10 Jeff Hardy Matches You Must Watch

7. Jeff Hardy vs. Austin Aries – Turning Point 2012

Jeff Hardy had come a long way by the time he won the TNA Championship in 2012. He had a failed attempt as top heel in 2010-2011 which culminated with his infamous moment with Sting at Victory Road. After that, Hardy took time off to get himself right, something he would continue to struggle with until very recently.

When he returned he was a flawed and sympathetic babyface but still the promotion’s top star. Austin Aries had been champion for some time before Hardy defeated him at Bound For Glory 2012. This match was the rematch, and it was even better. While it didn’t reach the levels of insanity Hardy had displayed in previous ladder matches, working with a talent like Aries helped. Hardy was eventually able to retain the title and continue his reign as TNA Champion.

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6. Jeff Hardy vs. Triple H vs. Edge – Armageddon 2008

Any young, impressionable Jeff Hardy fan at the time remembers this one. Hardy had been chasing the WWE Championship for all of 2008. Fans and Hardy himself were frustrated by the number of times he came up just short in his quest for the title but all that culminated with this Triple Threat match at Armageddon.

Edge had backed his way into becoming champion the previous month and now he had to defend the title against Hardy and Triple H. They had a terrific match, which still stands as one of the promotion’s best Triple Threat matches. There were moments that stand out like Hardy being Speared through an announce table but the finish is where it counts.

Hardy had been crotched on the top rope as Triple H Pedigreed Edge. While ‘The Game’ made the cover, Hardy climbed up and hit the Swanton Bomb which sealed the deal. He covered Edge and won his first WWE Championship as the fans lost their collective minds.

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5. Jeff Hardy vs. Edge – Extreme Rules 2009

Okay. Who’s ready for some ladders? Hardy and Edge feuded for the first half of 2009 over world titles. After Hardy won his first title at Armageddon, Edge regained the strap at the Royal Rumble. From there it gets convoluted but Edge ended up with the World Heavyweight Championship and Hardy was his challenger. After failing to beat Edge at Judgment Day 2009, Hardy challenged the ‘Rated R Superstar’ to a Ladder match.

This is one of the most forgotten Ladder matches in history, which is shame because it is so great. There were lots of callbacks to old spots, such as Hardy reversing a Spear off a ladder into a Twist of Fate. Hardy eventually pulled off an all-time great ladder match finish as he pulled Edge’s feet through a rung leaving him stuck. This allowed Hardy to retrieve the title and start his second reign as world champion.

Unfortunately, it only lasted a couple of minutes before CM Punk cashed in Money in the Bank and took the title from him. Bollocks.

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4. Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk – SummerSlam 2009

Coming off of Punk’s aforementioned cash-in, the two would clash at SummerSlam 2009. Hardy had managed to regain the World Heavyweight Championship at Night of Champions but their feud had to end. Teddy Long had decided it would end in a TLC match. As far as one-on-one TLC matches go, this is near the top of the list.

Hardy and Punk’s rivalry was full of hatred and they showed it in this match. Being slammed back-first onto chairs and ladders is not a fun way to spend your Sunday evening. Even less fun is hitting a Swanton Bomb off a massive ladder through the announce table. The move seemed to hurt Hardy even more than Punk as they scampered to the top of the ladder with Punk reaching the top first. Hardy was knocked off, allowing Punk to recapture the title and cap off a memorable SummerSlam.

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