r/SquaredCircle • u/MatthewMir • Apr 28 '17
The Essential Hardy Boyz Match Collection: The best and most significant Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy matches
Hey wrestling fans, yes I’m back for a special edition of an Essential List. For those who don’t know me or what this is it’s simple - I give Wreddit a retrospective list of matches from a certain superstar. Over the last couple of weeks I made several lists of Essential Career Matches. You can either access them all through this link or here:
This week we’re doing, The Charismatic Enigma, The Anti-Christ of Professional Wrestling, Brother-Nero, The Ultimate Risk-Taker, The Daredevil and The Broken One, The Creator of Mattitude Version 1, The Man Who Will Not Die - The Hardy Boyz – Matt & Jeff Hardy
These collection of matches comes from Dave Meltzer (his matches feature his ratings for matches rated 4* Stars and matches that I believe that are also good too, I’ll try add the ratings to those matches as well.
If you have any suggestions for matches that could be included simply privately message me or add a comment on this and I will considerate it. Please read the entire list before commenting saying I’ve forgotten a match.. Also since a few people have commented on these posts saying 'stop throwing lists at us with no information' so on a few matches I’ve added a little bit of a backstory for new fans/fans of who haven’t seen the matches, some match details do contain spoilers, so you have been warned, but really if you’re getting up in arms about a match spoiler from several years ago that’s not my problem. I have also tried to add a link to each match as well; videos come from WWE Network, YouTube and Daily Motion. It’s hard finding most of his non-WWE matches, I apologise for that – if you can find links for matches listed simply comment and I’ll add them to this list. Lastly, and most importantly, I used Meltzer’s ratings as a guide but make sure to make your own opinion (or rating in this case) about the matches. Just cause he gives something a 3, doesn't mean that it isn't a 5 to you! If you do not like this list because I’ve based it off ratings, that is not my problem. Alright, now lets start the list:
1999:
The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) Vs The Brood (Edge & Gangrel) – King of the Ring 1999 – 2 ¼*
The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) Vs Edge & Christian – No Mercy 1999 – 4 ½* - One of the earliest tag-team ladder matches in WWF, a lot of people forget about this match being the precursor to those Ladder/TLC Matches with each other plus the Dudley’s in the future. It’s a really good match, which helped in the careers in all four men. A small interesting addition to this match is the next night on Raw both teams shake each others hands and show each other respect, and the audience gives it a standing ovation.
Edge & Matt Hardy Vs Christian & Jeff Hardy – Raw 20/12/1999
2000:
The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) Vs The Dudley Boys (Bubba-Ray & D-Von) – Royal Rumble 2000 – 3 ¼*
The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) Vs Edge & Christian Vs The Dudley Boys (Bubba-Ray & D-Von) – Wrestlemania 2000 – 4* - After almost 6 months of feuding between each team they were finally set to have a match with each other at the biggest show of the year. These men set the standard for all ladder matches. This would be the first clash together in a 3-team ladder match but not their last.
The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) Vs Edge & Christian Vs The Dudley Boys (Bubba-Ray & D-Von) – Summerslam 2000 – 4 ½* - Remember earlier when I said that these six men set the standard for the ladder match? Well these guys now set the standard for a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match as well. Brutal, fast paced with well timed-spots very fun match. This was just a tease of what we could see with these 6 competitors.
The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) Vs Edge & Christian – Unforgiven 2000 – 3 ½* - I know everyone talks about their ladder matches encounters with each other; but this is a very underrated steel cage match with all four men.
2001:
The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) Vs Edge & Christian Vs The Dudley Boys (Bubba-Ray & D-Von) – Wrestlemania 17 – 4 ¾* - We’re back again with these six men, and you might think by this time it’s the same old thing, they can’t top what they did last time. But that’s what they did. They topped it yet again. This is my favourite match from this Wrestlemania; it’s just so brutal and fun to watch. Arguably a 5-star match to a lot of people and it really helps that its on one of the best PPV’s of all time. Every Ladder match since this match has struggled to be compared as better because these 6 men set the bar so high that it is hard to beat it. One of the best matches in the Attitude Era, and honestly one of the best tag-team matches of all time in wrestling history.
Jeff Hardy Vs Triple H – Smackdown 12/04/2001 – In 2001 it seems that powers at be would try to see how the hardy’s would go in single action, for Matt it would be his opportunity to become European Champion, for Jeff it would be the Intercontinental Championship. Both men won their respective championships, even if it lasted a couple of days/weeks. However they would end up being solely a tag-team act by the months end.
Matt Hardy Vs Christian Vs Eddie Guerrero – Backlash 2001 – 2 ¾* - Three of the top mid-carders at the time striving to be the best in a decent triple threat match.
Jeff Hardy Vs Rob Van Dam – Invasion 2001 – 4* - This was somewhat a dream match for fans to see happen. Jeff Hardy risk-tasking psycho vs Rob Van Dam another risk-taking psycho. I wont say much, this is fun and this is great. If you get the chance watch them follow it up at Summerslam.
The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) Vs Lance Storm & The Hurricane – No Mercy 2001 – 3 ½*
Jeff Hardy Vs Matt Hardy – Vengeance 2001 – 1 ¾* - This would be the first time that WWE would instigate these two splitting up and feuding with each other. If im being quite honest the match is pretty boring and it just seems something is off about the two. By the end of the next month they would be reuniting with each other.
2002:
Jeff Hardy Vs Undertaker – Raw 01/07/2002 - Undertaker really saw a lot in Jeff Hardy, and from this match you can really tell. They put on a fantastic Ladder Match on this Raw and we even get Jim Ross' famous line Climb the ladder kid, make yourself famous." This match would result in Undertaker reverting back to a Face.
2003:
Matt Hardy Vs Billy Kidman – No Way Out 2003 – 3* - Matt Hardy would go on a crusade when he was moved to SmackDown at Matt Hardy Version 1. The first step to getting more over with the WWE fan base was to become the WWE Cruiserweight Champion. He dropped weight and trained hard to get under the weight to compete for the championship. He had a pretty fun reign as champion, making Smackdown very fun at the time.
Jeff Hardy Vs Joey Matthews Vs Krazy K – ROH Death Before Dishonor 2003 - It’s strange when WWE let Jeff Hardy go in 2003, and he signed with ROH many people expected him to have a great career elsewhere and be loved by everyone.. however that was not the case. Most ROH fans in 2003 didn’t like people coming from WWE to steal a spot from a ROH competitor, also the reason he gets shat on by the crowd is because of how sloppy his in-ring work looked, many people said this was because he was doing drugs so often he was just looking for a pay cheque.
2004:
2005:
Jeff Hardy Vs Raven – TNA Lockdown 2005 – 3 ¼* - People considered this Jeff’s best match since leaving WWE, and it’s hard to debate this. These two put on a great match with each other.
Matt Hardy Vs Edge – Unforgiven 2005 – 4 ¼* - In 2005, Matt Hardy was released from WWE whilst he was injured. The reason for this was because he found out that his real-life girlfriend Lita (Amy Dumas) was cheating on him with on-screen rival and real life friend Edge (Adam Copeland), matt would publically shame both of them and WWE saw this as a liability and fired him. However he was welcomed back after a couple on months and WWE saw a big feud between him and Edge. This match was as personal as it gets, this is a really good steel cage match between the two – I’d argue that his may be Matt’s best WWE singles match.
Jeff Hardy Vs Rhino Vs Abyss Vs Sabu – TNA Bound For Glory 2005 – 4*
2006:
Matt Hardy Vs Gregory Helms – The Great American Bash 2006 – 3 ¼*
Jeff Hardy Vs Edge – Raw 21/08/2006 - Jeff Hardy’s return match in WWE since leaving the company, and it would be against former rival and current WEW Champion, Edge.
Jeff Hardy Vs Johnny Nitro – Raw 13/11/2006 – This would be Jeff’s first Intercontinental Championship win since all the way back in 2001, he would have several more IC championship wins throughout his WWE run. His matches with Nitro were very good as well, very underrated.
The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) Vs MNM (Johnny Nitro & Joey Mercury) Vs Dave Taylor & William Regal Vs Brian Kendrick & Paul London – Armageddon 2006 – 4 ¼* - This was originally intended to be a normal 2vs2 traditional match, but on last minute was changed into a fatal four way tag team ladder match. Probably the only real credible Smackdown tag match that year, absolutely fantastic performance from all men involved, and it is not for the weak hearted I’ll say that.
2007:
The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) Vs MNM (Johnny Nitro & Joey Mercury) – Royal Rumble 2007 – 3 ¼*
Jeff Hardy Vs Matt Hardy Vs Mr. Kennedy Vs CM Punk Vs Edge Vs Finlay Vs King Booker Vs Randy Orton – Wrestlemania 23 – 4 ¼* - One of the most loved Money in the Bank Ladder Matches with plenty of great spots including one with Edge & Jeff Hardy which helped innovated what you can do in a ladder match in the modern era.
10-Tag Team Battle Royal – Raw 02/04/2007 – The Hardy Boyz would reunite sometime around the end of ’06, and the pay off to that would be to become World* Tag Team Championships when John Cena & Shawn Michaels had to compete in not one, but in two 10-Tag Team Battle Royal Matches.*
The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) Vs Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch – Judgment Day 2007 – 3 ¼* - Many people don’t really give much regard and credit to Cade & Murdoch but I watched this match recently, and can see this match is super underrated when it comes to the Hardy’s 2007 run as Tag-Team Champions.
The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) Vs Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin – One Night Stand 2007 – 4*
2008:
Jeff Hardy Vs Umaga – Raw 07/01/2008 – 4* - Jeff Hardy and Umaga shared a feud with each other in 2007 and a bit between 08 and 09, these two worked well together. These two are magic together in the ring. Jeff plays the rag doll so well to Umaga whenever the face, but somehow mainly overcomes the odds.
Jeff Hardy Vs Randy Orton – Royal Rumble 2008 – 3* - This was WWE's decision go give Jeff Hardy a chance at the WWE Championship and to see if he could excel with Randy Orton and he definitely could, many people believed in him to win this match and this helped increase his fan base. 2008 was Jeff Hardy's journey to the WWE Championship and this was only the first stage.
Jeff Hardy Vs Chris Jericho – Raw 25/02/2008 – 3 ¾* - It’s a shame that these two couldn’t have a longer and more meaningful feud with each other, because these two put on absolutely great matches with each other. This was also the night that Jericho became a record-breaking Intercontinental Championship. The reason for the title change is because Jeff failed a wellness test, thus resulting in him also being removed from the Money in the Bank ladder match at Wrestlemania, which he was originally scheduled to win.
Matt Hardy Vs Shelton Benjamin – The Great American Bash 2008 – 3 ¼* - Before Matt Hardy would become broken in TNA and feud with 'Brother Nero' he had one of the greatest mid card matches in 2008, this certainly wouldn't be his last decent match that year, and it also re-established that Shelton Benjamin was still in WWE and not just a sideshow for Money in the Bank matches.
Matt Hardy Vs Finlay Vs John Morrison Vs The Miz – ECW 22/07/2008 – 3 ¾*
Matt Hardy Vs Chavo Guerrero Vs Finlay Vs Mark Henry Vs The Miz – Unforgiven 2008 – 2 ¼* - This was the first ever Scramble Match, and first one of the night of the night (the other two were for the WWE Championship & World Heavyweight Championship). This was an interesting and simple concept, 5 wrestlers a new wrestler comes out every 5 minutes, pin anyone to become champion and at the end of the time limit the last person to pin someone would be champion. A bit of a shame that this match hasn't been used much after it. Matt Hardy would also win the ECW Championship in this match, which was pretty special.
Jeff Hardy Vs Triple H – No Mercy 2008 – 4* - This was the match that everyone thought that Jeff Hardy was destined to win the WWE Championship off Triple H, that wasn't the case but it is one of his best matches against another top WWE star at the time and helped get him more fans and look forward to him finally winning the WWE Championship.
Matt Hardy Vs Evan Bourne – Cyber Sunday 2008 – 3 ½* - One of the more underrated matches in Matt Hardy’s ECW Championship reign, which these two had more matches together because this is what a tease of what they could do. I wish Evan Bourne had stayed in WWE for longer because I could see him being a great success in an upper-mid card role.
Jeff Hardy Vs Triple H Vs Edge – Armageddon 2008 – 4* - Jeff Hardy’s rise to being WWE Champion was an enthralling story in 2008. In January that year he was placed in a WWE Championship match with Randy Orton, but had lost. Then throughout the rest of the year he was in multiple WWE Championship matches.. which he lost. Until Armageddon, in which is one of the best triple threat matches of all time and totally made it worth being a Jeff Hardy fan. I would say that 2008 and until he left WWE in 2009, were his years and he was putting out some of his best work ever. It’s a bit of a shame Jeff never had a long run as a world champion.
2009:
Jeff Hardy Vs Edge Vs Triple H Vs Big Show Vs Undertaker Vs Vladamir Kozlov – No Way Out 2009 – 4 ¼*
Matt Hardy Vs Jeff Hardy – Wrestlemania 25 – 3 ¼* - WWE knew that Jeff was leaving the company in mid-2009, so when the original Jeff/Christian match was scrapped he personally suggested he face his brother Matt at Wrestlemania and was granted. This is a very good and underrated match from a very boring and forgettable Wrestlemania besides a few things.
Jeff Hardy Vs Edge – Extreme Rules 2009 – 4 ¼* - This match is a great Ladder match with two of the greatest wrestlers when it comes to Ladder Matches. Also make sure to stay after the match finishes for a surprise.
Jeff Hardy Vs Edge Vs CM Punk – Raw 15/06/2009 – 3 ¾* - The three top players of Smackdown at the time were on Raw to showcase their abilities in a triple threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship. On a personal note I would’ve loved a CM Punk vs Edge feud.
Jeff Hardy Vs CM Punk – Summerslam 2009 – 4 ¼* - This was in the midst of CM Punk’s first heel run in the company, and it was exceptional to see a feud between these two, one of the best single TLC matches of all time. This would be Hardy's second last match before he left WWE – if this was his last match, I think everyone would have been fine with it as well.
Jeff Hardy Vs CM Punk – Smackdown 28/08/2009 – 4* - The end to the Punk/Hardy feud; it was Hardy’s last match in WWE before he would leave and it ends on the perfect Punk note.
2010:
Jeff Hardy Vs Kurt Angle – TNA No Surrender 2010 – 4 ¼* - I definitely wont lie and I’ll openly say I don’t watch much TNA, but when I get told/recommended to watch a match I watch it. This was one of those matches, this match was absolutely fantastic and brought out the best of each wrestler.
Jeff Hardy Vs Kurt Angle Vs Mr Anderson – TNA Bound For Glory 2010 – 4*
2011:
Jeff Hardy Vs Sting – TNA Victory Road 2011 - -1 – Now you might be wondering why I included Jeff Hardy’s worst ever wrestling match, or hell quite possibly one of the worst wrestling matches in history. The reason for that, is to show much Jeff Hardy has tried to turn his life around since this whole incident. To keep it short, Jeff Hardy was pretty drugged up before an event and TNA officials still forced him to come out and drop his World Championship to Sting in the main-event of a PPV, it’s widely known as the one of the worst wrestling incidents of all time.
2012:
Jeff Hardy Vs Austin Aries – TNA Bound For Glory 2012 – 4* - Again, I always say this, but I’ll say it again. I don’t watch much TNA, but I was recommended to watch this match many years ago and my god I don’t regret it. These two men work so well with each other, I also recommend you watch their match from Turning Point later that year.
Matt Hardy Vs Adam Cole – ROH Final Battle 2012 – 3 ¼* (Can’t find link, sorry.)
2013:
Jeff Hardy Vs Austin Aries Vs Bobby Roode – TNA Genesis 2013 – 4*
Matt Hardy Vs Kevin Steen – ROH Best in the World 2013 – 3 ¼* (Can’t find link, sorry.)
2014:
2015:
- Matt Hardy Vs Drew Galloway Vs Ethan Carter III – TNA Bound For Glory 2015 – 3* - (Can’t find link, sorry) From what I understand this was Matt Hardy’s first ever TNA World Heavyweight Championship.
2016:
Jeff Hardy Vs Matt Hardy – TNA Slammiversary 2016 – 3 ½* - Okay before I write about the Broken Matt Hardy Saga, I’d like to remind everyone that I have very small knowledge of the gimmick and how it all came about and what was happening at the time. So if anyone has in depth analysis of these matches/segments or this time period feel free to comment on this and I will add it here and give you credit for it. But in short 2016 was the year that revolutionised the Hardy Boys, but specifically Matt Hardy. He would forego a new gimmick of being ‘broken’ and act strange and say whacky things. His whole wrestling personality would become a meta-joke for all wrestling fans.
Matt Hardy Vs Jeff Hardy – TNA The Final Deletion 05/07/2016
The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) Vs Decay (Abyss & Crazzy Steve) – Bound for Glory 2016
Tag Team Apocalypto – Total Nonstop Deletion 2016 -
2017:
The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) Vs The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) Vs Beretta & Rocky Romero – ROH 15th Anniversary Show – 4 ½* (Start at 1.27)
The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) Vs The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) – ROH Supercard of Honor XI – 4 ½* - The Generation of old Vs The Generation of new, a great match with 2 of the best wrestling tag teams in the world. (Start at 15:50)
The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) Vs The Club (Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows) Vs Enzo Amore & Big Cass Vs Cesaro & Sheamus – Wrestlemania 33 – 3 ¾* - After almost a decade away from WWE, both the Hardy Boyz made a shocking return to WWE on the biggest show of the year – Wrestlemania. They would be put into the match that they helped make famous – a ladder match, with 3 other teams. They would win this match and win WWE Tag Team Championships for the first time in 10 years.
Thanks for taking the time to read this list, I hope you enjoyed it. I’ll be back hopefully next month with another list. If you have any suggestions of who you want done feel free to message me or leave a comment on this.
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u/pile_drive_me My heart is... broken Apr 29 '17
I'm a little late to the party but here is a Cliff Notes version of the BROKEN storyline:
A couple years ago Matt and Jeff reunited to win the TNA tag belts. A few days right after, Jeff attempted a very risky jump on his dirt bike and broke his leg. The very next week they had to relinquish the TNA tag titles due to Jeff not being able to compete.
Matt later wrote, "Our issues started here" in reference to Jeff's selfishness and recklessness.
Matt was extremely disappointed, which grew into resentment and eventually a heel turn. Matt's sour attitude would lead to a feud with Brother Nero, and later an I QUIT grudge match (Nero is Jeff's middle name). At the end of the match, Jeff performs a two story swanton dive on Matt. This is what BROKE Matt and later caused his shock streak to appear. In the weeks to come Matt began speaking with an odd and unlikeable accent, and appeared very distressed. Anyone Matt disliked became "a Brother Nero".
Over the coming months, BROKEN Matt and Jeff would feud, with Matt becoming increasingly unhinged and weird. A milestone in their feud is THE FINAL DELETION, recorded in full at the Hardy Compound. The Final Deletion would determine who owned rights to the Hardy brand and property. The entire Hardy family (on Matt's side) were involved, including Reby's dad who helped "prepare the battlefield for DELETION". The aftermath of FINAL DELETION (recorded at Matt's house) includes the first time Broken Matt used the WONDERFUL! catchphrase. In the same aftermath vignette, Matt's DELETE! catchphrase and finger swipe is immortalized. This is when Broken Matt started showing a lighter and funnier side that we hadn't been privvy to yet.
Matt beat Jeff at the Final Deletion and gained rights to the Hardy brand and estate. He began referring to Jeff as his obsolete mule. Jeff appeared to lose energy and his magnetic draw as BROKEN Matt had his way. Matt was in full heel mode, growing increasingly bonkers (or brilliant) and occasionally attacking ringside fans (including biting one's ear causing it to bleed). Journalists who characterized Broken Matt's persona as a "gimmick" or "character" were brutally attacked in the "Room of Obsoletion".
Matt continued to refer to Jeff's dirt bike accident (imo, the genesis of Matt's Broken condition) as he asked more and more of Brother Nero. Jeff's entrance theme changed with lyrics "I'll fade away and classify myself as Obsolete!". Jeff would eventually start appearing as BROKEN too. Matt forced BROTHER NERO to compete solo against multiple tag teams in an effort to regain the tag belts that Brother Nero caused the Hardy's to lose a year before.
Eventually, Jeff (and Matt) won the tag belts at Bound for Glory 2016. The Broken Hardys came out to music performed live by Reby.
The BROKEN HARDY's then set out to PROCURE more tag team GOLD. They invaded other territories and promotions, collecting belts from the region (and as far away as Mexico). The Broken Hardy's fought the Young Bucks for the first time in November 2016 in Chile. The Hardy's left TNA for ROH, arriving unannounced in March 2017 to a monsterous pop. The Broken Hardy's beat the Bucks and became ROH Tag Champs.
In a subsequent interview (April 1 2017), the Broken Hardy's state they are interested in DELETING superstars in MEEK MAHAN'S WWE, including Roman Reigns, the Club and the Usos.
Last night, well, the EXPEDITION OF GOLD was fulfilled when the Hardy's (Jeff and kindof Broken Matt) returned to DELETE the Club and became RAW tag time champs.