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CALDWELL'S TAKE
CALDWELL: No Pressure - Significance of the Moment with Jeff Hardy as WWE champion Dec 15, 2008 - 5:05:49 PM
Jeff Hardy is WWE champion. It seemed that sentence would never be written going back a few months ago, a year ago, and definitely not even a few years ago.
In April 2003, Hardy was unceremoniously booted from WWE after the list of conduct issues became too much for both Hardy and WWE. He bounced around like a leaf tossed in the wind, settling on a TNA promotion that couldn't capture his mystique on FOX Sports at 4:00 in the afternoon on Fridays.
WWE brought him back in August 2006, and at last year's Armageddon PPV, he defeated Triple H to become #1 Contender to the WWE Title before losing to Randy Orton at the Royal Rumble when everyone and their momma was vastly disappointed in WWE not pulling the trigger on a Hardy title run.
However, Hardy took strike two on the outside corner of the plate via the Wellness Policy and found himself suspended just before WrestleMania 24, missing the biggest payday of the year and a slot in the Money in the Bank match won by C.M. Punk.
WWE seemed justified in their hesitation to run with Hardy as champion, especially when he did interviews leading up to the Rumble describing the pain he was feeling from the list of injuries adding up.
While suspended, Jeff's home tragically burned to the ground and things were amiss in Hardy's life. Yet, a fresh start on the Smackdown brand in July helped turn things around for Hardy. He was booked in main events, setting up a series of missed-it-by-that-much moments chasing the WWE Title.
Last night's WWE Title victory for Hardy was the classic, cliched, and standard story of redemption in pro wrestling. Eddie Guerrero wore a size eight version when he won the WWE Title from Brock Lesnar in February 2004. The story has been told countless times before.
Now, Hardy has the pressure square on his shoulders. It's not like being on Raw, the flagship show, but when an entire TV network is depending on a certain show, there is pressure being the face of the brand and network.
Fortunately, no one star is bigger than the WWE machine, so Hardy doesn't have to drive himself mad trying to make every media appearance or steal the show at every house show. Hardy just has to be Hardy - the free spirit now with a purpose and direction.
Of course, WWE has taken a big risk with Hardy facing three-strikes-and-he's-out the next time he violates WWE's Wellness Policy. But, Matt Hardy said on his blog this morning that his brother is focused and determined. WWE must see the same thing.
Now is the time for the Smackdown brand to settle down with Hardy as champion. After the belt bounced from Triple to Edge at Survivor Series, and with the World Title on the Raw brand jumping like a hot potato in between Summerslam and Survivor Series, WWE could use a lengthy, successful run from Hardy leading to WrestleMania 25.
Redemption was Hardy's song last night. Barring a crazy dumb quick title change back to Edge or to Triple H this week, WWE is depending on Hardy to continue dancing to the beat of his own drum within the WWE machine.
And you're one of the MANY emo commenters today bitching and moaning about
Jeff Hardy's WWE Championship win.
Joy!*sarcasm*
JeroyL
15 Dec 2008, 15:27
What about Punk? hxc 4 lyfe!!1
Arcalian
15 Dec 2008, 16:33
Until Wrestlemania 25? Sure, that would be nice. But how about past that,
until Night of Champions in June? That would a title reign that actually
*meant something*.
Stephen
15 Dec 2008, 19:05
Leroy, you're a friggin' moron. First, Jeff Hardy isn't emo. He was part of
the alternative subculture about a decade before the current emo fad.
Second, so what if he was? It'd be a nice change from the jockish-types
that dominate with their juiced-up bodies and third grader jokes. Keep your
damn social bigotry to yourself. As an alternative person and a Jeff Hardy
mark, I am thrilled that he is finally representing us "freaks". Screw off,
jerk.
CurtainJerker
16 Dec 2008, 03:50
"Screw off, jerk"? Awww. Stephen, your verbal impotence is almost
endearing.
However, generally speaking, I find that the people who like to pontificate
most loudly about how alternative they are, are the ones who are least
secure in themselves and their identity.
"Hey, look at me. No really, look! See how my hair is different colours,
and I've only shaved one side of it? And look at the name of the band on my
T-shirt. Aren't I alternative? Wait, come back - I haven't shown you all my
piercings yet..."
And they're also the ones most likely to take the bait when someone makes a
smartarse joke about their favourite wrestler. Get a grip of yourself,
boy.
Congrats to Jeff Hardy! Its about time he got recognized for his awesome
talent!! He is a fantastic wrestler, hotter then hell, and I hope he has a
LONG title run!!
bill torres
16 Dec 2008, 09:10
once orton wins the hvy.wght.chmp. i hope he is traded to smackdown n jeff
to raw.orton n legacy along with cant beat them join them batista are
better off on a taped show.jeff feuding with the guy who cost him the title
to mvp[matt hardy]on raw would be great.atleast thats what im hoping for.
Stephen
16 Dec 2008, 12:53
Verbal impotence? I am an English major and got a perfect score on the
verbal section of the SAT (1400 overall). I was trying to speak on the
level of you morons. Would you prefer "go fuck yourself, plebian"? How
about, "eat your mother's pussy you philistine rodent"? Better? I
personally identify with Jeff Hardy. I don't have died hair. I have one
piercing. I do see the world a little differently than most of the people
around me. Excuse me for censoring myself on this site. Won't happen again.
Fuck you.
CurtainJerker
18 Dec 2008, 08:26
Stevie,
I don't care about your qualifications (I'm not American, so SAT scores
mean literally nothing to me). I have a degree in law, a postgraduate
qualification, and work in public policy. These facts are equally
irrelevant. You are just sounding lame, whether you swear or not.
I also don't care whether or not you personally have dyed (not "died" -
how's that English major going, by the way?) hair or piercings. My
observation was a general one about people who profess to be "alternative",
as if that even means anything. Those who have truly independent minds
usually don't need to actively draw attention to their individuality by
talking about how individual they are. Their ideas and choices speak for
themselves. And it wouldn't surprise me if Jeff Hardy fell into that
category. Even with his laughable facial hair.
So I hope that sets your alternative mind at ease. And if you're concerned
about maintaining some decorum in your posts, why not go the whole way and,
oh I don't know, actually refrain from slinging around insults at all?
Mmmm?
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Jeff Hardy is WWE champion. It seemed that sentence would never be written going back a few months ago, a year ago, and definitely not even a few years ago.
