT VS. 1-2-3 KID (King of the Ring quarter final)

WWF King of the Ring 1994 (19^th June 1994)

  Jeff Jarrett avoids some kicks early, getting the hell out of the ring. He trips 1-2-3 Kid, slamming his leg against the ring apron. He gets back in the ring, hitting a right hand and sending 1-2-3 Kid into the turnbuckles. Jarrett hits another right and audibly calls this a warm-up match. Kid's head is sent into the turnbuckle and Jarrett whips him across the ring, but 1-2-3 Kid catches himself and leapfrogs over Jarrett and rolls him up for a nearfall. Jeff Jarrett lays in the boots, stopping any of 1-2-3 Kid's momentum and sends him into the ropes. Jarrett knocks Kid over with a back elbow and takes some more vocal time. Jeff Jarrett sends 1-2-3 Kid off the ropes into a clothesline and Art Donovan says the clotheslines here are better than the NFL. Monsoon and Savage act like it's the biggest compliment the company can receive. Gorilla Monsoon calls Jarrett out for jaw-jacking and wasting time as he sends 1-2-3 Kid off the ropes.

His strategy costs him as 1-2-3 Kid holds on, leaving Jarrett to dropkick thin air. 1-2-3 Kid jumps up into an electric chair and rolls Jarrett up for another nearfall. Jeff Jarrett lays in a boot then stun guns Kid into a suplex. Jarrett hits the worst fist drop ever from the middle rope. Jarrett sends Kid off the ropes but he ducks a clothesline, 1-2-3 Kid hits a spinning back kick for a nearfall. This time he follows up with a slam and climbs to the top rope. Jeff Jarrett plays possum, avoiding Kid's somersault senton but gets his receipt as he tries to cannonball Kid into the middle rope, crotching himself. 1-2-3 Kid climbs to the top rope but is crotched before he can find his balance. He blocks the superplex and knocks Jarrett to the floor, hitting a flying crossbody as Jarrett gets to his feet for another nearfall. 1-2-3 Kid kicks at Jarrett in frustration, keeping him in the corner. Jeff Jarrett is sent across the ring. 1-2-3 Kid is tripped and his knee hits the top rope, giving Double J a target. Jeff Jarrett hits two elbow drops to Kid's knee and signals for the Figure Four but 1-2-3 Kid rolls him up for the win.

WINNER: 1-2-3 KID

I enjoyed this match a lot. Even at an early stage, The kid was used to test people coming into the company. Jeff Jarrett can have a workable match when he wants to and with the right opponent, they knew they didn't have much time and were able to get a lot into the match without it feeling too crowded. Jarrett having control of 99% of the match was a good call, giving him a chance to build sympathy for him, where 1-2-3 Kid had to make the most of the chances he got, only really doing so in the second half of the match.– WORKRATE: 3.5/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 3.5/5 OVERALL 7/10