The Shimmy 09.15.08: The Hardy Report Card (Part One)

No. 1 Contender’s Match: The Hardys vs. Edge & Christian (King of the Ring 1999)

This is really where the whole Hardys-E&C rivalry got started. This was a last minute addition to the card and by most accounts was the saving grace for this show. During this time period Edge was teaming up with both Christian and Gangrel in tag team combos, and I’m certainly glad they went with the Edge & Christian team here. Up until around this time The Hardys had been jobbers, mostly seen on Shotgun Saturday Night with the likes of Too Much. Michael Hayes picked them out of the gutter to feud with The Brood and the resulting feud eventually morphed into something legendary (once they lost Hayes and Gangrel). This match was a great kickstart to it all and The Hardys scored the upset that led to their first set of tag team titles.

My Grade: A-

World Tag Team Title, Acolytes’ Rules Match: The Hardys© & Michael Hayes vs. APA (Fully Loaded 1999)

The rules they Acolytes picked were that the match was No DQ and that Michael Hayes could team with The Hardys. You would think that would actually work in The Hardy’s favor, but you’d be wrong. The Hardys lost the titles that night, when the APA pinned Hayes no less. The match itself was fine if not groundbreaking and The Hardys, and the APA as well, continued to evolve. The Hardys would react to Hayes costing them the titles by turning on him and forming the New Brood with Gangrel.

My Grade: B

No. 1 Contender’s, Tag Team Turmoil Match: The Hardys vs. Edge & Christian vs. APA vs. The Hollys vs. Mideon & Big Daddy V vs. Droz & A-Train (SummerSlam 1999)

The latter half of 1999 was pretty deep when it came to tag teams, as not only did they have these teams but Val Venis & The Godfather (who could have been a HUGE tag team), Kaientai, and Blue Meanie & Stevie Richards who were kept out of this match, plus the Dudley Boyz debuted shortly after this. This was the first ever Tag Team Turmoil Match and I’ll admit that I’m a mark for the gimmick. I actually just watched this match a month ago on WWE 24/7 and it was still fun, almost Scramble like. The real meaty part of this match is the stuff between The Hardys and Edge & Christian, which should really come as no surprise. Edge & Christian were the ones that really got put over here (even though the APA ultimately won) but it was hammered home how lame The Hardys were as Gangrel’s minions.

My Grade: B-

Terri Invitational Tournament Finals, Ladder Match: The Hardys vs. Edge & Christian (No Mercy 1999)

While this isn’t of the same caliber of any of the TLC Matches (and most will probably rank the Triangle Ladder Match at WrestleMania 2000 higher than this one although I wouldn’t) it is still damn good and it’s fun to think about how revolutionary this match was. A lot of people say the same thing about the first Shawn Michaels-Razor Ramon Ladder Match, and in my opinion this one holds up better than that one does even if the one does benefit from the added legacy of it being at WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden for the Intercontinental Title instead of being at No Mercy in Cleveland as part of the T.I.T. These four men did some absolutely crazy stuff in there and it’s even crazier to think that this was the first time it was done. In the Ladder Matches of today there is some precedent with some spots so you know it can be done; these guys didn’t have that luxury. This is a great match that everyone needs to see once. This is perhaps the one truly legendary match from 1999.

My Grade: A+

Survivor Series Elimination Match: The Hardys & Edge & Christian vs. The Hollys & Too Cool (Survivor Series 1999)

Despite the fact that I love the Survivor Series Elimination Matches, 1999’s bunch was not one for the ages. This match was the only one that was booked with actual storylines in mind as The Hardys and Edge & Christian became friends after gaining respect for each other in the Ladder Match, and Too Cool helped The Hollys for some inexplicable reason. The gimmick gives the match a certain amount of excitement and it is interesting to see The Hardys and Edge & Christian on the same side, but this was by no means an instant classic.

My Grade: C+

No. 1 Contender’s Tag Team Battle Royal: The Hardys vs. Edge & Christian vs. APA vs. Mideon & Big Daddy V vs. Mark Henry & Godfather vs. Too Cool vs. Droz & A-Train vs. Kaientai vs. The Headbangers vs. Rodney & Pete Gas (Armageddon 1999)

It’s hard to really give too much of a breakdown of a Battle Royal, but this was a pretty good effort. Again it showed off the depth of the tag team division (with the New Age Outlaws, Rock’n’Sock Connection, Big Boss Man & A-Train, and The Hollys all elsewhere on the card). The APA had a date with the New Age Outlaws at the Royal Rumble, but The Hardys had a good showing before ultimately being eliminated.

My Grade: B-

That wraps up 1999. Next week we’ll look at 2000, which includes the Triangle Ladder Match and TLC I.

PPV in Review: Unforgiven