November 16, 1998 – Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky
The opening pyro of Raw Is War lit up the arena, and the crowd erupted.
JR (over the intro): "Last night at Survivor Series, the WWF Championship tournament crowned a controversial winner — but it wasn't the only controversy. Let's take you back to a hard-fought battle between Jeff Jarrett and the newcomer, J.J. Styles."
The big screen rolled footage: J.J.'s modified GTS hitting perfectly, the crowd counting "1… 2…" before Debra slipped Jarrett's foot onto the ropes. Then the final sequence — the distraction, The Stroke, and Jarrett's smug celebration.
JR: "The kid from the Philippines went toe-to-toe with a former Intercontinental Champion, and if not for Debra's involvement, I'd wager we'd be talking about a different result."
King: "That's not how it works, JR! There are no 'what ifs' in the WWF — the record book says Jarrett won, and Styles lost. End of story."
Backstage – Watching the Replay
J.J. Styles sat on a production crate, still in his warm-up hoodie, eyes locked on the monitor showing the replay. His jaw was tense.
"Not bad, kid," a voice said from behind.
J.J. turned to see D'Lo Brown in his chest protector, smirking. "You went longer with Double J than I expected. Still… you gotta learn. When Debra's out there, you don't focus on her, you focus on the man in the ring. Otherwise, you'll be seeing lights."
"I'll keep that in mind," J.J. replied flatly.
D'Lo chuckled. "Hey, no shame in it. We've all been there. Just… try not to make it a habit." He slapped J.J.'s shoulder and walked off toward the gorilla position.
J.J. exhaled, muttering under his breath, "Not gonna happen again."
Match – J.J. Styles vs Bob Holly
About halfway through the show, the arena went dark and "Violence Fetish" hit. J.J. walked out, expression hard, no playing to the crowd — just business.
JR: "This young man is looking to get back in the win column after what I'd call a moral victory at Survivor Series."
King: "Moral victories don't pay the bills, JR!"
Bob Holly charged early, trying to overpower J.J., but the lone wolf countered with crisp takedowns and sharp strikes. A back suplex into a kimura attempt got the crowd buzzing, but Holly reached the ropes.
At the 4-minute mark, J.J. ducked a clothesline, hit the modified GTS, and scored the clean 1… 2… 3.
JR: "Impressive win here tonight for J.J. Styles — that's how you bounce back."
Post-Match Ambush
As J.J. had his arm raised, "With My Baby Tonight" hit the PA. The crowd booed loudly as Jeff Jarrett walked out with Debra.
Jarrett had a mic. "Congratulations, Styles! You just beat… Bob Holly. Wow. That's huge. But let me tell you something — you'll never, and I mean never, beat me. You're a flash in the pan, son."
J.J. motioned for him to come to the ring. Jarrett grinned, shook his head… then suddenly sprinted down and slid under the ropes.
Before J.J. could react, CRACK! — Jarrett's guitar exploded against his shoulder. The crowd gasped, some even chanting "You suck!" as Jarrett stood over him.
JR: "For God's sake! There's no call for that!"
King: "Oh, come on, JR, that's classic Double J!"
Jarrett leaned down, smirking. "Welcome to the big leagues, rookie."
Later – Private Observation
Hours later, after the main event chaos had settled, J.J. sat in the locker room, still sore from the guitar shot. He didn't notice the quiet figure at the doorway until she spoke.
"Jarrett's scared," Stephanie McMahon said softly.
J.J. looked up. "Doesn't seem like it."
"That's why he's swinging guitars instead of wrestling you straight up," she replied, then turned to leave. "Just think about it."
Before he could respond, she was gone.
For the first time since stepping into the WWF, J.J. didn't just feel like the new guy. He felt like he was in someone's crosshairs — and that was fine with him.