We may never understand why Randy Orton attacked Edge and now, Matt Hardy. Twice. But we know this: He is sorry for it.
Hardy wasn’t cleared to compete in the announced No Holds Barred Match with Orton but defiantly confronted him anyway, waving a steel chair and demanding The Viper “finish” him. The Apex Predator joylessly granted the request, RKOing Hardy before turning the chair against the legendary Superstar in an attack that culminated with two one-man Con-Chair-Tos against the steel steps.
Prior to the horror show, Orton finally addressed his attacks on both Hardy, who he claimed to respect, and Edge, who he insisted he loved, in what was perhaps the most surprising development of the encounter. “I am sorry,” he said, without elaborating. “I am truly sorry.” He apologized after the vicious assault, too, screaming that he was sorry at Hardy’s limp body before stalking off to the locker room. For all the difference it made, at least we got that.
Credit: WWE.com
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WWE Photos > Weekly & Pay-Per-View Digitals > 2020 > RAW > February 17th
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The question of who would challenge United States Champion Rey Mysterio was supposed to be answered in a Gauntlet Match featuring 24/7 Champion R-Truth, Akira Tozawa, Ricochet, Matt Hardy, Humberto Carrillo and Andrade. But the match quickly turned from a contest into a bramble patch of grudges and unpaid debts, all of which boiled over into a pair of heinous attacks.
The first such assault came at the end of the Gauntlet Match itself. After Tozawa pinned Truth and Ricochet posted consecutive wins over The Stamina Monster and Matt Hardy, Humberto Carrillo pinned the high-flyer to bring it down to himself and Andrade. But Andrade, clearly out for retribution rather than a win after a pair of losses to Carrillo, instead ambushed the up-and-comer before the match, drilling him into the exposed concrete of the arena with a Hammerlock DDT that brought out Mysterio to assist.
But just as Humberto was being taken up the ramp in a stretcher, Seth Rollins and AOP appeared. Rollins was brandishing Mysterio’s signature steel pipe, which he gave to Kevin Owens to assist in KO’s pursuit of Rollins and AOP last week. Suddenly, Rollins’ unsettled score became clear, and after Akam & Rezar administered a brief beatdown of The Ultimate Underdog, the former Universal Champion seemingly granted him clemency for just one night … only to turn around at the last second and nail him with a Stomp. The only reason it wasn’t worse, according to Rollins, was then if Rey had been hospitalized, he wouldn’t be able to answer a challenge to defend United States Title against Rollins himself on next week’s show — a challenge that Rey decided to accept, despite his very sore temptation to fight Andrade instead. Rollins’ effectiveness as a “leader” may be a matter of opinion, but clearly, his new strategy is getting results.
Credit: WWE.com
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WWE Photos > Weekly & Pay-Per-View Digitals > 2019 > RAW > December 16th
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Drew McIntyre has been a new man since Survivor Series, dishing out chops to the chest, kicks to the mush and insults to the face of anyone who dares cross him. The latest unlucky recipient of all three was Matt Hardy, who has been working to get some momentum going since his own return a couple of weeks back.
Unfortunately for the former Raw Tag Team Champion, a round of adrenaline fueled by some pointed insults toward Matt’s (newly expanding!) family wasn’t enough to take down his towering opponent. Even though Hardy cut McIntyre down to size with a Side Effect and a trip into the ringpost, his attempt to execute a backslide was reversed into a Future Shock DDT, and a Claymore moments later was all she wrote.
Credit: WWE.com
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WWE Photos > Weekly & Pay-Per-View Digitals > 2019 > RAW > December 9th
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As it turns out, you can’t un-knock on Aleister Black’s door. One week after taunting the former NXT Champion, Buddy Murphy found himself face-to-face once again with The Ominous Man From Amsterdam, this time after defeating a returning Matt Hardy.
Hardy looked great in his first match in several months, but Murphy took advantage of his opponent’s ring rust to turn the tide quickly and put him away with three straight knees to the face. Murphy mockingly challenged Black again by knocking on the microphone, but this time, Black answered by charging the ring and knocking Murphy through the ropes with a jumping knee of his own. It’d be smart of Murphy to give Black’s door a wide berth in the future, but as Black said before confronting Murphy, he is “owed.” And he doesn’t seem like the kind of man to leave before he gets what he came for.
Credit: WWE.com
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WWE Photos > Weekly & Pay-Per-View Digitals > 2019 > RAW > November 25th
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In an absolute dream match, The Usos defended the SmackDown Tag Team Titles against The Hardy Boyz on SmackDown LIVE.
The two legendary Hall of Fame-bound tag teams went at it with intensity as Matt & Jeff pushed the pace and staggered Jimmy & Jey with several of their signature moves. Jey regained the advantage for his team after connecting with the big splash, but the Hardys survived the onslaught. When The Charismatic Enigma avoided a double splash, The Hardy Boyz rallied, putting Jey down with a Twist of Fate and Swanton Bomb that secured them their eighth Tag Team Championship reign.
The good vibes wouldn’t last long though, as Lars Sullivan arrived and picked up right where he left off after attacking Kurt Angle last night. Matt & Jeff attempted to bring the fight to the monstrous Sullivan, but The Freak laid them out with a pair of Freak Accidents and nailed Matt with a devastating flying headbutt.
The Hardy Boyz were the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions, but they were also Lars’ latest victims.
Credit: WWE.com
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