November 15, 1998 – St. Louis, Missouri – Kiel Center
The air in the arena was different tonight. The roar of the crowd was louder, the stage lights brighter, the production crew sharper, and the wrestlers… more guarded. Pay-per-view nights weren't just shows — they were tests.
J.J. Styles stepped through the backstage entrance, duffel slung over his shoulder. As he walked the corridor, he caught glimpses of legends in their own rituals: The Rock in his locker room, sunglasses on, pacing like a caged animal; Mankind muttering to himself in a corner; Austin sitting on a bench, lacing his boots with a stone-faced glare.
This was their night. The WWF Championship tournament — the Deadly Game — was the story everyone was here for. J.J. wasn't in the bracket. He wasn't anywhere near it.
But he was on the card.
Backstage – Pre-Match
Tony Garea found him near catering.
"You're after the second tournament bout," Garea said. "You and Jarrett. Non-title. Eight to ten minutes, keep it tight. Debra's at ringside, so be ready for her tricks."
J.J. nodded. "Anything else?"
"Yeah," Garea smirked. "Don't try to out-strut Jarrett. It won't end well."
Gorilla Position
From gorilla, J.J. could see the monitor — Steve Austin was in the ring raising hell after his match, the crowd in St. Louis eating up every second. The second he hit the curtain, his music would be washed away by a live crowd already riding an adrenaline high.
JR (on commentary): "Ladies and gentlemen, coming up next, we've got a non-tournament singles match — a big opportunity for a young man we've been watching closely on SmackDown, J.J. Styles."
King: "Opportunity? JR, this is Jeff Jarrett we're talking about — the man's been wrestling longer than this kid's been alive! Styles is gonna get a reality check."
The Entrance
The lights dimmed, and "VIOLENCE FETISH" by Disturbed blasted through the Kiel Center. Flames burst on either side of the stage, the titantron showing J.J.'s lone wolf imagery. He walked out calm but intense, eyes locked straight ahead.
The crowd reaction was mixed — pockets of cheers for the newcomer, but plenty of boos from fans loyal to the established stars.
Jeff Jarrett's Entrance
"With My Baby Tonight" hit, and out came Jeff Jarrett in his white-and-gold gear, strutting with that smug grin. Beside him, Debra sparkled in a white evening gown, flashing her million-dollar smile at ringside fans. Jarrett raised his guitar like a trophy, pointing it toward J.J. in the ring.
King: "There's the man, JR! Jeff Jarrett is money in that ring — and look at Debra! That's championship-level beauty right there."
JR: "She's also been known to be quite the distraction, King."
The Match – J.J. Styles vs Jeff Jarrett (with Debra)
Bell rings.
Jarrett strutted toward the center, pointing at J.J. and mouthing "rookie." J.J. didn't bite — instead, he went low, shooting for a double-leg takedown. Jarrett scrambled, but J.J. got him down and transitioned into a front facelock.
Jarrett slipped out, grabbed a wristlock, but J.J. rolled through and hit a quick arm drag. The crowd gave a small pop.
Jarrett slowed the pace, locking J.J. in a side headlock, then hitting a shoulder block. But when Jarrett went for another, J.J. leapfrogged him and caught him with a sharp spinning back kick to the ribs.
JR: "That's that MMA influence — pinpoint striking from the young man from the Philippines."
King: "It's cute, JR, but this isn't a dojo — it's the WWF!"
The match stayed even — Jarrett worked the knee to slow him down, while J.J. fired back with stiff forearms and suplex variations. At the six-minute mark, J.J. countered The Stroke with a back elbow and hit a modified GTS. He covered — 1… 2… Debra put Jarrett's foot on the rope.
The crowd booed loudly.
J.J. glared at her, giving Jarrett time to recover. Jarrett rolled him up with a handful of tights — 1… 2… kickout! The fans popped big for the escape.
J.J. went for the kimura lock, but Jarrett reached the ropes instantly. As the ref backed J.J. up, Debra climbed onto the apron, drawing his attention again. Jarrett took the opening, kicking J.J. in the gut and nailing The Stroke.
1… 2… 3.
JR: "Damn it, that's a heartbreaker for J.J. Styles — he wrestled one hell of a match."
King: "Wrestled a hell of a match and still lost, JR! That's the business."
Post-Match
Jarrett celebrated with Debra, strutting in the ring while the crowd booed. J.J. sat up slowly, shaking his head in frustration.
As he walked up the ramp, sweat dripping, he noticed movement in the shadows of the entrance tunnel. Stephanie McMahon stood there, arms crossed, watching him. No smile this time — just a nod before she disappeared backstage.
For J.J., it wasn't a win. But it was a statement — he'd gone nearly ten minutes with a seasoned veteran on pay-per-view, and the crowd had taken notice.