Jeff Hardy vs Randy Orton, the best rivalry in a long time

[Jordan]

Over the last few years we can all admit that WWE has had some terribly boring and lame programs. However Randy Orton vs Jeff Hardy has really been intense. Does anyone else get the "big match" feel from this feud? I would accept Orton vs Hardy at Wrestlemania even.

Jeff Hardy is weird, because he is nothing like Shawn Michaels whom he is often compared to, nothing like the Rock, or Austin, or Triple H, or Jericho, or anybody who has been in his position before. Because of his like of mic skill, he is very unpredictable. But even if his accent makes him sound goofy, he does have a bursting charisma that put you behind him no matter how emo or Michael Jacksonesque they try to portray him. I think his gimmick is really fully coming together, he will do anything to win the title. And I am so glad he didn't puss out any shake Orton's hand last night.

As corny as it was for him to go into the audience and get names like Bobby, Wayne, Teddy... whatever... that was so unexpected and weird, but honest with tons of conviction, I totally bought it.

I would say WWE would be making a huge mistake not to capitalize on Hardy's popularity and 10 year history with the WWE and give him a well deserved and in all likely hood a very lucrative run with the WWE title, by winning at Wrestlemania 24.

I don't mean to get all Alienoid here but this is what I would love to see happen...

Jeff Hardy and Orton are in the middle of an epic old school wrestling match, big spots, with great story... then Orton hits the kick to the head. The match stops and Jeff is stretchered out. We don't see him again until a week or two before No Way Out, where he would be the first in and the survivor at the end. He would then challenge Randy Orton again at Wrestlemania for the title.

But you have to always look at the Triple H factor, he will probably be in one of the title matches at Wrestlemania, but which one? Well if he wins the Rumble, and Batista beats Edge either at No Way Out, Saturday Nights Main Event, or Smackdown! then they can get their Triple H main event against Batista, which does make a decent amount of sense, even though we have seen it many times before.

All that matters is Jeff wins.

[.44 Magdalene]

I, personally, am digging it so far and would love to see Jeff actually pick up the belt.

Though, "getting all Alienoid" would entail pulling excuses out of your ass as to why Jeff would be a bad champion, and then going on to rave about his brother for no distinct reason.

[Splaya]

Like last night at the end of Raw, the person who gets the upperhand usually loses the title match at the ppv. I was craving an RKO to Jeff as that would have signaled an Orton loss.

Hardy has not the greatest of mic skill, but the thing about is that he is such a daredevil that fans can get behind that. Think of him as being a reverse John Cena, in Cena's old days. Cena could cut a promo on anyone, and even today he can still do it, but he could not do the death defying leaps that Hardy can do. I would much rather have a champion who wrestles like Hardy, than a champion that wrestles like Cena.

[GD]

I don't see Jeff Hardy vs Randy Orton at Mania because they had wrestled each other on smackdown! prior to last year's wrestlemania.

[.44 Magdalene]

. . .

[Kane Knight]

Looked great last night, though that's all I've seen of it. The recap package was incredible.

I'm also digging Kennedy/Michaels right now. I know the smarks are off the bandwagon, but Kennedy held his own.

[Jordan]

I agree, that was a really good match.

[BigDaddyCool]

I think part of the apeal of Jeff v Orton is that while they are both young and never really faced off before in any meaningful way, they both represent something. Orton is the new breed of the old guard (if such a thing can be said). While Orton is young and still fairly fresh, he is a 3rd generation wrestler and has that whole "I was born, bred and groomed into being champion" thing going for him. Jeff Hardy on the other hand is the hard working, built his own name, often over looked, and refusing to fit into a predefined mold other want him to be in. I wouldn't say Jeff represents the working class or the common man, but he repersents the individual.

This fued has very connectable elements and has a clear heel and face. Something that has been lacking lately. So that is probably why this fued is so white hot unlike Super Cena feuds. No one could connect with an unstoppable rapping wigger marine. And since there no connection with him, it didn't matter that you couldn't connect with his opponets. Plus there was the fact that he spent most of his time at the end fueding with Lashley and HBK, who were also faces.

[Theo Dious]

This is... odd. Matt Hardy vs MVP was the most (if not only) continually entertaining thing on WWE TV in 2007... and now Jeff Hardy vs Orton is the most entertaining thing... damn, my brain just broke.

[BigDaddyCool]

Well, the Hardies are hot items. In an era of medicore at best, they are shining because they have always been above average.

[Kane Knight]

Well, the Hardies are hot items. In an era of medicore at best, they are shining because they have always been above average.

Basically.

In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is King.

Not that Matt and Jeff aren't good or anything, just that they're the hottest thing primarily because there's nothing truly stellar to outshine them.

[Innovator]

Plus they aren't cookie cutter recent WWE hires, they still look different

[The Lone Wolf]

Hardy vs. Orton has been a really good rivalry and i think it has been equal to if not better than the Matt vs. MVP feud. I am just wondering if the rumble draws big numbers if they will continue Hardy's push even if he doesnt win the title possibly into mania.
I would like to see HHH win the rumble or chamber and go on to face orton and hardy in a triple threat at mania. Then for that to break off into HHH and Hardy continueing their fued from last month but this time for the title and for orton to go on to fued with the returning cena.

[Mr. JL]

I feel that the Hardy/Orton WWE Championship match actually overshadows the Royal Rumble match itself this year; which hasn't been the case in YEARS.

[RP]

Hardy will win and Hornswoggle will win the Royal Rumble ( lets be honest, its something WWE would do ).

[Nark Order]

I agree. This fued has been one of the greatest things to happen to the WWE in several months. For whatever reason though, I'm thinking Matt will be involved in the RR match. Either for or against Jeff.

[ozzman6669]

Hardy will probably do an insane stunt and the match will end in double count out, he will win the chamber at NWO and the belt at mania in a ladder or TLC match.

[Indifferent Clox]

dude they should hold at some point hold one of the tag titles of their respective brands and the world and wwe championship, and possibly the lower level titles. That'd be fucking crazy.

[RP]

FOR RYAN!
FOR JEB!
FOR RACHEL!
FOR BOB SANDERS!
FOR SARAAAAAAAAAAAAA ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[loopydate]

I agree. This fued has been one of the greatest things to happen to the WWE in several months. For whatever reason though, I'm thinking Matt will be involved in the RR match. Either for or against Jeff.

What I'd like to see:

Jeff has the match won, but decides to go for some kind of ridiculous high spot to win it. He sets up one of his ridiculously tall ladders and starts to climb it. "BAH GAWD, KING! THIS KID IS ALL HEART! BUT WHY WOULD HE TAKE THE CHANCE! YOU'VE GOT THE MATCH WON, SON!" Matt comes running down to try to talk him out of it. Jeff keeps insisting that he wants to do it. Orton comes to and kicks Matt into the ladder. Jeff topples to the canvas, and they play up the "serious injury" angle. Randy pins him, and the show goes off with Matt checking on his brother, screaming for medics.

A SmackDown guy wins the Rumble, or somebody from RAW wins and decides to challenge the World Champion. Vince announces the Elimination Chamber for No Way Out. A series of "Beat The Clock" qualifying matches go on, with the six winners getting into the match and setting up their entry order. On the third week of qualifying, Jeff drags himself to the ring with Matt trying to convince him otherwise. "Come on, man, you're too hurt. Let me take your place. You can't win like this."

Orton stacks the deck by somehow arranging Hardy against somebody like Umaga. Against all the bah-gawd odds, Jeff manages to win, but it takes him the longest amount of time, so he's in but he has to be the first one in. After the match, Umaga continues to attack Jeff while Orton looks on laughing. Matt grabs a chair and chases both off, but Jeff it laid out. "CAN HE EVEN MAKE IT TO NO WAY OUT, KING?!?!?"

At No Way Out, Matt wins the U.S. Title and plays it up as the biggest accomplishment of his career. Jeff congratulates him and they talk about how tonight is the biggest night in Hardy Boyz history! Jeff improbably manages to make it through the Chamber, and it's down to Jeff against somebody like Khali. He doesn't stand a chance, but somehow he pulls it off! He gets another shot! The crowd goes wild, but Matt, who has come down to watch, doesn't look particularly thrilled.

Over the following weeks, Matt starts acting weirder and weirder. Finally, somebody (HBK? HHH? It needs to be somebody pretty big) calls Matt out on the fact that he's jealous. Jeff overshadowed his big title win by earning another shot at Orton. Matt denies it and swears he stands behind his brother, just like he's going to be in his corner at WrestleMania.

So, Mania rolls around with Hardy/Orton set up as the main event with Matt in Jeff's corner. As Jeff is about to win, there's a ref bump. Jeff goes for a cover, but there's no count! While Jeff checks on the ref, Orton takes advantage with a low blow! "DAMN HIM! DAMN HIM TO HELL!" Orton starts to motion for the RKO, but Matt slides into the ring with a chair. Jeff rises to his feet, but gets blasted by Matt! "THAT SON OF A BITCH! WHY?!?" Matt slides to the floor and the ref comes to just in time to count the three. "NO! NOT LIKE THIS!"

But wait! Here comes another referee! The refs confer, and the replay is shown on the big screen. The referee calls the ring announcer up on the apron. "Ladies and gentlemen, the referee has REVERSED his decision!" Orton still looks smug. A disqualification means he gets to keep the title. "The referee has declared that this match... WILL CONTINUE!" Matt's choked and Orton gets in the referee's face. He turns around to take out Jeff, but he's on his feet! TWIST OF FATE! Matt jumps up on the apron but eats a dropkick! SWANTON! ONE! TWO! THREE! The crowd goes absolutely apeshit, and JR has a stroke.

It gives Mania the happy ending that seems to be a prerequisite. It gives Jeff a chance to run with the ball. It pays off the best feud going in WWE right now between Orton and Jeff and sets up what will probably be the next great feud between the Hardy brothers. Plus, that ending is the memorable moment that gets included in the Great Mania Moments montages from here on out.

--------

Of course, there's no chance AT ALL of this happening (considering who's helming the ship), but how cool would it be if it did?

[Innovator]

Loopy, I like your idea, but I'd tweak it a bit, remember how Batista's slow turn was good, well so would be a slow heel turn by Matt

-Matt comes back at the Rumble and costs MVP the match with Flair, or the rumble match itself if MVP enters

-Jeff loses via screwjob to Orton

-Jeff wins Elimination Chamber at NWO

-Matt rebuilds his feud with MVP, the match everyone wants to see

MANIA

-Matt beats MVP for the US Title, Matt celebrates, biggest accomplishment of his career
BUT
-Jeff wins the WWE Title from Orton, place explodes, pyro goes off, Hardyz celebrate together as show closes...but Matt looks held back a bit

-Jeff continues to defend the WWE Title, even getting a win over Cena. Popularity grows, catapulting Jeff into the trish stratusphere

-Matt loses the US Title in the summer, becoming frustrated over the loss.

-At Survivor Series, Jeff and Matt are on the same team. Matt loses via a screwjob, but Jeff wins the match. Matt looks on, now angrily.

-LAST RAW of 2008, Matt and Jeff vs. Edge and someone. Hardyz win, then BAM, Matt hits the Twist of Fate on Jeff. Savage beatdown with a ladder, bloodying his brother.

Feud for 2009: Jeff vs. Matt

[loopydate]

That's really good, but that would require way longer-term booking than WWE is capable of.

[Innovator]

Yeah, it's so simple there would be no way they could pull it off

[loopydate]

Exactly!

[Mr. Nerfect]

I, personally, am digging it so far and would love to see Jeff actually pick up the belt.

Though, "getting all Alienoid" would entail pulling excuses out of your ass as to why Jeff would be a bad champion, and then going on to rave about his brother for no distinct reason.

Wow, are you out of date? And here I was actually being entertained by your posting for a while. :p

I'm all for Jeff Hardy taking the WWE Title from Randy Orton, and in fact, I've never said he would be a bad Champion. I just like Matt Hardy more, and think he would be a much better Champion.

[KYR]

I would like to see HHH win the rumble or chamber.

Hardy will probably...win the chamber at NWO.

What I'd like to see:

At No Way Out, Matt wins the U.S. Title and plays it up as the biggest accomplishment of his career. Jeff congratulates him and they talk about how tonight is the biggest night in Hardy Boyz history! Jeff improbably manages to make it through the Chamber

Loopy, I like your idea, but I'd tweak it a bit...Jeff wins Elimination Chamber at NWO

Mentioned several times in this thread already and in other threads. Where did this Chamber-talk originate? Have I missed some announcement or something?

Everyone seems to be talking about an Elimination Chamber match at NWO or 'Mania - is this a definite or are people ridiculously thinking it must be happening because of the Hardy PPV poster?

[Mr. Nerfect]

Where I would go with Randy Orton vs. Jeff Hardy:

At the Royal Rumble, Orton and Hardy work the match that they should: Hardy starts off strong with his momentum, but then Orton manages to turn the tides by using some real heelish tactics. I'd go as far as to have him purposely disqualified, but Jeff Hardy reach up and stop the referee from disqualifying Orton, because he wants the WWE Title so badly. The match is in Orton's ball court, and he grounds Jeff, but Hardy makes a comeback.

Things heat up, and Jeff Hardy looks for a Twist of Fate, but it is countered into an RKO. 1-2-Jeff kicks out! The fans would be loving Jeff not staying down. Orton looks to follow up with the Concussion Kick, but Hardy catches the leg, back heel trips Orton into a jackknife bridge for a very close two count. Hardy eventually counters a second RKO attempt into his sleeper hold drop, and manages to connect with the Swanton Bomb. Orton manages to kick out, and both men show how much they want the WWE Championship.

Eventually, the referee is knocked down, and Orton has Jeff crotched on the top rope for a superplex. Matt Hardy runs out, cracks Orton in the back with the steel chair, and Orton falls back to the canvas in position for a Swanton Bomb. The referee is still down, though, so Jeff climbs again, and hits a second Swanton Bomb. Jeff then follows it up with a third. This overkill series of Swantons basically hammers home the point we are going to see a new WWE Champion, and Orton looks like a tough bastard for needing a lot to keep him down. Jeff gets the three, and celebrates with his brother.

Triple H will probably win the Royal Rumble, so on RAW, you have Triple H talk about how Jeff beat Triple H in a fluke to earn his shot at the WWE Title, but he's going to face an updated version of The Game. Triple H tells Jeff that there is no way he can do it again. Matt Hardy feuds with Randy Orton heading into WrestleMania. At Mania, Matt pins Orton with the Twist of Fate in their match, and gets a big face victory, which is hopefully enough to nudge him a little further up the card, while Jeff Hardy manages to prove that he can beat Triple H, hitting a Swanton Bomb and successfully retaining his WWE Championship in the main event of WrestleMania.

As for No Way Out: instead of having the Elimination Chamber to decide who gets to face the World Heavyweight Champion at WrestleMania, make it for the WWE Championship. Jeff Hardy defends against Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, Mr. Kennedy, Bobby Lashley and Big Show, with Orton and Lashley starting off the match. Big Show enters #3, and works with Randy Orton. Hardy is #4, HBK is #5 and Mr. Kennedy is the last entrant.

All six men are still in the match by the time Mr. Kennedy enters, and then we see Big Show go monster on everybody, giving Jeff Hardy a Chokeslam on the steel floor, and maybe even giving him a modified version through a cell. He Chokeslams Shawn Michaels, and then goes to do the same to Kennedy, but he gets hit by a foreign object Mr. Kennedy has somehow snuck into the match. Big Show is busted open, and Kennedy gets the pin on the monster. Bobby Lashley tries to Spear Kennedy a bit later, but once again the foreign object catches Lashley, and he is gone. Lashley does not take very kindly to this, though, and he beats Kennedy around, to the point where he is groggy and eats an RKO from Orton. It's down to Hardy, HBK and Orton. Michaels gets Orton in his new figure four move, and Hardy swoops in with a Swanton Bomb on Orton, and Randy's shoulders go down to the canvas for the three count, with Michaels getting the technical pin.

The final fall between Michaels and Hardy is a vicious one, with HBK getting Jeff in his submission move, but he doesn't break when Jeff gets to the ropes. Eventually Hardy manages to roll-up Michaels for the three count, however, and survives the Elimination Chamber as WWE Champion.

[Shadow]

*sniffs*

I guess dreams really do come true.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Mentioned several times in this thread already and in other threads. Where did this Chamber-talk originate? Have I missed some announcement or something?

Everyone seems to be talking about an Elimination Chamber match at NWO or 'Mania - is this a definite or are people ridiculously thinking it must be happening because of the Hardy PPV poster?

It's been heavily rumoured. And sure, PPV posters don't mean as much as people give them credit for, but you don't put the Elimination Chamber on a widely released poster if you don't intend on doing an Elimination Chamber match.

[KYR]

It's been heavily rumoured. And sure, PPV posters don't mean as much as people give them credit for, but you don't put the Elimination Chamber on a widely released poster if you don't intend on doing an Elimination Chamber match.

Which poster had the Elimination Chamber on it? You're not referring to the Hardy one are you???

[Sting Fan]

For some reason Jeff Hardy is reminding me of Dusty Rhodes, kind of every day (kind of) person that people can connect too.

Not really too much behind my point TBH just how I feel.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Which poster had the Elimination Chamber on it? You're not referring to the Hardy one are you???

I think so. I didn't really look at it, but isn't Hardy shackled underwater in a black cage structure?

[Mr. Nerfect]

For some reason Jeff Hardy is reminding me of Dusty Rhodes, kind of every day (kind of) person that people can connect too.

Not really too much behind my point TBH just how I feel.

I agree with BDC on this matter: Jeff Hardy is not an everyman in the same way as Dusty Rhodes was. He does represent the individual, however.

[Tommy Gunn]

I'm completely sold with this rivalry, and think Jeff and Randy are both looking better than ever. It's refreshing seeing two young guys in the spotlight.

[Mr. JL]

Almost similar to the Cena-Edge feud.

[Dave Youell]

I’ve said all this before, but here goes.

Jeff isn’t going to win on Sunday.

The feud alone has elevated him, he doesn’t need a win, because it will hurt Orton, more than it will help Jeff. This feud has proven to fans that even without a match, he’s a potential main eventer and that is what this feud is all about. They have played to Hardy’s strengths and Orton has been putting him over like a god. But when push comes to shove, Orton needs to keep momentum, he hasn’t really had a clean win yet, and realistically he’s going to Mania as champ, so he needs to have clean wins from now until March to stay strong.

Hardy’s fan connection is immense, he does have the everyman thing going for him, like Dusty, because he’s not like everyone else on the roster, he’s a skinnier guy, who’s not afraid to go against the grain and any fan could easily be him. That’s what the Dusty connection was, know he was a man of the people for the people, yes it’s corny, but that’s why I’ve always liked Jeff.

Don’t get me wrong, as a mark, I would totally love Jeff to win the belt, but thinking about the direction of the business, it makes better sense to keep with Orton, Jeff is already elevated to an upper mid-carder now, keep him in high level programmes till the summer and then re-visit the title scene, he will still be as strong, a feud with him and HBK would be great, or he could go to smackdown, where he would realistically have a better shot at winning the title.

[.44 Magdalene]

I'm all for Jeff Hardy taking the WWE Title from Randy Orton, and in fact, I've never said he would be a bad Champion.

Sorry, unreliable champion.




Seven in the morning, etc.

[BigDaddyCool]

Basically.

In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is King.

Not that Matt and Jeff aren't good or anything, just that they're the hottest thing primarily because there's nothing truly stellar to outshine them.

Also, I would like to add that Jeff and Matt have improved as well. Not by much, but when everyone else is maintain the status suck or slipping, and they are improving even a little, they look better by comparison.

[Kane Knight]

Yeah, Jeff has especially stepped up. He's not BRILLIANT, but he's improved, and compared to everyone else, that certainly stands out.

[Mr. JL]

I can see Jeff winning the belt but it will be quite a short title reign with Orton winning the belt back at the next Pay Per View.

Then Orton marches into Mania as Champ to face off with whoever wins the Rumble.

Then I can see Jeff winning the Money in the Bank Ladder match and cashing in later on in the year to cement him as a main eventer.

[BigDaddyCool]

I can see Jeff winning the belt but it will be quite a short title reign with Orton winning the belt back at the next Pay Per View.

Then Orton marches into Mania as Champ to face off with whoever wins the Rumble.

Then I can see Jeff winning the Money in the Bank Ladder match and cashing in later on in the year to cement him as a main eventer.

I wouldn't doubt that. Also, the more I think about it, the more Jeff seems like a perfect canidate for best wrestler to never win a world title.

[Volare]

If Hardy dosen't win the title match, I would at least like to see a double count-out due to some sick spot outside of the ring. IMO it makes Jeff look more credible to prove that Orton couldn't continue the match, adds the fact that Orton couldn't pin Hardy, and shows Hardy would do anything to win.

[Johnny Vegas]

There definitely has to be a double count-out or Orton giving a kick to the head to Hardy to have the match stopped b/c i want to see Hardy win it at WrestleMania. It would be more special imo

[The Lone Wolf]

I can see Jeff winning the belt but it will be quite a short title reign with Orton winning the belt back at the next Pay Per View.

Then Orton marches into Mania as Champ to face off with whoever wins the Rumble.

Then I can see Jeff winning the Money in the Bank Ladder match and cashing in later on in the year to cement him as a main eventer.

That wouldn't bea bad idea especially since even though i am a fan of hardy i dont think he should have a very long title reign for his first championship.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I’ve said all this before, but here goes.

Jeff isn’t going to win on Sunday.

The feud alone has elevated him, he doesn’t need a win, because it will hurt Orton, more than it will help Jeff. This feud has proven to fans that even without a match, he’s a potential main eventer and that is what this feud is all about. They have played to Hardy’s strengths and Orton has been putting him over like a god. But when push comes to shove, Orton needs to keep momentum, he hasn’t really had a clean win yet, and realistically he’s going to Mania as champ, so he needs to have clean wins from now until March to stay strong.

Hardy’s fan connection is immense, he does have the everyman thing going for him, like Dusty, because he’s not like everyone else on the roster, he’s a skinnier guy, who’s not afraid to go against the grain and any fan could easily be him. That’s what the Dusty connection was, know he was a man of the people for the people, yes it’s corny, but that’s why I’ve always liked Jeff.

Don’t get me wrong, as a mark, I would totally love Jeff to win the belt, but thinking about the direction of the business, it makes better sense to keep with Orton, Jeff is already elevated to an upper mid-carder now, keep him in high level programmes till the summer and then re-visit the title scene, he will still be as strong, a feud with him and HBK would be great, or he could go to smackdown, where he would realistically have a better shot at winning the title.

Personally, I think Randy Orton winning would hurt Jeff Hardy more than it would help Randy Orton. As a fan looking to order the Royal Rumble, there are two really big selling points to me: The Royal Rumble Match, and Jeff Hardy riding that momentum to a WWE Title win. If they have Orton retain, they better do it a way that makes Jeff Hardy look very good. He will lose a lot of fan support otherwise.

The reason people have been buying into Jeff Hardy, including his former critics, such as myself, have been the sheer mark-out moments of him keeping his word. Randy Orton should have made victory impossible for Jeff Hardy in the Steel Cage Match, but Jeff instead hit that massive Whisper in the Wind, and completely obliterating Umaga.

Then Randy Orton devised a devious plan to get Jeff Hardy into position where he could kick him in the balls and then switch the momentum, but Hardy back body dropped Orton off the stage, avoiding a knock-out kick, and then hit that amazing Swanton Bomb.

The story here is that Orton's heel tactics aren't washing with Jeff. The second they do, this feud is pretty much over, in my opinion, as would be Jeff Hardy's immense amount of good will.

I can understand why you'd want to keep Randy Orton strong, but I think from a direction of the business standpoint, you need to look at who is going to make you money. Jeff Hardy is a bigger draw than Randy Orton, so it makes sense to have Hardy head into WrestleMania. The guy has been better recently, but Orton is not going to sell any tickets.

What the WWE have done with this feud, is tease so heavily that Orton is going to lose the WWE Title to this kid who has been on a roll, that if that event does not happen, people are going to be pissed. What you have to decide, I guess, is whether or not it's good to get them pissed heading into WrestleMania. Are you going to build up another face to take the belt off Orton, or are you going to play it safe, and give the fans what they are paying to see.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I wouldn't doubt that. Also, the more I think about it, the more Jeff seems like a perfect canidate for best wrestler to never win a world title.

Whoa, I think that's going a bit too far with the guy. Owen Hart and William Regal are two guys off the top of my head that I'd consider better than Jeff Hardy. I'm not even sure Hardy would crack the top ten. His own brother is ahead of him.

[Jeritron]

Well I'm not sure what will happen. Tell tale signs and logic points to no. I want to say yes, but I just don't see it happening.
On the other side of things, I get this strange feeling with everything going on that he's gonna win. It almost seems like hes gotta.

But I think him not winning might be better, even with all this hype. It will be a letdown, but if they want to knock it out of the park they should keep building it for Mania against HHH or HBK.
If he loses though, he has to be utterly screwed. This might derail his momentum, but his reaction to it might give him even more. If he comes out of it a victim of a screwjob who had Orton dead to rights, and is now irate and more driven/out of control, he may even get more entertaining and hyped up.
Then with an elimination chamber win, he could go into Wrestlemania the challenger with more momentum than anyone this decade.


Either way, my point is no matter what (knock on wood) he won't be losing cleanly this Sunday. If he loses, which he probably will, he'll be utterly screwed. The more the better.

Then again, he could win it. But wouldn't you rather see him pick up more steam and finally do it at a Wrestlemania against a bigger name/more credible heel champion?

[Mr. Nerfect]

Then again, he could win it. But wouldn't you rather see him pick up more steam and finally do it at a Wrestlemania against a bigger name/more credible heel champion?

Personally? Not really. His road to this has been going since roughly Survivor Series, and now he has the shot in his grasp. If he fails to win the belt, what then? "Oh, hey, I'm going to try again." It just makes him seem like a failure, in my opinion. The guy who couldn't win the big one, so now he's going for an even bigger one, and we're meant to buy it.

I'd much rather see Jeff Hardy silence Randy Orton, once and for all, and look like a guy who can get the job done. Then have a heel turn for either Triple H or Shawn Michaels, and have them joke about how Jeff Hardy is going to crash and burn, and how he got lucky, whatever. Jeff then successfully retains the WWE Championship through WrestleMania. They can make the title defence just as big a moment as the title win at WrestleMania theoretically would. The Rumble win would also be more shocking, whereas the Mania win would be a foregone conclusion.

[Jeritron]

But he isn't failing if HHH or somebody comes in an levels him right when he's about to win it. He's getting screwed.
Big difference. It makes his character want it more, and it makes the fans want it more too
And it's better achieved by him, and delivered to the fans (after coming so close) just down the road at the biggest show of the year.

Now, if he got cheated before this or he flat out failed it'd be momentum killing. But that's not what I'm suggesting

See Stone Cold Steve Austin in 99. It all led up to a dozen different nights, and he didn't get his way. Title shots/rematches/tournaments/royal rumbles/number one contenderships. There were plenty of times when it was "finally going to happen" and it didn't. But he didn't fail, he was screwed or unlucky. But finally he got it in the peak and finale of the greatest build/struggle in WWF/E history

[Mr. Nerfect]

I can kind of see what you mean, but what we're talking about is basically two PPVs. Is elongating the Jeff Hardy win really the best for it? Once again, I think surprise is an issue. If Hardy is challenging for the belt at WrestleMania, he is 100% guaranteed to win, and the suspense dies a little. A lot of the excitement for this shot doesn't actually come from the fact that it's Jeff Hardy, the man is nowhere near Stone Cold Steve Austin or The Rock on those levels, but rather that there is the whole unpredictability factor.

I think the longer this storyline goes, the more chance the WWE has of dropping the ball.

The only real screwjob I see being effective at the Rumble, is Matt Hardy turning on Jeff, and then returning to feud with his younger brother for or after WrestleMania.

[Fox]

I think Jeff needs to take the belt on Sunday. He has so much momentum going for him right now, and the fans are so completely behind him, to come out of that match without the WWE Championship would be a massive letdown for everyone. He's at a peak that he's never been before and may never reach again if it's not capitalized upon. They've done things perfectly so far, all they need is to push him over the edge and Jeff Hardy will be a main eventer for life.

I would love to see him win the belt at the Rumble, lose the title back to Orton at NWO in some sort of screwy finish, and then it's Orton vs. Hardy vs. Triple H (Rumble winner) at Mania for the WWE Championship.

[The Lone Wolf]

They have built jeff hardy up so much right now that the only place for him to go is for him to become champion. They have dropped the ball on so many people in the past that it would be a shame for them to do it to hardy.