For The Record 1.18.09: Jeff Hardy’s Reign Won’t Last Long

Posted by Kristopher Rodriguez on 01.18.2009

In this week’s edition of For The Record, we’ll discuss why Jeff Hardy’s title reign will probably be brief.

Jeff Hardy's journey to the WWE Championship was the longest running storyline of 2008. The quest that spanned over a year came to fruition at Armageddon last month. In the triple threat match for the title, Jeff Hardy's ultimate professional dream came true. Hardy joined an elite group of only 38 other wrestlers when he won the WWE Championship.

Unfortunately, Jeff Hardy's reign has been a bit stale. But before we discuss the reign, let us first recall the chase.

Part of what made Hardy such an appealing figure last year was that he told the story of a phoenix rising from the ashes (no pun intended). Jeff Hardy had a roller coaster year. He put on a solid title match with Randy Orton at the 2008 Royal Rumble and proved that he could hang with the big boys. He went on to give a gallant effort in the Elimination Chamber Match at No Way Out (only to be eliminated at the very end by you know who). Proving to the WWE brass that he could deliver when, as JBL would say, "the lights are on bright", Jeff Hardy looked to be in a prime position to win the Money in the Bank Match. However, the high flier got in the way of his own success.

Suspended on the 11th of March, 2008, Jeff Hardy was forced into a 60 day hiatus from WWE. He immediately dropped the Intercontinental Championship to Chris Jericho, lost his spot in the Money in the Bank Match, and would eventually suffer the pain of losing a house and his dog from a fire. Jeff Hardy lost a lot last year. But one thing he never surrendered was his will.

Jeff Hardy returned to Raw on May 12 to adulating fans and it wasn't long before the "Extreme Enigma" resumed his hunt for the WWE Championship. Fast forward to September of this past year. We hear about the creation of a new gimmick matched called the Championship Scramble. Inserted into the match on the Smackdown side of things was WWE Champion Triple H, MVP, Brian Kendrick, Shelton Benjamin, and of course, Jeff Hardy. In the waning seconds of the match, fans collectively held their breaths as Jeff Hardy desperately tried retain his status as temporary (but unofficial) WWE Champion. But Triple H, clutching victory from the jaws of defeat, scored a fall over MVP with one second remaining.

Jeff Hardy, once again, came up a bit short. He went on to challenge Triple H for the WWE Championship at No Mercy in what some consider to be a **** star match. But alas, Triple H would retain again after catching Jeff Hardy off guard with a rollup. Again, Hardy would challenge Triple H at Cyber Sunday, only to squander another opportunity. So okay, we would figure that Jeff Hardy would give it a rest. But no! He was scheduled to get another shot at the Survivor Series. Of course he never competed in that match. He was "incapacitated", giving Edge the opportunity to sneak into the contest and win his sixth world title.

Finally, Jeff Hardy would win the WWE Championship on his fourth pay-per-view title shot of 2008 at Armageddon. It was about time. It could have been done a few months earlier, but that's just a minor gripe. Jeff Hardy climbed slowly up the ladder from jobber in 1994 to WWE Champion in 2008. The 14 year odyssey to the most coveted title in pro wrestling saw many bumps in the road. But Jeff Hardy could always rely on one thing throughout the years, and that was the undying and unconditional support of WWE fans.

Jeff Hardy's victory at Armageddon was rich with meaning. It demonstrated the value of redemption and second chances. It showed that those who have been called rejects, screw ups, and "white trash" have dignity and potential. His victory taught the youth to never despair, but rather to have hope, work hard, and shoot for the stars. It's a powerful message with broad appeal.

But all that inspirational stuff can only carry a wrestler so far. Life goes on beyond Armageddon (ironic, I know). While his chase made for good TV, his title reign hasn't. To put it bluntly, Jeff Hardy has had a lackluster reign. He' not made or built to carry a show. He is too mild-mannered to consistently compete as "the headliner" of a Raw or a Smackdown, and thus, not designed to hold world titles for a long length of time. CM Punk and Chris Benoit ran into the same problem. To be atop a show like Smackdown or Raw, one must not only possess a larger than life presence; he must also possess a larger than life personality. Guys like Edge, Triple H, The Undertaker, Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, John Cena, and JBL are far more equipped than Jeff Hardy to carry a zany WWE program. They are absolutely full of themselves and are very easy to hate or love. Jeff Hardy has not reached the level of any of those aforementioned men as a wrestling personality.

Does that mean that guys like Jeff Hardy and CM Punk should never hang around the main even scene? No. But they can't be consistently called upon to carry a two hour program unless they make some serious character alterations. Hardy, Punk, and Benoit were great to watch when they won their world championships. But they proved that some wrestlers are better at winning titles than holding titles.

We are heading into Wrestlemania season. This is the most anticipated and exciting time of the wrestling calendar. And with this being the 25th Anniversary of Wrestlemania no less, we need to see the most grandiose egos available heading into the extravaganza's main events. We need to see every wrestler on that card at his best. Hardy will be at his best if he gets to perform (A) without the weight of that entire event resting on his shoulders and (B) with the benefit of opposing a despised heel. And if the rumors are true, Jeff Hardy might have the perfect opponent waiting in the wings.

If Christian is revealed to be the culprit behind the hospitalization angle, the vehicular hit and run, and the pyrotechnic malfunction, a Wrestlemania grudge match between he and Hardy will most likely result. Assuming the feud would be built properly, such a battle would have definite "match of the night" and "Wrestlemania classic" potential.

Jeff Hardy should not walk into Wrestlemania as champion. But he should be given a "featured attraction" spot on the card. That way, if Hardy were to be subject to his third and final wellness violation, it wouldn't be with him holding the title during the Road to Wrestlemania.

My prediction for the Royal Rumble WWE Championship match: Jeff Hardy will drop the title to Edge.