Jeff Hardy’s U.S. Title Win Could Mean a Return to Main Event Stardom
By Tom Clark
Jeff Hardy became the new United States champion when he defeated Jinder Mahal on the April 16 edition of Monday Night Raw. Mahal opened the program as the first SmackDown Superstar to officially relocate to the red brand and lost his title as a result.
Now that Jeff Hardy is back in a prime spot, he’s surely going to be elevated in WWE again. That’s a move fans have been anticipating since The Hardy Boyz returned to WWE at WrestleMania 33. However this new run may become much bigger than just the U.S. Championship.
Hardy is over and that has been the case for nearly his entire WWE career. Fans absolutely love him and even though he has his demons, his supporters remain by his side. They believe in him and they always have.
The Charismatic Enigma has a connection. Fans see something irresistible in him, something that keeps them coming back for more. He’s a sympathetic babyface and that dates back to the moment when The Undertaker first blessed Hardy’s rise in the company.
Hardy showed a tremendous amount of heart on that night and it ultimately defined his career. Fans saw him as the underdog, the man that refused to stop fighting. Despite how many times he falls, he keeps getting back up. But fighting spirit is just one part of the Jeff Hardy package.
Hardy has an unbelievable amount of charisma. Fans see it every time he’s in the ring and they hear it every time he speaks. That charisma separates him from everyone else on the roster and it always has. Jeff was naturally blessed with the “it” factor. He is just so comfortable in his own skin and he has more confidence than many Superstars around him.
There is an aura surrounding his character that’s always existed and it was the difference between being a mid-card talent and a main event star. Jeff Hardy is indeed an enigma and fans want him now just as much as they ever did before. So how in the world could WWE believe the United States Championship would ever be enough for Hardy or his fans?
Jeff is in the same spot as Daniel Bryan. Bryan’s recent return to the ring was two years in the making and he hasn’t lost a step thus far. WWE likely wants to take Daniel one match at a time and perhaps even lead him to the mid-card, where he would definitely thrive. He could once again become the workhorse of the company.
But that will never be enough. Daniel Bryan is a star and much like Jeff Hardy, Bryan is capable of so much more. To keep either man on a level under his ability is outright negligence on WWE’s part. Not only can both men deliver in every way that counts, both men are incredibly over. What more could the company ask for?
Hardy’s United States Championship win is just a taste of what could come in the future. Whether it’s Monday Night Raw or SmackDown Live, both of WWE’s top titles could benefit from a Jeff Hardy run. Brock Lesnar’s Universal title reign will not last forever. Roman Reigns will likely beat him for the championship at The Greatest Royal Rumble event on April 27.
If that happens, then the Universal title picture will finally be wide open. Hardy could get a chance to step up and fight The Big Dog for Raw’s top championship. WWE could hesitate because of Reigns’ inability to get over as a babyface but that has not stopped the company from booking him against popular Superstars in the past.
The Superstar Shake-Up could find Jeff Hardy headed back to the blue brand. If that happens, then he could eventually go to war with the WWE champion. The man wearing the strap right now is AJ Styles but he could drop it to Shinsuke Nakamura. Despite which man ends up with the belt, he would surely welcome Hardy as a challenger.
Hardy versus Styles would be a main event match anywhere in the world. The same is true for Hardy versus Nakamura. Jeff is a veteran of many high profile matches and he is fully capable of stepping up with anyone in the company. Why not use him in that spot and give fans what they want?
Of course Hardy’s issues outside the ring could ultimately be what prevent him from getting back to the main event scene. He is one of WWE’s most popular acts of all time. But the cost that goes along with elevating him may be higher than what the company is willing to pay.
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Jeff Hardy is indeed a unique one-of-a-kind talent that has inspired a generation of pro wrestlers that followed after him. He and his brother Matt revolutionized tag team wrestling and both brothers are world renowned main event stars. Jeff is in top form and he’s a champion once again. That may or may not be enough for WWE. But it will never be enough for fans.