The Shimmy 09.15.08: The Hardy Report Card (Part One)

Greetings all, and welcome to another edition of The Shimmy. The Report Card Series returns this week for what could end up being the most ambitious one yet. The Hardys have been a hot act is wrestling recently, moreso than they even usually are, which is saying something. Matt Hardy is the new ECW Champion and Jeff Hardy is gunning for Triple H’s WWE Title. This series will look back at all their WWE PPV efforts that got them to where they are today. Originally I was just planning on choosing one Hardy to focus on, but after realizing that the first few years of their WWE career were mostly going to include both of them in tag team bouts I figured I’d include both brothers. I hope you enjoy this look back at Team Xtreme.

No. 1 Contender’s Match: The Hardys vs. Edge & Christian (King of the Ring 1999)

This is really where the whole Hardys-E&C rivalry got started. This was a last minute addition to the card and by most accounts was the saving grace for this show. During this time period Edge was teaming up with both Christian and Gangrel in tag team combos, and I’m certainly glad they went with the Edge & Christian team here. Up until around this time The Hardys had been jobbers, mostly seen on Shotgun Saturday Night with the likes of Too Much. Michael Hayes picked them out of the gutter to feud with The Brood and the resulting feud eventually morphed into something legendary (once they lost Hayes and Gangrel). This match was a great kickstart to it all and The Hardys scored the upset that led to their first set of tag team titles.

My Grade: A-

World Tag Team Title, Acolytes’ Rules Match: The Hardys© & Michael Hayes vs. APA (Fully Loaded 1999)

The rules they Acolytes picked were that the match was No DQ and that Michael Hayes could team with The Hardys. You would think that would actually work in The Hardy’s favor, but you’d be wrong. The Hardys lost the titles that night, when the APA pinned Hayes no less. The match itself was fine if not groundbreaking and The Hardys, and the APA as well, continued to evolve. The Hardys would react to Hayes costing them the titles by turning on him and forming the New Brood with Gangrel.

My Grade: B

No. 1 Contender’s, Tag Team Turmoil Match: The Hardys vs. Edge & Christian vs. APA vs. The Hollys vs. Mideon & Big Daddy V vs. Droz & A-Train (SummerSlam 1999)

The latter half of 1999 was pretty deep when it came to tag teams, as not only did they have these teams but Val Venis & The Godfather (who could have been a HUGE tag team), Kaientai, and Blue Meanie & Stevie Richards who were kept out of this match, plus the Dudley Boyz debuted shortly after this. This was the first ever Tag Team Turmoil Match and I’ll admit that I’m a mark for the gimmick. I actually just watched this match a month ago on WWE 24/7 and it was still fun, almost Scramble like. The real meaty part of this match is the stuff between The Hardys and Edge & Christian, which should really come as no surprise. Edge & Christian were the ones that really got put over here (even though the APA ultimately won) but it was hammered home how lame The Hardys were as Gangrel’s minions.

My Grade: B-

Terri Invitational Tournament Finals, Ladder Match: The Hardys vs. Edge & Christian (No Mercy 1999)

While this isn’t of the same caliber of any of the TLC Matches (and most will probably rank the Triangle Ladder Match at WrestleMania 2000 higher than this one although I wouldn’t) it is still damn good and it’s fun to think about how revolutionary this match was. A lot of people say the same thing about the first Shawn Michaels-Razor Ramon Ladder Match, and in my opinion this one holds up better than that one does even if the one does benefit from the added legacy of it being at WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden for the Intercontinental Title instead of being at No Mercy in Cleveland as part of the T.I.T. These four men did some absolutely crazy stuff in there and it’s even crazier to think that this was the first time it was done. In the Ladder Matches of today there is some precedent with some spots so you know it can be done; these guys didn’t have that luxury. This is a great match that everyone needs to see once. This is perhaps the one truly legendary match from 1999.

My Grade: A+

Survivor Series Elimination Match: The Hardys & Edge & Christian vs. The Hollys & Too Cool (Survivor Series 1999)

Despite the fact that I love the Survivor Series Elimination Matches, 1999’s bunch was not one for the ages. This match was the only one that was booked with actual storylines in mind as The Hardys and Edge & Christian became friends after gaining respect for each other in the Ladder Match, and Too Cool helped The Hollys for some inexplicable reason. The gimmick gives the match a certain amount of excitement and it is interesting to see The Hardys and Edge & Christian on the same side, but this was by no means an instant classic.

My Grade: C+

No. 1 Contender’s Tag Team Battle Royal: The Hardys vs. Edge & Christian vs. APA vs. Mideon & Big Daddy V vs. Mark Henry & Godfather vs. Too Cool vs. Droz & A-Train vs. Kaientai vs. The Headbangers vs. Rodney & Pete Gas (Armageddon 1999)

It’s hard to really give too much of a breakdown of a Battle Royal, but this was a pretty good effort. Again it showed off the depth of the tag team division (with the New Age Outlaws, Rock’n’Sock Connection, Big Boss Man & A-Train, and The Hollys all elsewhere on the card). The APA had a date with the New Age Outlaws at the Royal Rumble, but The Hardys had a good showing before ultimately being eliminated.

My Grade: B-

That wraps up 1999. Next week we’ll look at 2000, which includes the Triangle Ladder Match and TLC I.

PPV in Review: Unforgiven

So we opened the show with the ECW Scramble. I’ve go to say I question that decision. The World Tag Team Title Match could have benefitted from that “We’ll cheer anybody that comes out at the beginning” pop more than these guys did. Still, this was a really fun match. It’s a shame to see guys like Meltzer shortchange it just based on the fact that it’s got Mark Henry and The Miz in it. I enjoyed the Scramble Concept on the whole and this was a good way to get it over. I was really disappointed that everyone in the match got to hold the title except for The Miz, but hopefully he’ll have his day soon. It was also kind of bittersweet to see Matt Hardy win the title, because as awesome as it was to see Matt win a World Title, Mark Henry had done such a great job as champion. I maintain that Mark Henry has been the best booked World Champion in any promotion this year.

As I said the World Tag Team Title Match could have benefitted from having a hot crowd. Cryme Tyme is a fun act and Rhodes & DiBiase can be a good team, but the match just seemed so long, and it was only about ten minutes. I will say that after initially being against putting Randy Orton will DiBiase & Rhodes I have definitely warmed up to the idea. They play off each other well and it makes Orton look like even more of a star being the clear leader. I’m interested to see more from Manu, but every group needs a good enforcer and I think Manu might be that guy.

Michaels vs. Jericho was just great. This match could have been a perfect blowoff to this feud but you won’t hear me complain if it’s not. I think my favorite moment in the whole match came after Michaels put Jericho and Cade through the announce table and Michaels rolled out of the wreckage and just went nuts, feeling the moment. I will always complain about a referee stoppage in a wrestling match, especially in a match where the referee shouldn’t have had that kind of authority, but that small bit aside and this was a perfect match, made even cooler by the ending of the show.

The WWE Title Scramble Match was a whole lot of fun as well. Jeff Hardy really looked like a star, and even though I keep wanting to see Jeff get his big moment at WrestleMania I start to go nuts every time I think the championship is almost here. Fortunately I’ve had a week to calm down about the fact that freaking Brian Kendrick got to be an interim champion during the match and Shelton Benjamin didn’t even get a sniff. Kendrick better at least get to win the United States Title at some point in his career otherwise that whole thing was a joke. I’m not quite as annoyed by it a week later because it’s a good talking point for his character, but still. Overall this was a really fun, chaotic match, just like these Scramble matches should have been.

I won’t be too hard on the Diva’s Title Match. I called it filler in the PPV Roundtable and it acted like filler. Can’t fault it for not being a MOTYC even if it was pretty boring.

And then we had the main event. Upon first viewing I thought the match was pretty lousy but had an interesting finish that made it enjoyable. After watching it a second time I enjoyed the match a bit more (lower expectations perhaps?) and the ending is still cool. While part of me thinks it sucks that Punk never even got to be in the match, in a way he kind of saved face. Plus I think he came off like a bigger star in a feud with Randy Orton than he would have if he just got his ass kicked in the Scramble. Jericho as champ has some great potential matchups (including dropping the strap to Cena when he returns) so I’m definitely down with the change.

Overall this was a very fun show. I don’t agree with the people that call this one of the best PPVs of the year, but it was a solid night of wrestling action.

Andy Enjoyment Index: Unforgiven

1) Michaels-Jericho
2) WWE Title Scramble
3) ECW Title Scramble
4) World Heavyweight Title Scramble
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5) Cryme Tyme-Rhodes & DiBiase
6) McCool-Maryse

The Shimmy Likes It Raw!

What’s on tap for tonight’s show?

World Heavyweight Title, Steel Cage Match: Chris Jericho© vs. CM Punk; Punk gets a shot at the World Title he never lost in a match that “guarantees” no outside interference. I actually think there is a good chance that this will be Punk’s best match in WWE, even if he doesn’t stand a chance of winning.

Kane vs. Rey Mysterio; We’re not waiting until No Mercy to get this match on the show. Kane is going to reveal why he singled out Rey and it has to do with his old mask. While I admit I did kind of mark out at the sight of his mask, for Kane’s sake I hope he doesn’t have to start wearing that thing again.

This week’s One Tree Hill should be incredibly tough to watch as everyone will deal with Quentin’s death. Q was one of my favorite characters and I hope his death ends up serving a purpose other than giving poor Jamie some trauma in his life.

There’s also a big game on Monday Night Football tonight as the Cowboys take on the Eagles. Everyone is tripping over themselves to say how awesome Philadelphia is but I’ll believe it when I see it. My pick in the Donovan McNabb injury pool is still Week 5.

Well that does it for this week’s column. Next week is part two of The Hardys’ Report Card. Until next time, don’t die. Clark…out.