He and his brother Matt began competing for WWE as teenagers, bravely stepping into the squared circle to take on Superstars like Razor Ramon and King Kong Bundy. Though Jeff often was the recipient of beatings that made the WWE Universe cringe, his refusal to give up on his dream of becoming a WWE Champion got him noticed by officials.
The Hardy Boyz became full-time WWE competitors in 1998, when their high-flying offense and plaid tights made them stand out in the eyes of the WWE Universe. Still, the brothers had difficulty stringing a few wins together to move up the tag team ladder. It turned out that all they needed was a little guidance. Freebird Michael Hayes took the youngsters under his wing, gave them a new look and led them to the World Tag Team Championships.
Jeff’s daredevil tendencies helped him break out from the pack. He first introduced awestruck fans to his willingness to climb higher during a Ladder Match at No Mercy 1999, teaming with his brother against Edge & Christian. The four Superstars risked their careers in the dangerous bout, and came out bigger stars than they could have imagined.
Jeff and Matt went on to revolutionize sports-entertainment, along with Edge & Christian and The Dudley Boyz in the breathtaking series of Tables, Ladders & Chairs Matches. No height was too far out of reach when the World Tag Team Titles were on the line. The Hardy Boyz ended up capturing those championships six times.
Eventually, Jeff went solo. His unique personality, along with the glowing body paint he doused himself in, earned him the nickname The Charismatic Enigma. Hardy proved to be just as successful in singles action as he was in the tag ranks, capturing the Intercontinental Title on multiple occasions, in addition to the Hardcore, European and Light Heavyweight Championships.
When The Charismatic Enigma set his sights on the WWE Championship, doubts began to arise. He was unable to wrest the title away from Triple H and Randy Orton, leaving many wondering if he could reach the top of the mountain. He erased any suspicions at Armageddon 2008, when he defeated The Game and Edge in a Triple Threat Match to finally capture sports-entertainment’s richest prize.
Hardy wasn’t done there, though. He also won the World Heavyweight Title twice before he was forced to leave WWE because of a Steel Cage Match loss to CM Punk in August 2009.
Jeff had not been seen in a WWE ring since that match. That is, until he and his brother Matt made a shocking return to WWE at WrestleMania 33, winning the Raw Tag Team Championship in a Fatal 4-Way Ladder Match against Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows, Enzo Amore & Big Cass and Cesaro & Sheamus. You never know what to expect with The Hardy Boyz. But you can bet it will have you on your feet.
The motto on Matt Hardy's T-shirt said it all — Matt Hardy’s goal was always to “turn the key of his destiny” and reach the top of WWE.
When Matt first left his backyard training grounds of Cameron, N.C., and ventured into the squared circle alongside his brother Jeff, few could’ve foreseen the six World Tag Team Titles The Hardys would secure. As tag specialists with innate fraternal chemistry, Matt & Jeff’s unmatched fortitude and innovative, risk-taking arsenal carried them to Superstardom. By the time they competed in their groundbreaking Triangle Ladder Match at WrestleMania 2000, the brothers were the hottest duo in sports-entertainment.
Apart from his sibling, Matt achieved success in solo ranks as well, including United States, Hardcore, European and Cruiserweight Championship reigns. The greatest achievement, however, came in 2008 when Matt triumphed in a Championship Scramble Match to capture the ECW Title.
Hardy constantly fought through adversity and controversy, including the sordid (and much revisited) affair involving his ex-girlfriend Lita and former friend Edge. But after years of sustaining his “Will not die” mantra, it seemed Matt Hardy finally allowed a piece of himself to perish when he betrayed his brotherly bond with Jeff in 2009.
Devoured by jealousy and resentment, Matt made it his mission to destroy his sibling — a task that included a high-speed car crash, a pyrotechnics disaster and a house fire that led to the demise of Jeff’s dog. Perhaps the greatest loss served to Jeff, though, was his brutal defeat at the hands of Matt at the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania.
Matt departed from WWE in 2010. However, he and his brother Jeff reunited and made a shocking return at WrestleMania 33, winning the Raw Tag Team Championship in a Fatal 4-Way Ladder Match against Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows, Enzo Amore & Big Cass and Cesaro & Sheamus. You never know what to expect with The Hardy Boyz. But you can bet it will have you on your feet.
No comments:
Post a Comment