Yeah, well, how long did it take for Hardy to finally get out of the mid-card status? Hardy has been around longer then MVP and Kennedy combined (or close to it)
Yes but his first years in WWE were spent in the tag division and were comparing their time as singles competitors. Jeff received his first mid-card push in 2002, however it was short lived as he was let go then took a year off from wrestling. Next he went to TNA (I cant really speak to that as I wasnt watching TNA at that time) and again he was let go. Jeff returned to WWE in 2006 and from then to now is when he is considered a mid-carder IMO. Thats also around the same time MVP debuted, and Kennedy the year before, so all three have been mid-carders roughly the same amount of time in the WWE. If you include his time in TNA, then yeah hes got close to two years on them.
And why exactly has it taken Jeff so long? He has a history of being unreliable and drug use. Hes been let go by both companies. Currently, he has two suspensions against him and will have to prove himself once again. Those things have a lot to do with why its taken him so long.
Also Im not totally convinced that hes finally broken though just yet. Yes, he had a respectable feud with Orton, a WWE title shot, and a good showing in the Chamber, but upon his return from suspension a month ago, once again he was feuding with Umaga and curtain-jerking at One Night Stand. I still consider him a mid-carder, albeit hes definitely in the upper echelon of the mid-card.
you are disappointed that he is going to possibly hold these guys back? Sure, Hardy may hinder their rise to title contention but if Hardy isn't contending for the title himself, think of the great matches and feuds he could have with these two guys alone. I think Smackdown gives Jeff a lot of great options.
I dont mean to take anything away from Hardy. I like Jeff a lot and am pulling for the guy. I have no problem with him in the main-event and want to see him get a title run if for no other reason than to see my daughter mark out like crazy.
My issue isnt with Jeff but rather WWEs decision to put him, MVP, and Kennedy all on the same show. Maybe Im in the minority, but Id be willing to bet there are others that would like to see MVP and Kennedy get their title shots as well and not another two or three years from now. And MVP and Kennedy dont have those same strikes against them that Hardy does.
I cant disagree with the potential for great matches and feuds involving the three, however in terms main-event/world title opportunities Im not so sure that Smackdown is the right place for Hardy what with HHH, Edge, and Taker in the picture for the foreseeable future. I think Jeff stood a better chance staying on Raw as its ME scene isnt quite as stacked at the moment. On Raw, theres Cena and Batista, HBK but I dont see him really challenging for the world title at this point in his career, and Ortons out with injury for the next couple of months.