Jeff Hardy has long been a fan favourite in the world of professional wrestling. Hardy, 47, gained popularity for his daredevil antics and jaw-dropping stunts, which have solidified him as one of the most popular wrestlers of all time.
In a recent YouTube video, Jeff and his older brother Matt, known as the Hardy Boyz, rewatch some of their greatest moments in the WWE. Within the video, Jeff reacts to fans’ claims that during his best run with the company in 2008/09, he was more popular than the American President at the time, Barack Obama.
“I always feel super honoured when people talk about 08 and 09 [and say] ‘Man in 08 and 09 you were bigger than Obama!‘” he said. It was during this time that the wrestling legend won his three world championships with the company.
The run epitomised Jeff Hardy. Jaw-dropping spots, memorable attires and fantastic matches and stories. With that being said, let’s take a look back at some of the Charismatic Enigma’s most memorable moments from this run.
Five Memorable Moments From Jeff Hardy’s 2008/09 Run
Number Five: Extreme Rules match vs Matt Hardy- WrestleMania 25
The 25th anniversary of WrestleMania in 2009 saw Jeff take on his older brother Matt in an Extreme Rules match. This feud had been going on since the Royal Rumble, where Matt turned heel by attacking his younger brother with a steel chair. This betrayal cost Jeff the WWE title.
This led to a gripping story where Matt would claim responsibility for Jeff’s accidents in his personal life. The two would then meet in a brutal match on the Grandest Stage of Them All.
Matt came out victorious after delivering a wicked Twist of Fate while Jeff’s head was lodged inside a steel chair. The match was full of other memorable spots such as the human sandwich- a spot where Jeff jumped off the top rope and onto Matt, who was lying on a table outside the ring with another table on top of him- and Jeff’s missed leg drop from the top of a ladder.
Number Four: Falls Count Anywhere vs Umaga- No Way Out 2008
A rivalry that had many memorable matches throughout 2007/08 culminated with a Falls Count Anywhere match at No Way Out in 2008. The match was incredibly entertaining and featured many creative spots.
The duo fought in the crowd before going backstage, where two of the more memorable and creative spots took place. Hardy would duck under the Samoan Bulldozer’s swing with a chair before running up a flight of stairs and sliding down the rail to hit Umaga with a clothesline.
The two would then spill out into the car park, where Hardy, followed by his opponent, would climb up to the top of a production truck. However, while Umaga was climbing, he was kicked down to the concrete below.
Hardy would then live up to his daredevil reputation, delivering a Swanton Bomb to Umaga from the top of the truck, sealing the win.
Number Three: First World Heavyweight Championship win- Extreme Rules 2009
On the 7th of June 2009, Hardy would win his first World Heavyweight Championship in a thoroughly entertaining ladder match with Edge at Extreme Rules. The match was full of memorable moments as two veterans put on a brilliant show.
Again, the match typified Jeff Hardy and highlighted his ability to execute creative spots in the ring. Perhaps the most well-known moment from this match is when both men came crashing down from a huge ladder set up outside the ring.
Edge and Hardy both brutally landed, going through another ladder that was lying horizontally from the barricade across to the ring apron.
Other memorable moments include Hardy performing a missile dropkick to a ladder, sending Edge crashing to the mat, performing a Whisper in the Wind off a ladder and reversing Edge’s attempt at a spear from a ladder in mid-air with a Twist of Fate.
The challenger would then become champion by trapping the Rated R Superstar between the rungs of a ladder before climbing to the top and bringing down the title.
Number Two: First WWE Championship win- Armageddon 2008
Armageddon 2008 saw a triple threat main event between Hardy, Edge and Triple H for the WWE title. The match was as entertaining as you would expect from an encounter with these three legends involved.
It was a thrilling encounter, which included Hardy being speared through an announce table and interferences from Vladimir Koslov and Matt Hardy sparking chaos. Koslov pulled Triple H out of the ring and attacked him before sending Jeff Hardy crashing to the floor outside the ring.
Jeff’s brother Matt would come to the rescue and deal with Koslov. Following the interference, Edge would spear Triple H before going for the pin. The Game would kick out off at a count of two, to Edge’s dismay.
Edge would then attempt a brutal ConChairTo to seal the win before Hardy made the save. He took the chair out of Edge’s hand before delivering a headshot to the Rated R Superstar.
The daredevil would then climb to the top rope, looking to deliver a Swanton before being knocked onto the turnbuckle by Triple H. The Game then hit Edge with a Pedigree and looked to have the title wrapped up.
However, the Charismatic Enigma would finally deliver a Swanton and win the match. The crowd was sent into raptures as Hardy won his first WWE title.
The victory would change Hardy’s career, and it transformed him into a solidified superstar. Commentator Jim Ross described the win as sending Hardy “from daredevil to champion, from enigma to icon.”
Number One: Swanton Bomb off stage- Monday Night Raw 2008
Arguably, the most memorable moment of the 47-year-old’s illustrious career came on an episode of Monday Night Raw in 2008. Hardy was feuding with Randy Orton, and they were building towards a WWE Championship match at the Royal Rumble on January 27th.
Jeff would lose the title match due to a trademark RKO from out of nowhere. However, the most memorable moment of this feud came during the lead-up to this match.
On the January 14th episode of Raw, Hardy would perform one of the most jaw-dropping stunts in wrestling history.
Orton was laid out next to the stage, and Jeff, being the ultimate daredevil, saw this as an opportunity. He climbed up the titantron and would stop once before ascending even higher.
WWE officials begged Hardy to come down, and so he did… in his own way. The ultimate thrill seeker would fly from nearly 20 feet high and hit Orton with a mind-blowing Swanton Bomb. Both men would leave on stretchers, and the wrestling world was stunned.
Trying to condense Hardy’s run into five moments was extremely difficult. As a result, some crazy moments didn’t quite make it. Therefore, here are some honourable mentions that just missed out.
- Whisper in the Wind from the top of a steel cage vs Umaga- Monday Night Raw 2008
- Swanton Bomb from the top of a ladder through the announcement table vs CM Punk- SummerSlam 2009
- Second World Heavyweight Championship win vs CM Punk- Night of Champions 2009
What are your favourite moments from Jeff Hardy’s unforgettable run?