WWE Backlash 2018: Results, Highlights, Analysis, and Grades

Source: WWE.com

United States Championship Match

Jeff Hardy (c) vs. Randy Orton

Result: Jeff Hardy defeated Randy Orton via pinfall

Rating: 1.75 out of 5 stars

For the record, I like Jeff Hardy. Also for the record, I do not like Randy Orton. I always try to be as objective as I can when I look at these matches, whether when I was reviewing NXT back in 2016, or Raw since January 2017, or pay per views since September. I’ve given Orton some decent ratings if the work deserved it.

This one did not.

Jeff Hardy as a singles competitor in 2018 is a weird thing, in my opinion. He’s great, and could probably have a decent little run with some short, 5-8 minute matches. But as a champion, he’s got to work a little longer, and he’s an old 40. All his “Team Extreme” stuff — that he’s been doing for nearly 20 years now — has taken its toll on his body. He’s slower than he used to be. He can still bust out aerial offense, but it’s not as crisp as it used to be.

And I hate to bring it up, but he’s spent a large part of his career dealing with substance abuse issues. That stuff ages you, too. So even though Orton is only two and a half years younger than Hardy, he might as well be 10 years his junior.

https://twitter.com/WWEUniverse/status/993296732543897600

Neither superstar was on the same page as his opponent, which contributed to some sloppiness. The Whisper in the Wind looked a hell of a lot cleaner than nine days ago at GRR, but Hardy almost concussed Orton because they weren’t positioned right. The WWE Universe contingent in Newark checked out pretty early, too, serenading the arena with “RUSEV DAY” chants. (Speaking of, why isn’t he on this show? Ah, too many people to ask that about, let’s move on.)

The less said about this, the better. Let Orton move on to something else (like a vacation), and Hardy can feud with Rusev, Jinder Mahal, The Miz, Shelton Benjamin, and anyone else that’s not Randy Orton.