wrestling / Video Reviews
Views from the Hawke’s Nest: Enigma – The Best of Jeff Hardy – Disc 2
So, I picked up this set for cheap and on a lark because I am such a huge Jeff Hardy fan. I heard all the horror stories about his first run there, but I thought there MUST be some hidden gems. I was 100% wrong, and I unquestionably come off more and more miserable as I get through the set. If you don’t want to read me being sad because I’m watching bad wrestling, just click away now.
Turning Point
December 5, 2004
Randy Savage, AJ Styles, & Jeff Hardy vs. The Kings of Wrestling (Jeff Jarrett, Scott Hall, & Kevin Nash)
The Kings kidnapped Randy Savage sometime before the match so it’s two on three for now.
Hall and Nash were dressed like Elvis. AJ and Jeff had a little success early. Jeff eventually got cut off and then worked over though. AJ managed to tag in, but he then got cut off and worked over. This beatdown went on for a long time. He finally escaped, and Jeff made a big comeback. Nash took out the referee. Hall hit Jeff with a guitar, but that caused him to kinda hit JJ with a swanton. AJ took out Hall with a pescado. Randy Savage finally showed up. He tagged in and hit a number of punches. The babyfaces briefly had stereo sleepers. Jarrett went for a sunset flip on Savage, and Savage punched in the face and pinned him: 1…2…3
This was a really boring match for the first twenty minutes. Then Randy Savage showed up, and it became a really sad match. Only watch this match for historical (Savage’s last match) purposes. It is too depressing and awful to watch it for any other reason.
Match Rating: 1/2*
You CAN watch this match here if you truly want to.
December 17, 2004
Jeff Hardy (w/ Scott D’Amore) vs. Bobby Roode
D’Amore interfered quickly to get Roode the advantage. Mike Tenay shot on the booking when he asked, “How many times do we have to see that???” Roode worked Hardy over after that. There were some clunky moments for sure. Hardy avoided a powerbomb in a weird way. Roode almost wasn’t there for Whisper in the Wind. Jeff later hit the Twist of Fate and Swanton to pick up the victory.
My hope that this would be a hidden gem was dashed early, as these two just did not have the chemistry to pull off a strong match. The restraints making everything feel rushed did not help. Nor did Scott D’Amore for that matter. Needless to say, this was a disappointment.
Match Rating: **
Final Resolution
January 16, 2005
Jeff Hardy vs. Scott Hall
Roddy Piper was the special guest referee.
There is no way that this was good. Piper confiscated many of Hall’s weapons hidden in his Elvis gear. It took longer than I expected, but Hall did of course get control of the match and worked Hardy over. You always got the sense watching Hall and Nash in TNA that they treated the company with as much respect as wrestlers treat PWS. Hall caused a ref bump to get a weapon. Piper stopped Hall from using them though. Hardy hit a Twist of Fate and a Swanton: 1…2…3
Abyss attacked Hardy after the match.
This was sad, but at least Hall did the job.
Match Rating: 1/4*
We saw a music video about the Jeff Hardy/Abyss feud.
Destination X
March 13, 2005
Jeff Hardy vs. Abyss [Final Assault Match]
The brawl spilled to the floor and then the backstage area soon enough. Jeff climbed up something high and put Abyss through two tables with a swanton. That didn’t end the match for some reason, and they continued to brawl. They made their way back to the ring. Abyss got control and hit a chair-assisted splash. Jeff made a plunder comeback. He pulled out a ladder. They started going back and forth. Jeff almost won with a SCHOOLBOY which would have made me crack up. Jeff tried to do a Frankensteiner through a table, but Abyss reversed it into a powerbomb through a table. Jeff survived that and hit a Twist of Fate onto a ladder: 1…2…3
After the match, Abyss put Hardy into some tacks with a Black Hole Slam.
I did not hate this, but it’s disappointing to see two talented guys doing so much stupidity for so little reward. The price of being in TNA, I suppose.
Match Rating: **1/2
April 22, 2005
Jeff Hardy & AJ Styles vs. Raven & Abyss
Abyss and Raven got the heat on AJ for this match. I’d rather see an AJ hot tag, personally. This went on longer than expected. It was nice to see a television match on this set get a chance to breathe. Jeff made the hot tag eventually. He cleared house. They traded nearfalls. The finish was that AJ push Jeff out of the way from chain shot from Abyss. Abyss and Raven got DQed.
Raven and Abyss attacked AJ and Hardy after the match a lot more.
They were having a good match until the weak finish. This solely existed to set up the Jeff/Raven and Abyss/AJ PPV matches. That’s fine normally, but I’m dying for a good match.
Match Rating: **3/4
Lockdown
April 24, 2005
Jeff Hardy vs. Raven [Tables Match]
This was a tables match in a cage. I was hoping it would just be a “tables are legal” stipulation, but the winner would be the first to put his opponent through a table.
Raven got control very quickly. Raven accidentally put himself through a table though. Jeff then controlled the match for a while and busted Raven open. Jeff set Raven up on a couple of tables. He went to the top of the cage and did the Swanton through the tables…unfortunately, Raven moved out of the way. That did not give Raven control of the match for some reason. They briefly brawled some more. Hardy climbed out as Raven open the door. Raven used the door to crotch Hardy. Why are they trying to escape? Hardy dove into the ring, but Raven got his boots up. I have no idea what they were trying to do there. It did not look good though. Raven and the referee then worked together to set up four tables. Raven then forced Hardy to climb the cage. Jedi mind trick, perhaps? Regardless, Hardy knocked Raven onto the four tables. Jeff then put him through all the tables with a legdrop.
This match is not good in any way. It was not the worst match on this set by a wide margin, but it felt like an appropriately bad way to close out one of the worst wrestling DVDs that I have ever watched.
Match Rating: *3/4
You can watch this match here, but I do not recommend that you do.
Watch Jeff Hardy matches for free!
The Hardy Boys vs. The Young Bucks II
The Hardy Boys vs. The Young Bucks I
The Hardy Boys vs. The Briscoes [Fantastic Match]
Jeff Hardy vs. Chris Sabin [Full Metal Mayhem]
Jeff Hardy vs. Sabu vs. Rhyno vs. Abyss [Monster’s Ball]
Jeff Hardy & RVD vs. Kane vs. Christian & Chris Jericho vs. Spike & Bubba Dudley
More Trending Stories
- AEW Dynamite Drops Below 750,000 Viewers This Week, Draws Lowest Rating in Almost Four Years
- Roman Reigns on Jimmy Uso vs. Jey Uso, Discusses Jey Uso Walking Away From The Bloodline
- Becky Lynch Explains Seth Rollins’ Reaction to the CM Punk Return at WWE Survivor Series
- Eric Bischoff On Ronda Rousey’s Slams Of Vince McMahon, Doesn’t Think She Wanted To Be In WWE