J. Hardy’s extreme makeover continues on Smackdown
Last week on Smackdown, Jeff Hardy acted like someone who had gone over the edge. On last night’s show, he also looked the part. Hardy broke out the greasepaint to literally put a new face on his character.
It’s amazing how much makeup can enhance a performer’s presence. Hardy has dabbled in paint before, but never to this extreme (pun intended).
In the opening segment, Hardy looked like a cross between Sting (the wrestler) and King Diamond (the satanic falsetto rocker). With the extreme (there’s that word again) close-up and spooky lighting, Hardy made The Undertaker and his coffin look as threatening as an episode of The Munsters by comparison.
I’m really enjoying Hardy’s transformation into a face-painted outcast with a psychotic side. It reminds me a lot of Sting’s metamorphosis from a colorful surfer dude into a dark, mute vigilante in the late ’90s.
It’s always risky to mess with the persona of someone as over as Hardy, but his character needed to evolve after his repeated failed attempts to win the WWE title. Because the “new” Hardy has no allies, it also adds a needed sense of unpredictability to Smackdown.
Case in point: The contract signing between Triple H and Vladimir Kozlov looked like every other segment of this kind – and then Hardy came out of nowhere to hit a flying clothesline on Kozlov that put him through the table. Then, for good measure, Hardy ripped up the contract and threw the pieces into Triple H’s face. Good stuff.
Other thoughts on last night’s show:
The Hardy-Undertaker extreme rules match made for a wild and entertaining main event. Hardy going over after interference from The Big Show was predictable, but the finish was done in a way that made Hardy’s big win look legitimate and not like a fluke. ...
Not to be outdone by his brother, Matt Hardy also turned in an impressive performance. His victory over Shelton Benjamin was almost as good of a match as his win over Finlay on ECW Tuesday. Matt gets my vote for WWE’s MVP of the week. …
Speaking of MVP, don’t even get me started. As I have said before, if the losing streak gimmick is going to eventually lead to a big push for MVP, that’s fine, but can we please get to it already before the guy is so far buried that he can never recover? This story line is infuriating, not entertaining. MVP jobbing to Funaki (I’m not even going to refer to him by his ridiculous gimmick name) is an insult to the fans. And using MVP as fodder for a Great Khali comedy segment is even more of a travesty. …
By the way, the Khali Kiss Kam segments have officially run their course. If there is one next week, I’m hitting fast-forward. …
I was disappointed with the WWE divas title match between Michelle McCool and Maria. It was basically just a quick squash. Hopefully, there is more to the angle than that. McCool needs to turn heel. …
On a positive note, Vickie Guerrero said “Excuse me!” seven times last night, which I believe is a record. Yes, I did count them, and yes, I popped for every one.
I’m still waiting for WWE to put out a Vickie T-shirt. The holiday season is approaching fast, you know. Here’s how I envision the design: On the front is a shot of Vickie scowling and pointing her finger in the air, with a speech bubble above her head that says “Excuse me!” On the back, in big letters, it says: “I SAID EXCUSE ME!!!” If a shirt like that surfaces on wweshop.com, I expect royalties. …
The Brian Kendrick and Carlito had a good match. Kendrick is always fun to watch, and Carlito once again showed how good he can be when he is motivated.
Comments
Last night, I couldn't buy the cuteness and sweetness of the Maria-Festus storyline. Festus standing over Maria and leering at her was just creepy.
Is there any chance that WWE could release Kizarny? I hated his vignettes even before some stooge hammered a nail into his own nostril. Disgusting.
Posted by: Christopher | November 15, 2008 4:53 PM
I haven't watched much of Smackdown in the last 2-3 years but managed to catch most of it. The hhh/vladimir signing was great...until Hardy flipped on the guy. I thought that killed it. I really like hhh and vladimir feuding but Hardy is ruining it....I havent been to a wwe live event in about 3 years ( i used to attend every in the area) but might check out survivor series.....big show/taker, hhh/koslov...thats about it
Posted by: mike d. | November 15, 2008 4:59 PM
King Diamond ??? Where did you dig that one up from Kev ?
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: Hey, if you liked metal in the 80s -- and I did -- you knew who King Diamond was.
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | November 15, 2008 5:06 PM
I guess I will have to make my own EXCUSE ME t-shirt. Vickie sounds like that annoying high school teacher that you loved to hate.
PLEASE NO MORE MVP BURIAL MATCHES. I can't bare watching another funeral.
Glad that Kendrick is back on the upswing
Is it me or did Big Show gain all of his weight back.
Lastly, I saw it coming but I am soooo glad that Hardy went over Taker. He will also go over HHH next week, but will pin Koslov in the three way.
Posted by: Rob the barber | November 15, 2008 6:43 PM
There is a lot of talk about it right now, but most people ( including me) say that Hardy's paint looks like 'The joker' character from the new batman movie.
In the movie, The joker even sends a video to Batman that is pretty similar to the one that hardy sent to the Undertaker last friday.
If you want to, Check it out in the all mighty youtube.
I'm a Hardy fan, but I think the assault Kozlov suffered left him a bit behind in the title picture. Mostly because at that point of the conversation, HHH was telling him that behind that rock like face he had,he was scared to death because of his first title shot. And then, the Hardy Attack. Maybe next week he can regain some of his momentum,but right now, it's just like has has been sidelined.
I really enjoy watching Kendrick being pushed. He is a great worker, and his victory dance is uncanny. I know that the Kendrick/Ezequiel pair is an intended revival of the HBK/Diesel duet, but I have to say it anyway. Kendrick reminds me a lot of the young HBK.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: It's funny you should mention The Joker, because I also saw the resemblance and almost wrote that. The difference is that Joker looks like an evil clown because of the makeup around his mouth, and Hardy's was not clown-like.
Posted by: Gaston | November 15, 2008 7:18 PM
I *do* fast-forward through the Khali Kiss Kams. Just like I always fast-forward through women's matches.
And thank God for DVR and fast-forward, since the commercial break preceding the Hardy-Undertaker match was literally, like, 9 minutes. Who the hell sits and watches 9 minutes straight of commercials?
Posted by: Stephen | November 15, 2008 9:34 PM
If I was MVP I would just leave the WWE at this point.
Its obvious the WWE is disrespecting him and treating the man like a total joke. It must be hard working in an environment where the bosses think its their birthright to permanently scar people's careers.
You have to give it to MVP for not packing up and going to TNA at Japan.
I'm sure HHH would really accept a story line where he is made to love 50 matches in a row and have to look like a total fool by kissing some hideous beast of a woman.
Posted by: Elevation | November 16, 2008 12:21 AM
@ Stephen I am glad i am not the only one skipping diva matches
@elevation If MVP has a problem with it he could always just marry a mcmahon
Posted by: Sam | November 16, 2008 1:03 AM
I was disappointed in the Divas match being so short since it seemed they were building to something bigger and since both rosters of women have picked up their games lately. From what I've read, Beth Phoenix and Candice Michelle were given 10-15 minutes of ring time almost every night on the current European tour and had hsome great matches.
Posted by: chris | November 16, 2008 1:31 AM
I thought Hardy resembled luchador, Halloween. That would have been awesome if Hardy entrance is changed to King Diamond's Welcome Home. Also, I have a feeling MVP storyline is similar to the one of DDP's from back in the day, where he loses everything and goes broke.
Posted by: Mammoth | November 16, 2008 3:54 AM
I noticed as far as the make up that Jeff's face was painted like the t-shirt that they released recently.
http://www.wweshop.com/Product_detail.asp?cat=cat-jeffhardy&productId=04-00702
Posted by: Kevin | November 17, 2008 8:44 AM
Smackdown has been useless for years, but have to say, I have picked it back up the last few weeks because of Jeff Hardy.
Posted by: Matt | November 17, 2008 10:06 AM
Kevin,
You hit the nail right on the head. Jeff Hardy looked a lot more menacing than the Undertaker. The Undertaker's racket is old and stale. Hardy on the other hand cast off his stale persona and took a step to the dark side...and I have to admit. I like it a lot. He is over the edge now and it suits him. His loyal fans are going to go with him anyway, so lets make him even more deranged! NO ONE has ever made the Undertaker a stepping stone before! He needs to revamp the rest of his wardrobe and push it even further. Give me lots of blue lights...and darken the rest of his entrance lighting. I never thought I would find myself excited to watch Jeff Hardy wrestle. That change in character completely brought me onboard.
Love the King Diamond, reference there Eck, but you would be more accurate if you went back further to the smeared eye makeup of Alice Cooper. Thats what I want to see Jeff Hardy in a room full of guillotines, torture devices and chain restraints!
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: And they could change Hardy's entrance music to "No More Mr. Nice Guy."
Posted by: Lee | November 17, 2008 11:50 AM
Matt - Smackdown has been useless for years......I guess you never watched the best all round performer in this business - Edge. When you consider he is out, Mr Kennedy and Umaga also due back, Smackdown for me is almost matching Raw.
That said, Hardy's transformation has been exciting and has given good cause for watching. Having read the spoilers for this week....well. I initially thought of the Joker as well. More the mood and tone of his opening promo, rather than the look.
The kiss cam still has a place, and I like Khali's face turn, but not at the expense of MVP. I just hope there is light at the end of the tunnel for him when this angle is through.
Posted by: Wayne | November 18, 2008 8:24 AM
Wayne:
You are correct on the best all around performer in Edge. However, that was the Edge that showed up on Raw, ECW, and Smackdown. Not the Edge with Vicki Guerrero. Edge vs. "the new" Jeff Hardy could headline a PPV. Smackdown for years has had more Khali kiss cam storylines, than Hardy, or anyone for that matter, transformations
Posted by: Matt | November 18, 2008 5:52 PM
Watching Smackdown when it actually airs is painful. I fast forward through all of the divas matches\skits and anything involving the kiss cam.
Posted by: Jay | November 18, 2008 6:53 PM
My first thoughts were vampiro when hardy came out
Posted by: KZ | November 19, 2008 11:06 AM
jeff looked like the joker from the dark night
Posted by: bob | November 24, 2008 5:21 AM