Matt Hardy vs. Sheamus
They did it again! Faced in a singles match against one of their No. 1 contenders for the second consecutive week, The Hardy Boyz managed to defeat their would-be usurpers when Matt edged Sheamus to send him and his brother to WWE Payback with all the momentum in the world on their side.
Granted, a little shenanigans were required to push Matt Hardy over the finish line against Sheamus — Jeff Hardy got into it with Cesaro and Sheamus was distracted, allowing Matt to pick up the win with Twist of Fate. The King of Swing was ready to throw down then and there, but the Irishman managed to defuse the situation to the tune of the third, and most assuredly final, handshake between the two teams.
Credit: WWE.com
Jeff Hardy vs. Cesaro
The Hardy Boyz said they were excited to be a part of WWE’s New Era. But if they’re not careful, that New Era may end up derailing their comeback: Jeff Hardy squared off one-on-one against one of the Hardys’ No. 1 contenders, Cesaro, and despite the dream-match stakes of the contest, The Charismatic Enigma found himself upended and outsmarted right until the very end of the match.
Hardy found himself outmuscled too, as The King of Swing’s prodigious strength allowed him to gain control of the match for the vast majority — at least until Jeff turned on the jets and clawed his way back. Cesaro continued to roll, but Hardy attacked wisely, unleashing a Whisper in the Wind, catching Cesaro with the Twist of Fate, and finally wrapping things up with the Swanton Bomb. It was enough to earn a handshake of respect from their challengers, but in two weeks, all of that goes out the door.
Credit: WWE.com
The Hardy Boyz, Cesaro & Sheamus vs. Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson & The Shining Stars
What’s the only thing more enticing than The Hardy Boyz vs. Cesaro & Sheamus for the Raw Tag Team Titles? (Apart from Elias “The Drifter” Samson wandering through Raw, of course.) The answer is The Hardy Boyz teaming with their No. 1 contenders in an 8-Man Tag Team contest against former champs Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson, as well as The Shining Stars.
Ironically, both champions and challengers were in perfect sync, with Cesaro & Sheamus helping bounce Karl Anderson from the ring and tee him up for Jeff Hardy’s Poetry in Motion over the ropes. After Matt administered a Twist of Fate to Epico, Jeff sealed things up with a Swanton Bomb. Good teamwork all around. Let’s see what happens when they go against each other.
Credit: WWE.com
The Hardy Boyz vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
Perhaps the most unexpected moment of WrestleMania was the return of The Hardy Boyz, who entered the Raw Tag Team Championship Ladder Match and immediately won said titles, re-attaining championship status after all of 20 minutes back on the roster.
Of course, ousted former champs Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson were quick to call in their rematch clause on Raw, looking to thwart the Hardys’ comeback before it even has a chance to get going.
Alas, they did not. The (literal) brothers were all over the (good) brothers from jump, though the match was not without its rough spots for the Hardy Boyz. Matt was isolated by Gallows & Anderson for minutes on end until he tagged in Jeff, but The Charismatic Enigma immediately lit the place up, administering Poetry in Motion to Gallows off the ring steps and kicking out of the Boot of Doom. A Twist of Fate to The Suntan Biker Man from Matt allowed Jeff to hit the Swanton Bomb, at which point Matt covered Gallows for the three.
Credit: WWE.com
Fatal 4-Way Ladder Match – RAW Tag Team Championship
The Hardy Boyz are back and they wasted no time showing why they are one of WWE’s most legendary duos as they climbed a ladder and grabbed the titles to become the new Raw Tag Team Champions.
WrestleMania 33 was said to be The Ultimate Thrill Ride and Matt & Jeff Hardy’s momentous return delivered as much. Seconds before the bell rang to begin the Raw Tag Team Title Ladder Match, WrestleMania hosts The New Day arrived to announce a surprise fourth team. The crowd’s reaction to The Hardys was so loud it likely shattered windows across Orlando.
Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson, Cesaro & Sheamus and Enzo Amore & Big Cass were thrown a serious curveball as they were tasked with competing against a pair of Superstars who helped elevate Tag Team Ladder Matches to new heights.
Matt and Jeff looked right at home, clearing the ring at the start of the match to the delight of the WWE fans.
Despite the brothers starting the contest with a wave of momentum, the other three teams would not go away quietly. Each duo took turns gaining the upper hand as the match ascended into absolute chaos. Enzo & Cass nearly grabbed the titles at one point when the 7-footer hoisted Enzo up on his shoulders. Their attempt to claim the championship was cut short, however, and the carnage continued.
Matt and Jeff’s experience in Ladder Matches proved valuable, as they took out their competition in the most extreme ways possible. First, Matt hit a Twist of Fate off the top of a ladder on Anderson. Then, outside the squared circle, Jeff nailed a jaw-dropping Swanton onto two ladders holding up The Swiss Superman and Celtic Warrior. Back between the ropes, Matt climbed the ladder and grabbed the Raw Tag Team Titles.
Ladies and gentleman, The Hardy Boyz are back in WWE and they are your new Raw Tag Team Champions.
Credit: WWE.com
