When You Think of Jeff Hardy, What Do You Think of?

[CM Steel]

Jeff Hardy: Daredevil, risk taker, showman. These are words I think of when I think of Jeff Hardy. Us as wrestling fans have grew up watching Jeff Hardy in a ring solo or tagging with his brother Matt. How long has that been almost twenty years on TV? Sure Jeff has battled his demons inside & out the ring. Drug addiction, being late to shows, even showing up to a match high as a kite! Jeff Hardy is a wrestling tragedy waiting to happen.

Or Jeff Hardy could be the living comeback story in wrestling history. So far Jeff has been keeping his nose clean (no pun intended) as the current TNA world champion. And is looking to be the future of TNA/Impact wrestling. To TNA/Impact wrestling Jeff Hardy is their John Cena. He sells alot of merch, sells alot of tickets, and the younger fans love him to death.

But in your own opinion. When you think of Jeff Hardy what do you think of?

 

[Brewski]

Honestly, It's still really hard for me to get passed the years of drug abuse. Not the fact that he was a drug addict, in fact a lot of wrestlers I know and love are, but the fact that it affected his career so much. Fired twice from WWE and don't even get me started on the "match" with sting. It's just crazy to me how a guy can get this many freaking second chances.

When he was teaming with his brother through the 90s and early 00s I absolutely loved watching the guy. He was one of the most exciting wrestlers around by far. I never really considered him a great technical wrestler but the stunts he pulled were amazing. But even durring his first WWE singles run it was evident that he was slowing down. He started getting more control of his character. His face paint and mannerisms I was never a fan of. His entrance music in TNA I hate (he creates it). He's just a character I don't like. Terrible work ethic, no shows, constant drug use while working. Just a mess to me. He's not nearly as exciting as before and I just don't like the guy.

Maybe I'm hard on him.

 

[GameOver]

I think of The Hardy Boys, TLC matches and a pure daredevil, the rest is pointless to dwell on.

once the body paint kicked in i lost any interest in him, he's nausiating, he's a lousy talker, a lousy ring worker and is just a spot monkey 4 life
Matt was a far better wrestler, he could talk, he had charisma but kids flocked to the daredevil so Matt was underbooked, soon as Jeff left Matt was given a chance to shine til he screwed his life up.

 

[Matth3w]

Jeff may be my favorite superstar/wrestler. Ever.

I enjoyed his work in the late 90's tagging with his brother. And his first 'E' singles run in 02-03. He would come out to his music and do this crazy dance at the top of the ramp, wearing his awesome neon colored glow in the dark paint. Then his matched involved him doing some crazy stunt/flip thing a number of times. To a 15/16 year old kid, there was nothing cooler.

I think he started to get lazy when he first came to TNA - though he was still willing to put his body through a lot (ie: 30 foot Swanton from the stage to Abyss in the table - BFG).

Then he came back to the 'E', and I was very disappointed with how he returned - feuding with Johnny Nitro. His re-teaming with matt didn't help much either.

When he was finally main eventing, I stopped caring. I think he was either #1 contender or in the main ever title match for a year straight before they gave him the WWE title at some no name PPV like Armageddon, as Vince decided to screw the fans over at Survivor Series. Armageddon to Mania the guy was the hottest thing in wrestling - yes, I'm going to say even out popping Cena. But that's where it all fell apart. He lost the title at the next PPV, feuded with Matt, won a couple more world titles (one for 2 minutes) before leaving and joining TNA.

His best days were easily 98-03. Easily. He should've been bigger than he was, but he just didn't want to. Shame too. Heck of a nice guy (down to earth), and a great talent.

I remember watching Jeffs DVD and one thing that stuck out in my mind was a JR comment, which said something like:

"Jeff is an enigma. A very special human being. When you're talented to do what he does in the ring, and have every fan cheering for you - men, women, and children - that's very hard to do.

 

[KingHill]

I like Jeff Hardy.

As the most mainstream faces he will get heat from Internet-Marks.

But Jeff is great, he's not my fav, but I understand why he's the champ and why he is the man right now in proffessional wrestling.

 

[Airehk]

Standing on the turnbuckle, flashing lights, face painted, screen cropped from waist-up, angry face and middle and index fingers pointing to his mouth.

Pretty generic, ideal vision of the guy, but it's because I feel like I have already seen it all from the guy. Sure he's talented acrobatically and knows how to get a pop from the crowd, but I feel there is nothing from the guy at this point that is considered "must-see".

 

[It's Damn Real!]

♫ Make it to the top of my profession! ♫

No, no — that's not right

♫ Another me is what there will never be. Another life like this you'll never see...♫

Nope, still not quite there.

♫ I've been resurected — Oh I've been resurrected! ♫

Getting warmer...

♫ I am a dying breed. Laying it all on the line. Don't wanna mess with me at any place or time! ♫

There it is!

--

Nah, but seriously, when I think Hardy, I think highlight reel. I think of memorable Swanton's and Whisper's in the Wind and championship chasing/defending matches that often justify the mediocrity of a card that Hardy is ultimately head-lining. I think of the face paint and the dancing and the "charismatic enigma".

 

[Leakee]

I still have a soft spot for Jeff, no matter what he's been through. I've been a fan all through my childhood and I don't plan on stopping that. He's had legendary matches with the likes of the Undertaker, and pulled off some of the biggest spots (for example Swanton on Orton, Triangle Ladder Match spots.) He has an individual look, which has evolved to what he is now, and I think his face-paint looks badass. Why wouldn't you want Jeff in your company while he's clean and he's at a fantastic point of his career. Although it does sound a bit difficult to employ someone who is unable to come to the UK. Unfortunately you're gonna have to write him off TV for these tours but all in all I'm still supporting the guy even at the age of 35.

 

[GameOver]

Honestly, It's still really hard for me to get passed the years of drug abuse. Not the fact that he was a drug addict, in fact a lot of wrestlers I know and love are, but the fact that it affected his career so much. Fired twice from WWE and don't even get me started on the "match" with sting. It's just crazy to me how a guy can get this many freaking second chances.

When he was teaming with his brother through the 90s and early 00s I absolutely loved watching the guy. He was one of the most exciting wrestlers around by far. I never really considered him a great technical wrestler but the stunts he pulled were amazing. But even durring his first WWE singles run it was evident that he was slowing down. He started getting more control of his character. His face paint and mannerisms I was never a fan of. His entrance music in TNA I hate (he creates it). He's just a character I don't like. Terrible work ethic, no shows, constant drug use while working. Just a mess to me. He's not nearly as exciting as before and I just don't like the guy.

Maybe I'm hard on him.

He was never fired from WWE, he asked for his release twice to "recoup" from his ongoing injuries and possibly to avoid wellness violations, in both cases he ended up in TNA and after the first time he wanted back into WWE and they accepted him and pushed him to the moon then he asked for his release again citing burn out, only taking a month off then doing indy dates and ending up once again TNA

 

[Judah's Lion]

Nah, but seriously, when I think Hardy, I think highlight reel. I think of memorable Swanton's and Whisper's in the Wind and championship chasing/defending matches that often justify the mediocrity of a card that Hardy is ultimately head-lining. I think of the face paint and the dancing and the "charismatic enigma".

exactly this. Jeff Hardy is a highlight reel. and i mean that in no way as a criticism.

besides the face paint and the high flying moves, his name and "ladders" just seem to go hand-in-hand for me. ladder match with Taker, too-many-to-count ladder matches and tlc matches with his brother, most recently against Austin Aires. when it comes to high risk, Jeff Hardy is quite literally at the top of the ladder.

sorry for the terrible pun.

 

[Spinebreaker]

But in your own opinion. When you think of Jeff Hardy what do you think of?

00:00 Entrance, Facepaint, throw stuff to the crowd.
00:20 Bell rings
00:25 exchange of blows, lock-up, headlock
01:02 Twist O' Fate attempt 1
01:17 Get beaten down.
01:23 Twist O' Fate attempt 2
01:49 Get beaten down
02:02 Awful botched front suplex (OK, before about '98 it wasn't botched.)
02:08 Leg drop thing
02:11 Swanton Attempt 1
02:28 Get beaten down
05:15 Twist O' Fate attempt 3
05:21 Get beaten down
08:12 Successful Twist O' Fate 1
08:19 Swanton Attempt 2
08:33 Get Beaten Down
10:08 Whisper in the Wind
10:17 Successful Twist O' Fate 2
10:19 Successful Twist O' Fate 3
10:23 Successful Swanton Bomb
10:34 Automatic Victory

If it's PPV, he just does all that twice.

Boring in the ring, Below average on the mic.

 

[Chopper]

I think of his many MANY ladder matches with E&C, Dudleyz and Undertaker. Most notably, TLC 2. In my opinion that is by far TLC's best ever. Hitting a Swanton and that top-ladder spear bump prove he's got balls. He must have taken bump advice from Mick Foley because that would put a normal man down. Cast his faults aside because let's face it, we are not all perfect. Jeff goes down as one of the most passionate and talented high fliers out there. Tables, Ladders and Chairs. Oh my!

 

[smizzy]

Jeff Hardy got me sucked into wrestling because of the time I started watching. I think it's a bit of a shame that people focus on the negatives so harshly, but it's not unwarranted.

While I have fond memories of Jeff Hardy, nowadays just ain't the same.

 

[The Eighties]

The image of him that springs to mind every time I read his name is him standing atop that insanely huge ladder doing a Swanton bomb onto Bubba Dudley at WrestleMania.

I think his "Charismatic Enigma" nickname is perhaps the most accurate in the modern era of wrestling, he truly is mega over and yet cannot cut a decent promo most of the time, but there is an "It" factor about him that transcends the usual requirements of being a top guy in modern pro wrestling, he comes off as an individual and that makes him real which in turn gets fans behind him.

His in ring work seems to split fans down the middle and the bulk of his most memorable matches have involved a ladder, however I thought his match with Aries at BFG was one of the best matches of 2012 and it didn't have any gimmicks.

 

[Da Prophet]

Drugs.

I think of all times he has screwed up. Sin Cara loves to botch in the ring while Hardy loves to botch in real life. The dude has had some crazy times and he's always seemed to screw shit up. He does the flips but the drugs always stick in my mind when thinking of Jeff Hardy.

 

[lowandmighty]

Honestly when I think of Jeff Hardy, I think of Matt Hardy. Matt and Jeff the Hardy boys. Micheal Hayes comes to mind for some reason as well.

I remember him as a great tag team wrestler with his brother Matt.

I think of those triple threat TLC matches against the Dudley boys and Edge and Christian. Those were Jeff Hardy's best two matches in my opinion (summerslam 2000 and wrestlemania 17 from memory) If you haven't seen these matches I highly recommend you do. Two of the coolest matches of all time.
The Hardy's don't win but still, they do the best shit in them. Sorry for spoiling it if you haven't seen them.

Thats what I think of when I think of Jeff Hardy.

As far as Jeff Hardy as a singles wrestler with the face paint goes - puerile trash.

 

[S.J. Maximus]

To me, when I think of Jeff Hardy I can't help but immediately think of wasted potential. I'm one of the biggest Jeff Hardy fans in the world and I loved Hardy's title chase in 2008 more than any other storyline that year but to see him in TNA (despite being its top face) seems like he's taking the easy way out. At the time of his departure, Jeff Hardy was the face of the WWE. You know how CM Punk was champ for 434 days in WWE and still couldn't find himself in the main event of a show unless he was facing Cena? Jeff Hardy was trading the belt with Edge and Punk in mid-2009 and main evented every time because he was what fans wanted to see he was red-hot and like many people have already said he is a walking highlight reel.

Had he not left (and not used drugs so much) he could still be the face of wrestling and the biggest star in the world (IMO). But no, his demons have gotten the best of him and his back has forced him to believe he can't work a WWE schedule (even though everyone gets part-time deals now) and he has become the big fish in the small pond with nowhere to go.

 

[lil bitch Kid]

What does Jeff make me think of? Phases.....

Innovative: As a tag wrestler the Hardys were fun to watch. When they had their first ladder match with E&C, you knew it would be special moving forward. Then their first tables match with the Dudleys, again, it set the tone for their future.

Stunt Monkey: That would be his first singles run. There was no psychology except for the lead up to the big spot. He was talented Shane McMahon. You knew the stunt was coming, and then it did.

Druggie: Really, who could blame him the way he abused his body? It doesn't make it right, but if you've wrecked your body, you're going to be in pain.

Star: His last singles run in the E was what made him a star. He mixed in some psychology with the occasional stunt monkey spot. A lot of credit has to be given to the top of the card at the time as well. The guys he worked at the top of the E made his style look good.

Unreliable: As has been noted, he gets the push up the card, then says he needs time to recover, only to jump to TNA. Let's not forget the Sting main event title match.....

Success and perseverant: This is the now of Jeff Hardy. He,s worked his way back to being a star and seeming reliable. He's working good guys for his style and the matches are looking good.

 

[rajasalshi]

Honestly...the word that comes to my mind when I think of Jeff Hardy is "traitor"! He promised all the WWE fans after his last match there that he would be back and even the WWE gave him time off to heal from his injuries but Jan 4 Impact Episode....BAM!!! He shows up on TNA TV? While I might be a WWE loyalist but his jumping ship so suddenly really made him get out of my favorites list.

 

[Brewski]

He was never fired from WWE, he asked for his release twice to "recoup" from his ongoing injuries and possibly to avoid wellness violations, in both cases he ended up in TNA and after the first time he wanted back into WWE and they accepted him and pushed him to the moon then he asked for his release again citing burn out, only taking a month off then doing indy dates and ending up once again TNA

You're right, I stand corrected. But that doesn't make him any better, it just makes him one of the least trustworthy and unreliable wrestlers in the business. His lateness and no shows were well reported while he was in WWE but somehow he keeps getting work as a high level star. From both companies.

He sells the most T-Shirts for TNA so I get why they pushed him but he's just not a draw for me. I go in streaks where I watch and skip TNA and it's been skip for me for the most part since he's been champ. I watch the PPVs but he doesn't attract my viewership

 

[waylon p]

When I see Jeff hardy, I do not think of the daredevil stunts in epic matches. I do not think of the drugs. I certainly do not think of the title reigns. I think of the outfits, the costumes, the gear, man!!!

No, not that gear. Not the sleeves, not the cargo pants, not the hankie...the gear he and his brother wore before most people ever noticed them. Before the goth style, before gangrel, before the feud with Edge and Christian.

The outfits that changed every time we saw them, but always looked like macho man's and the rockers's outfits had a baby. That was some nice looking gear. Then they got put in a program and had to develop the new look, which is the old look now. Still looks like stuff a yardie would wear, to me. At least he got rid of the cargo pants. (wait. He DID get rid of those, right? Can't say I have actually been paying attention. When he shows up on screen, I tend to log in to reddit.)