Jeff Hardy will be remembered as one of the most exciting, daring, innovated and fan favorite wrestlers of all time. He has taken part in some of the biggest matches in the history of the WWE and most of them ended with some extravagant stunt involving a ladder. One of the best matches in the history of Monday Night Raw involved Jeff Hardy facing The Undertaker in a ladder match for the WWE title. It was an epic back and forth that almost resulted in Hardy taking the title from Taker.
This piece is focused on the fall of Hardy from the WWE. Now I know people will say he’s been a success in TNA and has had a successful career in that promotion, but I just don’t think he took full advantage of what he could have been in WWE. A history of drug taking and alchol resulted in him being dropped at the time of his most successful stint the WWE. He will, one day, go into the Hall of Fame as a legend and so he should. Wrestlers like him are few and far between and it is a shame that he wasn’t managed in the right way.
Jeff Hardy is so good that the majority of his matches are of PPV quality. Even his original music and titantron should be fully available on iTunes to use whenever I see a ladder. From his introduction into the WWE that resulted in a legendary tag team with his real brother Matt Hardy to his extensive singles career and titles that came with it, Jeff Hardy is a legend. But he could have been so much more. He was such a fan favourite that even during his evolution of character in which they tried to turn him heel, it didn’t work.
Jeff Hardy’s regard for his health resulted in his body being destroyed even before his singles career in 2008. His ability was a combination of Shawn Michaels, Rey Mysterio, and a whole host of classic Luchas. Jeff Hardy’s in ring career was also matched his out of ring private life. He was addicted to substances which resulted in poor relations in the WWE locker room.
Jeff Hardy was released twice by WWE in his career. The first was down to his struggles with drug use which affected his in-ring performance. After a discussion with senior management in WWE, and a request for rehab which Jeff Hardy denied, the writing was on the wall for him. WWE does take an overlook approach on some of the top talent and Jeff Hardy had these opportunities himself. In 2008 Jeff Hardy was the favourite to win the Money in the Bank match but due to his inability to hold a steady work environment this didn’t happen.
Jeff Hardy however went on to win the main titles in WWE, but none of his reigns lasted for more than 42 days. WWE knew the talent they had and this helped cover up some of his demons, but not enough for the top brass to keep the title on him for long periods. WWE did want to keep him and actually tried on multiple occasions to get him to sign, but they never got finalised. This was in the era of a lot of talent leaving due to poor man management.
After this Jeff Hardy left WWE and joined TNA. In one way it was a blessing as he needed the individual support but in another he struggled to get it. Hardy hit the bottom during a match with Sting at TNA’s Victory Road. The match ended after one minute due him physically not being able to compete. Shortly after he was removed from TV and was given time to solve his problems.
Now he is in a second rate promotion that is on the cusp of closing. He has wrestled and built up his character but is lost in a roster that doesn’t get the best from him. He is a legend in the business but if his career ends in TNA I don’t see him being the legend he could have been if managed right.
Game Over
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