I wrote in my last entry that I thought Matt Hardy could be a main-event wrestler if given a chance, and I have come up with a story line that I believe could achieve that goal.

Before you scoff at the notion that a longtime mid-carder could be transformed into a viable main-eventer, I’ll remind you that it has happened a number of times over the years. And I’m not talking about someone like Steve Austin, who had been a high mid-carder before totally changing his look and gimmick and gradually becoming one of the biggest stars of all time.

I’m talking about a guy like Larry Zbyszko, who was a mid-card, white-meat babyface for about six years in the 1970s as the protégé of Bruno Sammartino. He had never been put into a money-drawing position – the mere thought of it seemed ludicrous. Then, one day in 1980, he turned on Bruno and the two had one of the most memorable feuds ever. They sold out arenas in the Northeast throughout that summer, with the angle climaxing in a steel cage match before a crowd of more than 40,000 at Shea Stadium.

So, it can be done, and this is how I would do it.

The angle begins with Matt and Jeff Hardy losing the tag team titles to Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch, with Matt being the one who gets pinned. Backstage after the match, Matt and Jeff talk about what to do next. Matt wants a rematch for the tag titles, but Jeff says that the Hardy Boys reunion was fun, but he thinks now they should concentrate on their singles careers again.

Matt wants to keep the team together, but Jeff won’t change his mind. He tells Matt that he got a taste of being champion when he held the Intercontinental title, and he wants that taste again. He also says that it’s time for Matt to live up to his potential. Matt gets a bit defensive and asks Jeff if he is hinting that Matt is holding him back. Jeff says that is not what he’s saying, and then mentions that Matt has had a rough time the past couple years – the public breakup with Lita, being fired, disappointing losses – and he needs to get back on track before it’s too late.

When Jeff brings up Lita, Matt firmly tells him not to go there. Jeff apologizes and ends the segment by telling Matt to think about whether he still has a passion for the business, to figure out what his goals are and then to go out and make them happen.

The following week, Matt tells Jeff that he thought it over and he agrees that they should concentrate on being singles wrestlers. He also said that he wants a fresh start, so he worked out a deal to leave Smackdown and join Raw.

Over the ensuing weeks, Matt and Jeff both go on a roll as singles wrestlers, and Matt is noticeably more aggressive than usual in the ring. The announcers get the point across in commentary that Jeff’s pep talk seems to have lit a fire under Matt.

Eventually, there is a battle royal on Raw to determine who will challenge WWE champion John Cena at the upcoming pay-per-view. There is a special stipulation that once the battle royal gets down to the final two men, it will turn into a match and must be decided by a pinfall.

The battle royal comes down to Matt and Jeff (several times during the match, Jeff had saved Matt from being eliminated). They shake hands and then go at it in a match that is fast-paced and hard-hitting, yet clean. After a ref bump, Matt charges at Jeff, who drops down to the mat. Matt goes flying through the ropes and lands hard on the floor. Showing concern for his brother, Jeff goes outside the ring to help him to his feet. As Jeff gets back in the ring, Matt stumbles over to where the timekeeper sits and very subtly picks up the timekeeper’s hammer. Jeff doesn’t see this because he is in the ring trying to revive the referee.

Jeff then holds the ropes open for Matt, who clobbers Jeff with the hammer. As the referee gets to his feet, Matt picks up Jeff’s limp body and delivers the Twist of Fate for the pin. After the match, Matt, with a crazed look in his eye, grabs a chair and then gives Jeff a Twist of Fate onto the chair, busting his head open. He then puts Jeff’s ankle in the folding chair and comes off the top rope onto it, breaking his brother’s ankle.

Check back for the conclusion to the story line in my next post.