Hollywood actor David Arquette briefly appeared in WCW and surprisingly won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. During this storyline, Jeff Jarrett competed against Diamond Dallas Page (DDP) and Arquette in two notable steel cage handicap matches. Jarrett reflected on the matches, explaining that they were tied to the movie “Ready to Rumble,” which was a significant corporate event with its premiere in Hollywood, involving key figures like Eric Bischoff. He described the matches as layered and conceptualized around the “Ready to Rumble” theme.
Jarrett further explained that Arquette’s title win was designed to give context and justification for the unusual match setup. He emphasized that gimmick matches need a solid storyline to make sense, and the decision to put the title on Arquette was part of that effort. Both he and Dallas had good chemistry during the pay-per-view, even though they were mindful of the risks, especially with an actor involved in such a physically demanding match. Jarrett revealed he was cautious and serious about the match, partly due to the recent loss of Owen Hart, and praised everyone involved, especially himself and DDP, for successfully pulling it off without disaster.
Fan Take: This look back by Jeff Jarrett is important for AEW fans as it highlights the challenges and storytelling complexities behind unconventional matches, showing how creativity and caution have always been key in blending entertainment with wrestling. Understanding these stories helps fans appreciate the evolution of wrestling narratives and the risks wrestlers take to entertain and innovate in the sport.