Looking at a potential Hardys feud
Matt and Jeff Hardy may or may not be on the verge of a feud, but I think it would make for a compelling story line if WWE goes in that direction.
I’ve always found brother vs. brother programs intriguing, especially when the fans know the participants really are brothers. I think that’s one of the reasons why the feud between blood brothers Bret Hart and Owen Hart had more emotion than the one between kayfabe brothers Edge and Christian.
I have been advocating a Hardy Boyz feud for quite a while. In fact, I wrote a two-part blog entry over a year and half ago detailing how I would script the angle. It’s a story line that could draw money if done correctly, and a Hardy vs. Hardy extreme rules match is a WrestleMania moment waiting to happen. Judging by what Jeff Hardy told me in a couple interviews over the past year, he and Matt feel the same way.
This is from January:
KE: A feud between you and your brother, Matt, has been teased in the past in WWE, but they never went all the way with it. Is that something that you would be interested in doing?
JH: Oh, yeah, definitely. I think somewhere around WrestleMania 25 would be really cool to have a Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy match. I was a huge fan of the Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart matches back in the day and the brotherly feud. I think Matt and I could really have a good long natural feud with the old brother vs. brother scenario.
This is from October:
KE: I asked you in January whether you had any interest in having a feud with Matt. You said that you did and you’d like to wrestle him at WrestleMania 25. Is there any chance of that happening then or some other time in the future?
JH: Yeah, for sure. Matt and I both are big fans of Bret Hart-Owen Hart feud matches. I remember us being brothers and watching brothers wrestle on pay-per-view and were like, “How cool would that be?” Matt and I wrestled each other all the time back in the OMEGA days, so how cool would that be for us to be wrestling each other [in WWE]? I’m sure a lot of people would like to see that, too. I know people always say, “Nobody wants to see The Hardy Boyz fight,” but if it was done right, it could be phenomenal.
As Jeff pointed out, there is a belief among some that fans don’t want to see the Hardy brothers at odds. They point to the fact that the angle was attempted in 2001 and quickly dropped after one pay-per-view match because the fans rejected it.
But that was seven years ago. I agree that it wasn’t the right time then, but both Hardys have credibility as singles stars now, and considering where they are in their respective careers, it’s a natural angle and not forced like it was in ’01. Plus, think of the huge pop they’ll receive when the inevitable emotional reunion takes place.
Matt showed during his “Matt Hardy, Version 1” days from several years ago that he can be a good heel, and Jeff is obviously a great babyface. The biggest question is whether Matt would be able to step up his game on the microphone, because strong promos are a key component of any big-time feud.
If he could do that, the Hardys could be right up there with the Harts as far memorable brother feuds go.
Comments
Oh Kevin, using "facts" to try and make a point. The liberal media strikes again.
But, seriously, I would love to see a Jeff Hardy/Matt Hardy feud. I think it could be fun.
Posted by: Chris Slater | December 15, 2008 9:35 PM
It might be interesting-maybe even a Title VS. Title match eh?
Posted by: Samuel Young | December 15, 2008 10:34 PM
I find it curious that you're more worried about Matt on the mic than Jeff. I've always felt Matt was the stronger of the two performers. Is he brilliant? No, not by any means, but I cringe every time Jeff opens his mouth. Or was the comment made simply out of a belief that the heel in such a feud would necessarily have to be giving such an overwhelmingly strong performance (as opposed to Jeff simply having to remain what he already is)? By the by, I've always been curious about wrestler's training. Are they taught to act in wrestling schools or by your average wrestling coach? I've always assumed there's some focus on promos (though not overwhelmingly so), but it seems to me, a theatre graduate student and actress, that they don't teach them to act. Am I wrong on this? (If I'm not, I know a certain talented actress and teacher who would be happy to rectify the situation :-).
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: Matt, as the one doing the heel turn, would have to give the promo of his life to get over why he would attack his brother.
Posted by: Micah | December 16, 2008 12:56 AM
I don't watch WWE regularly these days (only TNA), but a Matt vs. Jeff feud would have me glued to my television.
I just hope that if they do it, they do it big and make it the major storyline on tv because both men deserve that chance and the fans have been craving such a feud for a very long time.
Posted by: John | December 16, 2008 3:45 AM
This could definatley be the feud of 2009 with matt in my eyes soon to lose his title (runs dont seem to be that long anymore except if your HHH or Edge where it makes sense) and it looks like kozlov will move to ecw to boost his name, meaning Matt can become a bit of a free agent.
Playing on what we know with the attack angle and what edge has said is this the time of the hardy feud, with matt maybe winning royal rumble to get the title shot and then the whole story comming out about who attacked hardy, (of course edge will want a rematch at RR) also could come about that edge and vickie were manipulating Matt as that seems to be thier story.
Of course in my eyes i still think christian is a chance to be the mysterious attacker, leading to hardys vs edge and christian at wrestlemania with the titles on the line (both wwe and ECW)
Posted by: Bribba | December 16, 2008 8:33 AM
what is enjoyable about this possible feud,is the way they are slowly building it up.In the "old" days,a break-up or feud,started in November(for e.g.),exploded in February,and was exploited til Wrestlemania.Today,it seems feuds start 3 days before a PPV for no apparent reason.The great fun was in the build-up,hoping the good guy would not turn on his friend or partner.Now, everything is so rushed.
Posted by: Anonymous | December 16, 2008 11:31 AM
Matt and Jeff Hardy, without question, two of the most entertaining and exciting superstars today. And a rivalry between the two, although great, would really take a lot to pull off! First, WWE would have to decide who the bad guy would be, most likely it would be Matt due to previous occurances, but who would doubt that it would be interesting if Jeff was the bad guy? Second, they would have to figure how the fans would react to it. WWE fans, although great, are very sensitive, they either love something, or they hate it, and there's absolutely no in-between. I would know because I am one. You either love John Cena, or you can't wait to boo him when he comes out! Theres no in-between. So you kinda have to look at that. We already know that Matt and Jeff want the storyline to happen and I do too, and you have to believe that every other fan wants it to happen too, and I think that, if that storyline were to happen (which it eventually will), it would put tons of butts in the seats, and put tons of dollars in WWE"s bank, and that's what is meant to happen.
Posted by: Matt | December 18, 2008 6:58 PM