To understand the significance of that, you have to know the SCIW: by far, not the most typical federation on the planet. A place where legends are determined by notoriety, where twists, turns, and back-stabbing are an everyday art, where "standard matches" are absolutely taboo, and an extremely fat woman is considered the toughest and greatest competitior to ever grace it's ring (with good reason, however, if you ever saw her work).
When Jeff Van Damage signed on for a brief tour, he brought something with him that wasn't seen in a long time in the SCIW: an actual WRESTLER, who could hang with the bizarre gimmicks and scenarios presented in the SCIW. And when word got around that Jeff could be one of the greats, the OTHER "pure wrestler" of the SCIW stepped up, and demanded to see what he was all about. His name? "The God of Technical Wrestling", Jason Hutto.
TO THE RING!
This match, mind you, was notorious for a long time for actually RUINING the rest of the show. It was placed as the curtain jerker match, but the crowd was EXTREMELY into it right from the start. Hutto is flooded with boos on his entrance, and Jeff gets a smorgasboard of cheers and screams.
Collar and elbow tie-up starts it off, and Hutto backs JVD into the corner. He breaks away clean--uncharacteristic of the "Greatest Technical Wrestler On Planet Earth". (On top of being a wrestler, Hutto was a NASTY cheater too.) Lock-up, and Jeff gets the advantage, backing Hutto into the corner, and the clean break. One more lock up, and Jeff pops off a quick arm drag, only for Hutto to mirror him. Jeff gives him a golf clap for his efforts.
Hutto goes to the side headlock but Jeff shoots him off. He telegraphs the back body drop, however, and ends up taking a kick to the chest. Hutto goes back to the side headlock, but Jeff tries to counter to a back drop..only for Hutto to flip out. Not that it matters, however..Jeff still gets a backslide for TWO!
Another tie-up and JVD with a go behind, followed by a waistlock takedown. Jeff rides Hutto for a bit, but Jason his grip and counters to his own waistlock. Jeff breaks with a drop toe hold, and gets a side headlock of his own! Nice little throw back to Hutto's tenacity with the headlock. Hutto elbows free, but Jeff still snaps off a German Bridge for TWO!
Jeff keeps on him, however, with the Front Face lock. Bill points out the strategy nicely, as Hutto rolls into a Hammerlock. Jeff snapmares free, however, and goes for the DRAGON CLUTCH... only for Hutto to roll and go back to the Hammerlock. So, Jeff throws Hutto out of his game, and does the "baseball slide to the outside" escape. Crowd approves, but Jeff still holds the ropes open for Jason.
Right back to the lock-up, and Hutto gets a Headlock Takedown.. Jeff cradles him for TWO, and manages to slip him into the Chauncery. Lots of emphasis on these wear-down moves, but the announcers are on the ball, explaining how careful strategy--as well as respect--comes into play with the basics. You start low, and then educate to bigger and better moves as you go along. Hutto tries to roll to the Hammerlock again, but Jeff rolls with him to block it! Another bit of applause for that. Hutto bridges up, however, and breaks the Front Face with a Reverse Armbar! Applause from the crowd, as Hutto transitions to a wrist lock.
JVD powers up to his feet, and kips around to an Arm-Wring. Hutto gets one of his own, but Jeff runs up the ropes and breaks, catching Hutto with a Hammerlock! Nice. Jeff with a quick switch to the Headlock, and he's REALLY grinding that in. This is why this match worked so well on a technical front.. all this "basic" stuff looked more important because both guys were always kinetic in the application. They never pause or rest..there's always a struggle to break the move or counter, or--in Hutto's case--to plead with the ref about hair-pulling.
Hutto breaks to a Headscissor, but Jeff gets a headlock takedown. Hutto tries to reverse it again, but this time Jeff swipes the legs away! Lots of smart little things between these two. Hutto powers up, and they go through the Shoulder Block sequence with a twist: Jeff puts on the brakes on a Monkey Flip, and tries to snap off a Wheelbarrow Suplex on Hutto... but Hutto counters with a Headlock Takeover in mid-air! And the crowd approves even LOUDER now.
Hutto maintains momentum with 2 arm drags and a Dropkick, before going to the headlock. Jeff is constantly trying to reverse it, and manages to power out, but Hutto runs him over with a Shoulderblock. Another sequence, and they trade off Hip Tosses. Hutto tries to monkey flip through Jeff's 2nd hiptoss, but Jeff lands safe. Meanwhile, Maybelline--the largest woman wrestler ever (and considered to be one of the greatest of all time too)--comes to ringside. She talks some shit to Hutto for a moment, bringing a rather abrupt interruption to the match...but they blow it off, and Hutto SMOKES Jeff with a Tilt-a-Whirl Face Buster!! ONE!! TWO!! NOOO!!!
Hutto tries to follow up with a Short Arm Clothesline, but Jeff works with it to a Springboard Arm Drag. Hutto's up first, however, and tosses Jeff to the corner. JVD takes the Flair Flip to the floor, while Hutto mocks him in the ring. Hutto then whips him into the steel pole, but whiffs on a Apron Clothesline. Jeff gets into the ring, and Maybelline kicks Hutto's ass for.....well.....no reason whatsoever.
Maybelline exits, and Hutto gets into the ring. Jeff pulls him up, and Hutto just SLAPS the shit out of him! JVD doesn't take well to it, though, and slaps "seven kinds of taste right out of Hutto's mouth!" (as called by Bill Bangs) And, as if you can't tell, all respect is thrown out the window from here on out.
Slugfest starts, which Hutto wins. He whips him off, and tries to take him down with a lariat, but Jueff ducks and gets the JVDDT!! (called as such--again--by Bill Bangs) It gets two, and Jeff goes to a neck wrench. Hutto breaks with knees to the gut, and battering rams Jeff into the turnbuckles!! He follows up with Shoulder Thrusts, and another hard whip. Another Flair Flip from Jeff, but he just SMASHES into the turnbuckle. God, that looked bad. Jeff lands on the apron, so Hutto spears him off. Jeff flies into the the guard rail, and then walks into the pole.
Hutto kicks his ass on the outside, but Jeff fires back with chops..only for Hutto to nail a SIDE SLAM ON THE STEEL STEPS!!! "HOLY SHIT!" for that. That gets a CLOSE two count. Jeff manages to fight his way back, but hes looking 100 shades of fucked by now. He recovers with a basement SHOTGUN, and follows up with the Shining Wizard to put Hutto down. And then.. DRAGON CLUTCH!!! Hutto gets to the ropes, though, so Jeff nails him with the MIGHTY FOOT! ONE!! TWO!! 2.999!!!!
Jeff gets pissed, and unloads some DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, and tries a Top Rope Hurricanrana...... Hutto blocks...... TOP ROPE PILEDRIVER FROM HUTTO!!! OH MY GOD!! ONE....TWO.......2.999999999999!!!! "HOLY SHIT!!", and deservedly so. Hutto goes nuts and beats the hell out of Jeff with knees Euros, chops, anything he can think of. The crowd's getting hotter for this match by the second. Hutto lifts Jeff to the top rope, and goes Old school as hell with the Calf Branding(!!) off the top rope!
Hutto isn't finished, however, as he apparently wants to kill Jeff dead. He pulls him up, and yells out.... "Skull Fucker"? But Jeff blocks...CRUCIAL CONFLICT? Hutto counters! LOW BLOW!! Jeff is screwed, and Hutto nails a.. oh damn.. Gutwrench Tombstone!!!! Jeff is dead!! Hence, the "Skull Fucker".. because Jeff's skull just got fucked! Hutto AGAIN refuses to go for the pin, though, but goes for the Highlight of the Night... MID AIR SHINING WIZARD!!!! This crowd is jacked!! The pin.. ONE!!! TWO!!! 2.9999999!!!! Christ, these two are going nuts here!
Jeff works Hutto over with Knife Edges... Tornado DDT?? No, NORTHERN LIGHTS INTO THE TURNBUCKLES!! Jeff's pulling out his bumps for this match, it seems. Hutto with the pin... ONE.. TWO.. 2 AND 99/100!!! The crowd is SCREAMING at this point for Jeff to fight back, because he's been getting killed for a while. Hutto goes for a Tiger Bomb, but Jeff backdrops free. Hutto snags the Sunset Flip, and they do a reversal sequence off that, ending with Hutto NAILING the Tiger Bomb!! ONE!! TWO!! THR... KICKOUT!!!
Hutto just can not believe it at this point, so he goes for the suplex. Jeff gets a Rolling Clutch for TWO, though, and Huttp shoves him to the corner. Van Damage fights back... Crossbody? No, SPINEBUSTER from Hutto!! ONE! TWO! NOTHING! Hutto tries a Stalling Brainbuster.... Falling DDT by Jeff Van Damage!!! ONE!! TWO!! KICKOUT!! Jeff pulls out the ladder...at this point, he's gotta try anything, because Hutto's been beating the shit out of him. He sets it up, and tries the Highlight... and he CRASHES AND BURNS!! Hutto recovers, and nails the DEATH VALLEY DRIVER!! Slow to get to the pin....and he gets two!! Hutto gets pissed, and snapmares and kicks the hell out of Jeff. He follows with the neck snap, and climbs the ladder... but Jeff kips up, and dropkicks the ladder--and Hutto--down!
KO Spot, and Jeff is up first. He climbs the ladder, but Hutto meets him up top and they slug it out. Superplex off the ladder?? No... Jeff bashes Hutto's haed in, and hits the MIRACLE ECSTASY BOMB off the ladder!!! Slow to cover...... ONE!!! TWO!! 2.99999999999!!!! Jeff tries again, and gets two. Hutto gets a inside cradle for TWO! Jeff SHOTGUNS him again, but Hutto goes to the eyes, to a Back Drop Pin!!! ONE!! TWO!! THREE!!!
Winner: Jason Hutto (@ 15:06)
BUT WAIT!!! Charlie Emerson raises JEFF'S hand instead, declaring him the winner! As it turns out, both shoulders were down at first...but Jason got his shoulder up before the three count, while Jeff got his foot on the ropes. So, we restart the match. Jeff starts off on fire right away, laying away on Jason with right hands, before LEVELING him with a Knife Edge Chop!
He quickly heads up, looking for the HIGHLIGHT (Shooting Star Press), and he gets absolutely INSANE hangtime....only for Hutto to move, and JVD to eat the canvas with gusto. Hutto tries the Oklahoma Roll, but gets only "TWO!". Jason decides to have some words with Emerson, but he ain't changing the call. Jason throws a really funny tantrum, where he accuses the referee of being blind, only for the referee to admit that he is. That's pretty effective, honestly...tell him what he wants to hear, and he'll shut up.
So, Jason (after a bit of posing, getting MASSIVE boos from the crowd) decides to kill Jeff DEAD with the Splash Mountain Bomb!! But, rather than go for an academic cover, he heads up for a Moonsault....JEFF SPEARS HIM IN MID-MOONSAULT!!!!!! "HOLY SHIT!!", and we cue the KO spot.
Both guys are up at "NINE", and are throwing some wild punches at each other. Finally, Jeff gets the advantage and punches Hutto into the ropes...only for Hutto to go to the eyes again, use an Euro-Cut, and then FLATTEN Jeff with a Lariat! Jesus, Jeff's been getting killed for a while now. But almost on cue, he mounts the Superman comeback: Hutto goes for the backdrop, but Jeff flips out...he tosses a kick, Hutto catches it, so Jeff pops him with a Rainbow Kick! Jeff sells on the back on the landing, however, so Hutto charges, and Jeff tosses him with a SNAP Overhead Belly to Belly! Jeff sells dead, while Hutto tries to recover.
JVD fires off one weak chop before Hutto guts him with a kick, and then whips him... Jeff counters.... APEX BOMBER!!! (Tilt-A-Whirl Spiral Bomb) ONE!! TWO!! 2.9999999999!! The crowd actually bought that as the finish. That last one hurt Jeff's back, but that doesn't stop him from chopping the SHIT out of Jason Hutto in the corner.
He goes for the whip, Hutto reverses...Jeff with a Springboard Forearm!! Jeff kips back up, which gets the crowd SUPER jacked. Hutto is up, and Jeff swings... Jason ducks and tries a German. Jeff elbows free, and ducks behind Hutto, and then sends him SAILING with a Over-Rotated Release Backdrop Suplex!! Jason just goes balls out, crashing face-first into the canvas and playing completely dead. Jeff scrambles over to the corner, and the fans are NUKED.... ONE!!! TWO!!! 2.99999!!! Crowd actually boos the referee too...always a good sign.
Jeff drops Hutto with a Snap Suplex, and then heads up top... FLYING ELBOW!! ONE!! TWO!!! NOO!!! Jeff decides to set up for the Spear, and Hutto is slow to get up.... Hutto moves, and Jeff SOARS into the post! Hutto gets the School Boy Roll Up with TIGHTS!!!! ONE!! TWO!!! 2.9999999!!!! Bill Bangs makes the statement of the year by saying "That is quite possibly the most dangerous move in the business...no single move has ever won more matches than the dreaded School Boy!!"
Jeff takes his eyes off of Hutto for one second to complain about the tights...so Hutto DECKS him with brass knuckles! Emerson misses the call, of course; Hutto shoved him as he threw the punch. Hutto looks to kill JVD with another Top Rope Piledriver, and the crowd FREAKS!
Jeff keeps trying to fight, but Hutto seems reluctant to let go. FINALLY, Jeff kicks his way free, but Hutto sends Jeff tumbling across the ring with a kick. Jeff comes back with a LEAPING MIGHTY FOOT to render him senseless!! Fans pop huge for that. JVD has got "maaaad hops", according to the whiter-than-bread Don Beeps. Jeff quickly climbs up, pounding away on Hutto the whole time. Both guys are on the top rope, the fans are on their feet, the noise is deafening...and Jeff nails the BACK-FLIP SUPER VAN DAMAGER!!!! ONE!!! TWO!!! THREE!!!! Crowd absolutely EXPLODES with cheers, as Jeff falls back, hands raised to the air.
Winner: Jeff Van Damage (@ 22:32, total)
FINAL WORD: This was a great mix of old/new school, high flying and mat wrestling. It was also the match that RUINED the rest of the show, as the crowd was so spent from this battle that they never recovered for the rest of the show. This was just the midst of what would be an absolutely STELLAR 2003 for Jeff Van Damage, who proceeded to ride this match into SCIW greatness....before leaving three weeks later. In May 2004, however, JVD returned to the SCIW in the place of Toby Jones for yet another battle against Jason Hutto. That match was also huge (some say even better than this match), and Jeff wound up sticking around afterwards, beginning probably his best string of matches since his XWA days.