After last week’s brawl that ended with Samoa Joe putting Jeff Hardy to sleep with the Coquina Clutch, these two rivals squared off once again, this time with higher stakes – the opportunity to compete for a WWE Championship Match later tonight.
The bout was just as heated as their Christmas showdown, with Joe looking to submit Hardy early and The Charismatic Enigma seeking to unleash his rage on the submission expert. Despite being on the receiving end of some heavy-duty shots from Joe, Hardy still landed a Swanton Bomb.
However, Joe rolled to the arena floor after the move connected, drawing Hardy to ringside, as well. Joe trapped The Charismatic Enigma in the Coquina Clutch and nearly won the battle by count-out. Hardy beat the referee’s count, but Joe once again locked his foe in the clutch, and Hardy passed out in the hold.
Joe had one win out of the way. Could he pick up the second later in the night and get a WWE Championship Match?
Credit: WWE.com
Gallery Links:
WWE Photos > Weekly & Pay-Per-View Digitals > 2019 > Smackdown > January 1st
Screen Captures > WWE Programs > Smackdown > 2019 > January 1st
25: “Woken” Matt Hardy vs. Bray Wyatt — The Ultimate Deletion (Raw, March 19)
If you are looking for the sweet science, this preposterous capper to Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt’s “Great War” does … not have that. But it does have Matt’s wife playing a piano in the woods, a drone who’s a person, a baby who’s a king, a MOWAH OF LAAAWWWNN, a caretaker who’s also a gravedigger and a lake that reincarnates people. Turns out, at the end of the day, that’s just as wonderful. — ANTHONY BENIGNO
Credit: WWE.com
After Jeff Hardy dropped Samoa Joe with a wicked Twist of Fate last week in response to The Samoan Submission Machine’s week of hyperbole and mockery of his struggles with personal demons, the two faced off on the blue brand on Christmas night.
The Charismatic Enigma came at The Samoan Submission Machine with a furious intensity, but Joe’s size and strength advantage would soon factor into play, as he began to wear down Hardy with a smothering ground-and-pound attack. Jeff struck back with his signature dynamic offense, but he lost control of himself once he downed Joe outside the ring, and he repeatedly kneed his opponent into the face, disregarding the referee’s warnings and getting disqualified because of it. Jeff’s assault continued even after the bell when he sent Joe soaring over the announcer’s table. However, as Hardy began to plot his next devious move, Joe caught him in a singular lapse of concentration and locked the Coquina Clutch onto his rival until Jeff completely passed out.
Joe was content to leave Hardy laying for now, but it was clear that neither Superstar was content to let this situation rest for good.
Credit: WWE.com
Gallery Links:
WWE Photos > Weekly & Pay-Per-View Digitals > 2018 > Smackdown > December 25th
Screen Captures > WWE Programs > Smackdown > 2018 > December 25th
