ULTIMATE HARDY BOYS
Written: Friday, August 8, 2003 -
DESCRIPTION: Before Team 2 Xtreme sported their death-defying, gravity contradicting style in WWF, Matt and Jeff Hardy went beyond extreme on Southern outlaw shows. This footage is so underground, so scarce and so exceptional that it could only be captured on camcorder. Behold four hours of Matt and jeff at their most dangerous as they laugh at fear and execute some of the most thrilling moves in the wrestling business. This is the only place to see Matt take on Jeff early in their careers. (courtesy of RFVideo.com)
All of these matches occur in some high school gym on the East Coast and with the exception of the last match on the tape, somebody does partially audible commentary for the matches over a microphone or P.A. system stationed in the gym. Also, most of the bouts occur in OMEGA (Organization of Modern Extreme Grappling Arts), a promotion that the Hardy Boyz owned and operated themselves. Throughout it's existence, OMEGA featured names like Steve Corino, Shannon Moore (as Kid Dynamo), and The Hurricane (as Shane Helms).
- Matt walks to the ring wearing the OMEGA Heavyweight Title with some theme music playing in the background. . He's playing the face here. In the ring already is Mike and his tag team partner, Kid Vicious, who is actually Shane Helms, better known as The Hurricane. Matt slaps the hands of some ringside fans before his music stops palying and he takes a microphone and cuts a brief promo where he vows to prove to the fans why Mike is "only one half of the World Tag Team champions and not the World Heavyweight Champion." He then says that "The way it's goin' down, [inaudible], is - with or without his partner - you're sstill [something inaudible, and judging by the fan's reacions, Matt's tone of voice, and Maverick's reaction, it was some insult]. He climbs into the ring wearing his title belt around his waist before handing it to the referee. The ref (who later in the bout through the commentary is revealed as OMEGA senior official Jaimee Skarland [sp?]) shows it to Mike and Vicious and the fans and then hands it to someone at ringside. The ring announcer announces that the bout is for one fall (what a surprise) and for the OMEGA Heavyweight Title. Vicious exits the ring as the bell rings and the bout gets underway.
MATCH 1: OMEGA Heavyweight Title Match - Surge (Matt Hardy) (c) vs. Mike Maverick (Jack Dupp) (w/ Kid Vicious) (OMEGA - 5/1/98, 5/4/98, or 5/6/98; Sanford, NC)
The match begins with the two trading side headlocks, Irish whips, and shoulderblocks. Early in, Matt tries to get a quick fluke over his opponent by attempting several different pinning combos (one after another) - first a victory roll, next a backslide, then a small package, and finally a schoolboy rollup. Each time he gets a 2 count, but Matt's feistyness convinces Mike to roll out of the ring for a breather and some coaching from Vicious. After he re-enters and they tieup again, Mike obtains control with a knee smash to his foe's chest and uses his power to keep Matt at bay. A body slam and a running elbow drop get 2 before Matt starts fighting back and hits a swinging neckbreaker off of the ropes. Following a brief breather by both men, Matt retains the advantage he just gained and hits a brainbuster suplex followed by a leg drop off of the second buckle for 2. He lifts Mike back up again and body slams him before delivering a Running Quebrada off of the middle ring rope for another 2. Next, Matt calls for the Megahertz (a Quebrada off of the top ring rope! This was his main finisher in OMEGA and - believe it or not - he did it beautifully.) and attempts the move following a suplex, but Mike rolls out of the way! Mike knocks Matt out to ringside and distracts the ref while Vicious beats on him before rolling him back into the ring. Mike delivers a body slam and a running leg drop for 2. He continues weakening Matt with a few blatant chokes and a big boot. Mike stops Matt's attempted comeback and tosses him out of the ring before again distracting the ref while Vicious beats on Matt at ringside. Back in the ring, Mike continues to showcase his power and hits a lariat for 2. Matt regains control briefly and hits a running leaping corner vertical splash, but Mike fights right back and - after completely overselling Matt's brief surge (no pun intended) of offense - he regains control by reversing an attempted Irish whip and sending Matt hard into the opposite buckle. Matt sells the bump via a Flair Flip. Mike becomes frustrated when he obtains only a 2 count after trying to weaken Matt with a bearhug and a press slam, so he tosses Matt out of the ring again for Vicious to beat on. Matt fights off Vicious, though, and re-enters the ring with a sunset flip for 2. The participants perform a series of common pinfall reversals before Mike tries another press slam, but Matt drops out and hits an inverted DDT. Matt follows by performing another Megahertz off of the top ring rope and this time connects with it. Vicious, though, breaks the count up at 2, causing a DQ win for Matt.
Vicious continues beating on Matt, but Matt fights back and gains the advantage. While he's dealing with Mike, Vicious retreats out of the ring and climbs up to the top of a 15 or so foot high balcony/platform. Matt follows him up there and ignores his begging, instead choosing to knock him down and then deliver a kick to his crotch. Mike, though, has climbed up by now and he attacks Matt from behind before tossing him off of the platform and info the ring below! Mike comes back down to the ring and adds an exclamation point onto the assault with a Michinoku Driver II, but then grabs a table from ringside, sets it up in the ring, and lays Matt on it. Vicious leaps off of the balcony and splashes Matt through the table! Cut out.
- The masked Black Skull climbs up onto the turnbuckle and salutes the crowd before the ring announcer introduces Jeff. I couldn't hear the intro too clearly (both because of the microphone quality and Jeff's theme music, which was playing in the background), but I'm pretty sure that he not only announced Jeff as being from Ann Harbor, MI and not Cameron, NC, but also called him another alias other than Jeff Hardy and Willow The Whisp (I could tell that it began with an "r"). Since I'm unsure of what he's going by in this match, I'll just call him Jeff Hardy in the below match listing. Anyway, The younger Hardy brother makes his way down the aisleway to a huge pop and circles around the ring, slapping the hands of all of the ringside fans. BTW, the referee of this match is the same guy who reffed the previous match on this tape.
MATCH 2: Black Skull vs. Jeff Hardy (Wolverine?) (OMEGA; if it's Wolverine, it was from OMEGA Super Libre Awakening - 3/28/98)
The match begins abruptly when Skull flies out of the ring and takes Hardy out with a crossbody plancha. He zoomed in from out of camera range, so I don't know if it was a springboard, a catapult, or a suicide dive version. The bell rings and the bout is officially underway. Skull eventually rolls Jeff back into the ring and immediately hits two consecutive Diving Huracanranas (both of which look solid), one off of one buckle and one off of the topposite buckle. Skull weakens Jeff in the corner before delivering a snapmare, a running snap leg drop (like Juvi uses) off of the ropes, and a snap suplex for 2.
The brief spotfest takes a seat as the pace now slows down a bit. Skull lifts Jeff back up and the two trade armbars, armlocks, and armringers a few times before Jeff backflips off of the top buckle, lands on his feet behind Skull, and dropkicks out of the ring from behind. Skull eventually re-enters the ring and immediately runs across the squared circle with the attention of attacking Jeff before he's ready, but his attempted assault is blocked and fought off by Jeff. An extended criss-cross "run off of the ropes" sequence ends up with Jeff downing Skull via a big leaping lariat for 2.
Next, Jeff front slams Skull near the corner and tries a Phoenix Splash (Corkscrew 450º Splash!) from the top buckle, but lands on his feet when Skull rolls away. Jeff lifts Skull back up and Russian leg sweeps him down again before attempting a Moonsault splash from the top, but Skull rolls out of the way for the second straight time and Jeff lands hard on the mat. Skull weakens Jeff with a fear chinlock and fights off an attempted comeback before tossing his foe out of the ring.
He misses a baseball slide dropkick (I think he did, at least - it's kind of hard to see completely accurately with the heads of the fans in the camera's view, but from what I could make out, I think he missed it) and Jeff takes back control before re-entering the ring and flying out onto Skull with a flying vertical plancha (flying vertical body attack). After a very brief brawl between the two in the crowd, Jeff re-enters the ring in style by doing a catapult flip and landing on his feet.
Skull re-enters next and begins a comeback, hitting a bodyslam and then a nice Shooting Star Press from the top for 2! I'm really starting to dig this Black Skull fella'. Frustrated, he climbs back up and tries a Diving Huracanrana like he did twice earlier, but Jeff refuses to be taken over into the 'rana pin part of the move and instead lifts him back up into the air and plants him right back down via a sitdown powerbomb! No pin is attempted, as - instead - Jeff lifts him back up and hits a nice bridging Northern Lights Suplex for the 3 count win. Cut out.
Like the previous match, this seemed too short, but more even more so than the previous match. Skull was very impressive as a spot wrestler and I especially digged his SSP. The finish seemed too abrupt, I must say; I would've liked to see the match be played out a bit longer. However, considering the length of this match, they produced an entertaining spotfest and even got in some decent mat-based stuff.
- Cham Pain is already in the ring as the ring announcer introduces Matt Hardy, who is again competing as Surge (the ring announcer actually spells that name out before saying it as a whole). He introduces Matt as being from San Diego, CA and not from Cameron, NC. Matt comes out to the ring wearing the OMEGA Heavyweight Title around his waist and receives a big pop. He slaps the hands of some ringside fans before entering the ring. Like in the previous two matches, Jamie Skarland (sp?) is the referee. A "SURGE!" chant begins and Matt plays it up. Cham, BTW, was at a time a regular performer in Phoenix Championship Wrestling, owned by Donnie Bucci (Nova's real-life brother). He also works for the CWF/FWA Carolinas' fed in North Carolina, but most people probably best know him as Puck Dupp, who competed with Jack Dupp (Mike Maverick), in ECW and the WWF for awhile.
Anyway, Cham cuts a promo before the match that for the most part is inaudible. From what I could made out (which wasn't all that much), he said something about how Matt has often dodged wrestling him in the past and has been afraid to wrestle him and that he's looking forward to finally proving why he's the best and all of that other good stuff. In response, Matt sucks up to the crowd, asking if they want to see him take Cham Pain to the extreme (which receives a big pop) and if they want this match to have a No DQ stipulation (which again receives a big pop). Matt then removes his title belt, holds it up for the crowd to see, and gives it to the ref, who does the same and then in turn gives it to someone at ringside. A "You Suck!" chant begins toward Cham before the bell rings and the two square off. Let me also mention that Cham has his female manager, Lexy Fife, standing at ringside.
MATCH 3: No Disqualification OMEGA Heavyweight Title Match - Surge (Matt Hardy) (c) vs. Cham Pain (w/ Lexy Fife) (OMEGA)
For the first few minutes, Cham plays up his heel role to the crowd, as he keeps exiting the ring after being discouraged by Matt getting the best of him. Once the bout legitimately begins (finally!), Cham continues playing up his heel heat by hitting a big running kick to Matt's crotch and follows this by delivering a suplex and - a few moments later - diving off of the middle buckle and Bulldogging Matt's face into the mat for 2. Next, Matt reverses an attempted corner Irish whip and sends his foe towards the opposite ringpost. Cham runs up onto the top buckle and tries a Corkscrew Somersault Attack, but Matt ducks down and Cham lands back-first on the mat!
Matt lifts Cham up and press slams him into a crotched position on the top ring rope before giving him a taste of his own medicine as he hits with a running crotch kick (just like he did to Matt earlier in the bout) when he climbs back to his feet on the mat. The oldest Hardy boy follows with a nice Sitout Front Inverted Suplex/Front Inverted Suplex lift into Sitout Slam (whatever you wish to call it) for 2. A few moments later, Matt delivers a chairshot and then drop toeholds Cham onto the set-up chair. A body slam and two driving fist drops obtain a 2 count for Matt and so does a sequence featuring a chairvault corner vertical splash, a snapmare, a leaping chair-assisted stomp, and a chair-assisted leg drop (each off of the middle buckle). Some distraction from Cham's female manager (who's at ringside) allows for Cham to chairshot Matt across the back and send him rolling out of the ring. Cham argues with the ref for a bit before...
Holy Sh*t! Cham hits an awesome 360º Spinning Plancha off of the top buckle, over the barricade, and into a mob of fans in which I guess Matt is located! Damn, yo! It looked like he was doing those funky spins that figure skaters do, but while he was about 10 feet higher than the floor! And believe it or not, that's actually a SIGNATURE move of his! Imagine - he used to do it in a lot of his matches. There is a well deserved big pop for that spot. Anyway, back to the action - the two participants brawl in the sea of fans, but it's pretty hard to see what happens. The tape clips forward a few moments and - back in the ring - Cham avoids a standing elbow drop and hits a Diving Huracanrana off of the top buckle. Cham kicks out of Matt's sunset flip a few moments later and returns to business. After absorbing a bodyslam, Matt finds an opening by catapulting Cham over his head (like in a leapfrog) so that he lands throat-first across the top ring rope. Both men collapse to the mat.
A 10 count begins and they eventually make it back to their feet. Cham regains control and hits a nice running dropkick for 2, but after that, a really stupid spot sees Cham wait for Matt to stand back up and then toss him the steel chair. Matt catches it, holds it up to his face, and Cham dropkicks it into his face. STEWWWPEEED...A few moments later, Cham tries to gain the pinfall over Matt with a DDT onto a steel chair, but gets another 2 count, so he applies a sleeper hold. The fans rally behind Matt, who eventually fights back up to his feet, pushes Cham into the ropes, and swings him into a sleeper hold slam.
After they both stand back up and trade some punches, Cham pushes Matt into the ropes and Lexy nails the future-MF'er with a horribly weak looking chairshot to the back. The ref acts like he's blind and that he didn't see it, although he had a completely clear view of the incident. Cham hits a DDT for 2 before Lexy enters the ring. Her plan fails, though, as Matt ducks and the powder she throws goes into Cham's eyes and blinds him. This causes Cham to DDT the first person he touches, that being her. He covers her (thinking that she's Matt), but, of course, no count is made. Instead, Matt hits the Megahertz super quebrada and lands on top of both of his foes before making the cover for the 3 count win and title retention!
Matt's theme music hits and he climbs up to the top buckle, from where he holds his title high. A guy that I'm pretty sure is future-Mean Street Posse member (in the WWF) Joey Abs enters the ring as he celebrates for no apparent reason. Cut out.
- Matt and Jeff walk to the ring, with Matt leading the way. Jeff slaps the hands of several ringside fans and then does a quick pose for a photo before circling the ring and slapping the hands of some other fans and giving a few hugs along the way. How cuuute...Matt climbs into the ring and Jeff follows awhile later. The Thrillaz are already in the ring. The ring announcer lets the fans know that the bout is for one fall (HOLY F'N SH*T!) World Tag Team Titles. He also says that the Hardyz are now heading to the WWF. The ref once again is Jamie Skarland. Matt is wrestling under his real name in this match. Helms, BTW, won the WCW Cruiserweight Title shortly before the promotion's demise and currently works as The Hurricane in WWE. The Thrillaz are playing the heels in this bout, while the Hardyz are way over.
MATCH 4: OMEGA World Tag Team Titles Match - The Hardy Boyz (Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy) (c) vs. The Serial Thrillaz (Shane Helms & Mike Maverick) (OMEGA; 12/5/98; Durham, NC)
The bout begins as Matt vs. Helms. The announcer says that Helms is better known as "The Shirl?"??E?WE?WE?WE Tieup. A simple - yet very well executed opening sequence features the two exchanging side headlocks, headlock takeovers, shoulderblocks (which Matt delivers a few times to Helms), and drop toeholds. Included in the sequence is Matt whipping Helms into the ropes and catapulting him into the air as if for a leapfrog, only for Helms to come straight back down with a Huracanrana for 2. Following that, the two perform a sequence where they trade several types of pinning combos and get 2 each time. The great opening sequence ends when Matt taunts Mike to the point that he enters the ring, beginning a brief spotfest by the Hardyz, which picks up the bout's pace a bit.
The Hardyz hit stereo Running Monkey Flips out of the corner on their respective foe, causing Mike to land on top of his partner's body in the center of the ring. The Thrillaz roll out of the ring a few moments later, but The Hardyz are unrelenting and hit stereo Pescadas (Matt-Mike and Jeff-Helms) before re-entering the ring (where they receive some applause) as the Thrillaz struggle back up to their feet and eventually climb up onto the apron.
The Hardyz are ready and each tries to suplex his opponent back into the ring. Matt succeeds, but Helms drops out, lands behind Jeff, and runs off of the ropes, but Jeff drop toeholds him head-first into the crotch of Mike. Matt lifts Helms up and delivers a falling inverted DDT. Mike's attempted interference fails and he ends up being assaulted in the corner by Matt before Jeff is tagged in, as the match returns to tag team format. The Hardyz hit what eventually became known as Poetry in Motion on Mike (Runner Vaulting Corner Heelkick by Jeff off of Matt's back) and Jeff follows that with a bodyslam and his awesome Catapult Slingshot Moonsault Splash for 2.
Next, The Hardyz pull off two great double-team moves, first a side Russian leg sweep (Jeff)/Flying Elbow Drop off of the middle buckle (Matt) combo (for 2) and then a nice nice suplex (Matt)/Flying Swanton Bomb (Jeff) combo from the top (for 2 when Helms breaks up the pin). Helms delivers a cheap shot behind the ref's back soon thereafter, allowing for Mike to hit a huge Chokeslam on Jeff and regain control for the Thrillaz! After taking a breather, Mike tags in Helms, who immediately lifts Jeff onto his shoulders and hits the Standing Samoan Drop that he so commonly used when he was in OMEGA. He follows with three consecutive running snap leg drops (like Juvi uses) and before the last one, adds an exclamation point by performing an arrogant Flair strut.
Mike re-enters and weakens Jeff with a big boot, a body slam, and three consecutive standing elbow drops for 2. Before the third, he does a wacky (yet funny) wave-style dance. He tags in Helms, who uses some nice moves to work over Jeff's back before tagging Mike right back in. The Thrillaz hit a running jumping leg drop (Mike)/leg drop to the crotch (Helms) combo on Jeff for 2. Mike follows with a big back body drop and a body slam before applying a rear chinlock. Mike cuts down the air and - after selling the hold pretty well - Jeff fights out, runs off of the ropes, and leaps into a bodyscissors, but Mike smartly delivers a wheelbarrow suplex!
Helms re-enters and weakens Jeff with a grounded headscissors/armlock combo hold and two driving elbow drops. He kicks out of his foe's surprising sunset flip and immediately Super Kicks his foe down. Mike re-enters and applies a rear chinlock, which Jeff eventually escapes via a jawbreaker stunner and follows with a running huracanrana, exactly like Helms did earlier in the bout on Matt. Jeff tries to tag in Matt, but Mike cuts him short and delivers an over-the-shoulder powerslam. Mike then tags in Helms, who he press slams on top of Jeff.
The Thrillaz cause the ref to be distracted, allowing Helms to beat on Jeff at ringside before rolling him back into the squared circle. Helms covers for 2 as the ref turns back to the action. Helms tries to weaken Jeff with a rear chinlock and then a front facelock, but Jeff eventually fights back to his feet and - with his head still in the facelock - tags in Matt, who enters the ring. Mattt, though, is ordered to return to the apron by the ref, who Mike intelligently distracted from the action. Mike re-enters and the Thrillaz weaken Jeff with a powerbomb (by Mike), a Driving Forearm Smash off of the middle buckle (Helms), and finally a Spinebuster Slam (Helms)/Running Lariat (Mike) combo.
They then attempt the finisher that they used in OMEGA, where Mike sits on the middle buckle and Helms climbs up into a standing position on his shoulders (so that he's well above the top buckle) and leaps off, attempting to land a huge flying splash on Jeff, who smartly rolls out of the way and causes Helms to hit the mat hard! The Thrillaz used to call that move the "Fallilng Star Bomb." Mike immediately leaps off of the middle buckle with an elbow drop, but Jeff dodges that, too, before crawling through Helms' legs and tags in Matt. The older Hardy brother cleans house on each opponent before ducking a double-team lariat attempt and delivering a double bulldog.
Helms and Mike roll out to ringside for a breather, only to be taken out by a spot where Jeff leaps off of Matt's body, lands on the top buckle, and immediately springs off of there with an amazing Somersault Body Attack that got excellent hang time! The Thrillaz are rolled back into the ring and - after a brief Irish whip reversal, Jeff spinning heel kicks Mike down and Matt hits his signature Sitout Crucifix Powerbomb on Helms. Matt tags in Jeff and the Hardyz hit their finishing Tidal Wave-style move (Flying Leg Drop by Matt/Flying Splash by Jeff) on Helms for the 3 count (Jeff makes the pin) to retain the titles!
The ring announcer informs the crowd that The Hardyz have retained their titles. Cut out.
- We cut directly into a match from IWA Puerto Rico. This match is much better quality than the previous matches and the Hardyz' outfits look like the ones they wore during their early WWF run in 1999, so I'm assuming that that's about when this match occurred. There's two guys doing Spanish commentary voiceovers for this bout.
MATCH 5: The Hardy Boyz (Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy) vs. Ricky Banderas & Ricky Santana (IWA Puerto Rico; 12/15/99; Puerto Rico)
Jeff and Banderas start us off. Tieup. Banderas applies an armlock and delivers an armringer, but Jeff reverses and delivers his own armringer before pulling Banderas into his corner and tags in Matt. The Hardyz double vertical suplex Banderas and Matt covers for 2. He then applies a side headlock and is pushed into the ropes. A shoulderblock by Matt sends Banderas down. He runs off of the ropes and they do the typical drop down/leapfrog/duck under sequence, with Banderas doing the drop down and leapfrog part. The sequence ends with Banderas gut kicking Matt and following with a swinging neckbreaker off of the ropes. A replay of the neckbreaker is shown. Santana enters and beats on Matt in the corner before beating Matt down when he attempts a comeback. Santana pancakes Matt into the ringpost with a running corner lariat and follows with a running leaping forearm smash (?).
Banderas is tagged back in, but almost immediately loses control of the bout back to Matt. Jeff re-enters and quickly loses the advantage back to Banderas (?) when he misses a running corner vertical splash. Santana re-enters and delivers a back body drop and a running spinning calf kick that pancakes Jeff into the ringpost for 2. He tags in Banderas, who weakens Jeff with a rear chinlock before tagging Santana right back in.
Santana hits a delayed vertical suplex for 2 and then applies his own (grounded) rear chinlock. Jeff eventually climbs back to his feet and fights out of it, but eventually receives a big knee lift, which he sells well. Santana follows with a powerbomb and then tries another, but Jeff the second with a Huracanrana into a 'rana pin for 2. Jeff hits an enziguri kick next, allowing him to tag in Matt, who unloads on Santana. He hits a partially botched Tornado DDT for 2 and then applies a side headlock, but is pushed into the ropes and both men eventually collide in midair when they each attempt crossbody blocks.
The ref begins a 10 count and each man eventually crawls to his corner and tags in his partner. Banderas cleans house on both opponents and once Santana recovers, he tries a body slam (I think that's what it was) on Matt, but Matt counters somehow. The camera doesn't catch it too well, so it was hard to tell what happened. At the same time, Banderas tosses Jeff out of the ring. The camera again makes a mistake, as it misses whatever move Banderas does on Matt. Banderas covers him, but Jeff re-enters and breaks the count up at 2. The Hardyz perform their suplex (Matt)/Flying Swanton Bomb (Jeff) combo for 2 (Santana [?] recovers and breaks it up). The Hardyz each back their foes into the corner, climb up onto the middle buckles, and deliver some punches (Jeff-Banderas and Matt-Santana).
Behind the ref's back, though, Santana low blows Matt and then Jeff. He makes sure the ref is busy tending to Matt before grabbing a steel chair from ringside, bringing it into the ring, and chairshotting Jeff down to the mat from behind. Banderas objects to this and has some words for Santana, so when he turns his back on his partner, Banderas doublecrosses on him and chairshots him down, too! Santana lays Jeff on top of Banderas and kicks the chair out of the ring as the ref finishes dealing with Matt and turns his attention back to the match. He counts the 3 for the Hardyz, giving them the win.
Banderas heads back to the locker room wearing a stern expression on his face as we cut out.
- Jeff comes out to the ring in the ridiculous costume and mask that he wore when he and Matt played the Jynx Brothers in the WWF in the mid-'90's. The dance that he does is even worse. He's wrestling as "Willow the Whisp" here, but I'm still going to just call him Jeff. His opponent is already in the ring. He rolls into the ring, pours some water on himself, and continues doing this absolutely horrible dance, much like he did in WWE during his entrance, only more spastic. Jeff rolls around on the mat like an idiot before standing back up and letting the ref (who in this match is different) check him for foreign objects. The bell rings and the bout begins. Surprisingly, Jeff is pretty over with the fans in this match.
MATCH 6: Will Power(s) vs. Willow the Wisp (Jeff Hardy) (OMEGA; OMEGA Power Dominion - 1/29/99; Wendell, NC)
Although he looks somewhat talented during the match, Wil is apparently a jobber, seeing as how he fits in virtually no offense during the bout. Right away, Wil ducks a lariat and tries a slingshot back elbow smash off of the middle ring rope, but Jeff seems to avoids it, although it did come quite close to him. Jeff hits a jumping leg drop and then does that stupid dance (making me cringe) before delivering a stomp. He lifts Wil up and delivers a snapmare followed by a running low Japanese dropkick to Wil's' face off of the ropes and the double-legged leg drop to the crotch that would become a signature of his in the WWF/E. Jeff chops and kicks at Wil in the corner before Irish whipping him towards the opposite corner. He charges after him, but Power ducks out of the way and Jeff rams into the ringpost. Power charges back at him, but Jeff regains control by surprising him with a big leaping lariat. After delivering some fists to the back, Jeff whips Wil into the ropes and hits a basic - yet nice-looking powerslam - for 2. He follows with a cool looking corkscrew/swinging suplex that ends up almost like a neckbreaker for the 3 count win.
Right after the bell rings, Matt Hardy runs out to the ring and he starts stomping on Wil. Jeff joins him and together the two beat up the poor, defenseless jobber. Jeff then takes off his mask and reveals himself to be - well - Jeff. The two brothers embrace and celebrate before continuing to beat on Wil. They scare off some security guys during the beating before hitting their Poetry in Motion move and then their signature side Russian leg sweep (by Jeff)/Flying Elbow Drop off of the middle buckle (by Matt) combo. The two security guards they beat up before re-enter the ring and try to check on Wil, but the Hardyz attack them from behind and beat the hell out of them, including delivering a double suplex on one of them and a double front suplex on the other that plants him on top of the first one. They then lay both security gaurds on top of each other and set up for their Tidal Wave double-team move off of the top buckles, but instead drop back down to the mat so as to show up the crowd.
Two other security guards try to stop the chaos, but they also receive a beatdown. The ref leaves the ring so as not to be beaten up, also. Now, a guy in a suit enters the ring and Matt cuts an inaudible promo towards him. The one thing I can make out is "Shut the hell up. Listen to me," to the crowd, but that's about it. The guy in the suit leaves the ring and Matt tries to continue his promo, but according to his reaction, I think the fans were being too loud for him to hear. Either that or his microphone wasn't working very well. Matt says some stuff to the guy in the suit (who's standing at ringside) before we cut out and fast forward a few minutes where the Hardyz are just walking around ringside. We then completely cut out from this segment and begin a new one.
- This is from the final OMEGA show before the Hardyz left for the WWF. The Hardyz (wearing their OMEGA Tag Team Title belts around their waists) stand at ringside and Mat cuts a promo where he calls the Serial Thrillaz (who are in the ring) "losers" and basically saying that the Hardyz are better than them because "we are World Wrestling Federation superstars and we are the bomb!" The Hardyz then climb up onto the apron and show off their title belts to a chorus of boos. It's clear that they're the heels in this bout and the Thrillaz are playing the faces.
The Hardyz give their belts to the ref as Jeff enters the ring to begin the match. The Thrillaz steal the belts from the ref (LOL) and hold them up for the crowd as if they're their own, receiving a huge pop, and then return them to the ref. Matt enters the ring and the Hardyz steal the belts back from the ref, hold them up, and are booed again. The Thrillaz climb out to ringside and begin a huge cheer for themselves before re-entering the ring. The Hardyz (who've given the belts back to the ref by now) try to get a pop of their own, but continue to be booed. The ref (who is Jamie Skarland once again) signals for the bell and it rings, finally beginning the bout.
MATCH 7: OMEGA World Tag Team Titles Match - The Hardy Boyz (Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy) (c) vs. The Serial Thrillaz (Shane Helms & Mike Maverick) (OMEGA; OMEGA Power Dominion - Wendell, NC; 1/29/99)
Matt/Helms begin. They have some words with each other and Helms slaps Matt before they tie up. Both rally for the advantage and end up circling around the ring before finally breaking the grapple, after which they trade waistlocks and then do a series of leg sweeps. This is followed by some failed pin attempts and then another squareoff, as the fans applaud big-time. The crowd is really into this bout, it seems. Another tieup. Matt initially applies a side headlock, but is eventually pushed into the ropes and receives two consecutive armdrags. Next, Matt fights out of an armbar and beats on him in the corner for awhile, only to stupidly turn his back on Helms and receive a Lou Thesz Press and some punches out of nowhere. This sparks Jeff and Mike to enter the ring and start brawling with each other, thereby ending the initial wrestling sequence, which was decent, but nothing special. The initial exchange between Matt and Helms in their match earlier on this tape was both longer and much better performed.
The Thrillaz switch foes and hit stereo powerbombs on the Hardyz before posing for the crowd. The Hardyz roll out to ringside for a breather and to argue with some fans. They eventually climb back up onto the apron and Matt re-enters, only to tag into Jeff, who squares off with Mike (who I don't think was even tagged in...). Jeff gains control with a surprise gut kick, but eventually receives a sitout inverted powerbomb when he tries to hit a bodyscissors into a bulldog. Mike tags in Helms and hits a British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith-style over-the-shoulder powerslam before press slamming Helms onto Jeff's body. Helms gets 2 via that and then hits his signature Standing Samoan Drop followed by three consecutive Juvi-style running snap leg drops. He tags in Mike and they hit a leg drop to Jeff's crotch (Helms)/running leg drop (Mike) combo.
Matt now enters the ring and breaks up Mike's attempted pin at 1 before attacking his foe. The Hardyz attempt Poetry in Motion behind the ref's back, but Mike catches Jeff and uses a cool counter where he turns his hold on Jeff into a running Backdrop Suplex. Helms re-enters and the Thrillaz whip first Jeff and then Matt into the same opposite buckle and hit their own Poetry in Motion (w/ Helms doing the heelkick) on both Hardyz, who fall down into a "69" position before they roll out of the ring for a breather. They find no safety there, though, as Helms runs off of the ropes and Mike catapults him over the ropes and out to ringside, where he takes out both Hardyz with a monster vertical plancha! Nice spot.
The Hardyz and Helms re-enter the ring after this and the bout goes back to tag team format. Jeff cheap shots Helms behind the ref's back, allowing Matt to hit a falling inverted DDT. Jeff enters and hits a front slam and then a Springboard Somersault Senton directly followed by a Quebrada (which looked sort of awkward), like Hayabusa once used, for 2. Matt re-enters and the Hardyz hit a double-team front suplex for 2 before Jeff climbs out. Matt weakens Helms with a body slam and two driving fist drops before kicking out of Helms' surprise schoolboy rollup and tagging Jeff back in. Matt hits a sideslam and the Hardyz double-team Helms with stomps behind the ref's back before Matt climbs out. Jeff hits a side Russian leg sweep and then his Catapult Slingshot Moonsault Splash. He then kicks out of Helms second surprise pin attempt (an inside cradle) and tags Matt back in.
The Hardyz then hit their side Russian leg sweep (Jeff)/Flying Elbow Drop off of the middle buckle (Matt) combo for 1 when Mike breaks the count up. Next, Helms fights out of Matt's sleeper hold and applies one of his own before being whipped into the ropes and countering an attempted catapult over Matt's head into a Huracanrana, just like he did in the match earlier on this tape. A series of pinfall reversals follows before Matt lariats Helms down. Matt tags in Jeff and the Hardyz hit Poetry in Motion before Helms regains control by countering a powerbomb attempt into a huracanrana. He follows by countering Jeff's attempted Diving Huracanrana off of the top into a Powerbomb.
Each man tags in his partner and Mike cleans house on both Hardyz before losing the advantage when Jeff hits a spinning heelkick on Mike and Matt hits a back body drop on Helms. Matt hits his Sitout Cruficix Powerbomb on Helms before the Hardyz hit their Tidal Wave-style. Jeff covers, but the ref is busy outside checking on Mike. Another ref runs out and into the ring and counts, but Helms KOs at 2. Matt gets pissed and powerbombs this ref before holding Helms steady for Jeff to try a chairshot. Helms ducks and Jeff chairshots Matt. Mike re-enters and tosses Matt out to ringside and the Thrillaz hit the Falling Star Bomb for the titles win. BTW, Jaime Skarland counts the fall, not the second ref.
The ring announcer does his job and the Thrillaz hug and hold up their newly-won titles as their theme music plays before exiting the ring and slapping the hands of the fans on their ways out. Back in the ring, Jeff tries CPR on Matt and eventually wakes him up. Cut out.
This bout was good, but their first bout on this tape was definitely superior. This had some fun moments, but the execution on the previous match just seemed to be better and they pulled out some more stuff in that match than they did here. The ending in this bout was kind of abrupt, as Matt stayed down following Jeff's chairshot and didn't attempt to get back up. The matwork in their first bout was just better overall, too. That's not to say that this bout wasn't good because it was, but it wasn't as great as the bout described above.
You know what I just thought of that would be really funny if it happened? Someone walks up to Helms backstage after this match and tells him that about five years later, he'd hold pinfall victories over both The Rock and Ric Flair. Imagine his reaction. And most surprising, it's true. It just shows how far a guy can go in this business in a couple of years when he really applies himself and works his ass off, something that Helms did in OMEGA, WCW, and now WWE.
- Joey Matthews walks to the ring to a chorus of boos as his theme music, "I'm Back Agaim," by The Backstreet Boys, plays. He has tons of heat (probably because of his theme song). He climbs into the ring and is introduced before some other theme music plays and out comes the Hardyz. They shout some stuff into the camera as they pass by (Matt: "The Hardy Boyz - the new attitude. The black dude is in the house!") and circle the ring, slapping the hands of the ringside fans before entering the ring. They're introduced as a unit (as opposed to individually, which is odd because this is a four corners singles match) and as "WWF bound." They salute the fans and get a lot of cheers before some other theme music hits and out walks Christian York, wearing the FCW Cruiserweight Title. He enters the ring and is introduced. He and York play the heels in this match. York gives the ref his title belt and the ref in turn gives it to the timekeeper. A "Hardy Boyz!" chant begins before the bell rings and the bout officially begins.
MATCH 8: Four Corners Elimination FCW Cruiserweight Title Match - Christian York (c) vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy vs. Joey Matthews (MCW; 3/20/99)
Jeff/Joey start off. Tieup. Joey pushes Jeff out of the grapple. A "Joey Sucks!" chant begins, prompting Joey to mutter some stuff to the ring announcer, who - a moment later - says, "Ladies and gentleman, Joey Matthews has requested that you refrain from yelling, 'Joey Sucks,' or he will leave the building." More fans join in as the chant grows. Joey climbs out of the ring and teases leaving before re- entering. That's classic heel heat for 'ya. Joey rules, BTW. Squareoff. They go to tieup, but Joey surprises Jeff with a gut kick and then whips him into the corner. Jeff backflips off of the top buckle, lands behind him, and uses a schoolboy rollup for 2 and then whips him into the ropes and does an extended crisscross routine (like he did with Black Skull earlier on this tape) before hitting a big leaping lariat.
York tags himself in, enters, and applies a side headlock as Jeff hesitantly climbs out onto the apron. Joey pushes York into the ropes and receives a shoulderblock. York follows a few moments later with a hiptoss and an armdrag before applying an armbar. A "Boring!" chant begins as they break the tieup. A "Hardy Boyz!" chant begins as Matt is tagged in and squares off with Joey. They tieup and exchange wasitlocks and Matt fights out of an armbar to hit a body slam. He follows with a press slam and beats on Joey a bit before receiving a forearm.
Joey tags in York and the two beat on Matt in the corner until Jeff enters and attacks Joey before the Hardyz hit stereo running corner monkey flips (like they did in the first match on this tape vs. the Thrillaz) and Joey lands on top of York. They follow with a double-team front vertical suplex on Joey and then their side Russian leg sweep (Jeff)/Flying Elbow Drop off of the middle buckle (Matt) combo on York. Matt suplexes York a few moments later and tags in Jeff, who hits a Springboard Somersault Senton directly followed by a friggin' Springboard Super Backward-Leaping Splash (anotherwards, he springboards onto the top ring rope, leaps backwards, and splashes his foe) for 2! Joey delivers a cheap shot to Jeff, allowing York to hit a DDT. He tags in Joey, who suplexes Jeff for 2 before tagging York back in.
The future ECW tag team of York & Matthews whip Jeff into the ropes and hit a double-team suplex into double-team powerbomb combo for 2. A "Hardy Boyz!" chant begins as Jeff fights back with a sunset flip for 2, only to receive a lariat from York in return. Jeff sells a hard corner whip via a Flair Flip and - upon climbing back to his feet - receives a lariat for 2. York tags in Joey, who uses a snapmare and applies a rear chinlock. A "Hardy Boyz!" chant helps Jeff rally to his feet and run off of the ropes. Joey uses a nice leapfrog and then a dropdown before nicely dropkicking Jeff down as he runs off of the ropes.
He then tosses Jeff out to ringside and climbs out himself. He has a funny altercation with some fans, allowing Jeff to regain control. Jeff hits a Pescada and tosses Joey back into the ring and attempting a Flying Swanton Bomb, which Joey rolls away from. Joey tags in York and the two try a double-team Superplex, but Jeff pushes them off and leaps off of the middle buckle, nailing each foe with a one-legged dropkick. Jeff then tags in Matt, who cleans house. The Hardyz then hit Poetry in Motion (but with a dropkick instead of a heelkick) on both foes (who are both positioned in the same corner) and York & Matthews end up in a "69" position, sparking some laughs from the fans. York & Matthews fight back, but Jeff spinning heelkicks York and Matt Sitout Crucifix Powerbombs Matthews. They follow with the Tidal Wave and Jeff - who it should be noted is NOT the legal man - pins Joey to eliminate him (13:32).
The Hardyz suddenly start going at it and exchange a series of pinfall attempts, each of which get 2. Jeff tries a huracanrana, but Matt counters with a sitdown powerbomb. Matt follows with the Megahertz super quebrada press for 2, as a brief "Sabu!" chant occurs, for some reason. Matt climbs up top again, but York crotches him, allowing Jeff to front slam his brother and hit a 450º Splash off of the top for the 3 count. Matt is eliminated (15:13).
York immediately tries a Flying Crossbody Block on Jeff, but Jeff rolls through and obtains a 2 count. He follows with a front slam and tries a Phoenix Splash, but he lands on his feet when he sees that York rolls out of the way. York attempts a DDT, but Jeff counters into a bridging northern lights suplex for 2. When they get back to their feet, York ducks an attempted lariat and hits a bridging Dragon Suplex for the pinfall title retention (16:09).
Boos fill the arena as York rolls out of the ring and celebrates with his title. Cut out.
- This segment is from the final OMEGA show, which was on 7/31/98. Matt and Jeff are in the ring wearing "WWF Attitude" t-shirts. Matt cuts a historic promo that is actually audible(!). Since it is historic, I'm transcribing it word-for-word, as beast as I can: "Tonight is a special night. Tonight is an era in the life of Matt and Jeff Hardy, the people, and the professional wrestlers, but at the same time, tonight also begins an era in the life of Matt and Jeff Hardy, the people, and the professional wrestlers. And I'm not out here to say this, to work anybody, I say it straight as a shoot - tonight may very well be the final OMEGA event. Tonight marks The Hardy Boyz' - Matt and Jeff's - last appearance in the Solar (or "South?" Pines (I think he said, "Pines") Armory as we make our way into the World Wrestling Federation. [some well deserved applause from the crowd] And you know what? The last four years have been incredible! The people that have came out and supported us have been incredible! There has never been another independent wrestling organization like OMEGA! And it gives me chills up and down my spine and makes by heart boil to know that three hundred people can come out here and show all this love for us two and twenty guys in the back bustin' their butts for you! Ya' know - I know there's nine or ten guys in the locker room - you're one of 'em [points at the ring announcer, who is standing in the corner] - that's been here since day one and alll we ever wanted to do is give you your money's worth. For every dollar you pay to get in here, we wanna' to entertain you and give you something you can walk out the door and leave talking about! If not I apologize, but if we've never done it before, tonight we will. Everybody knows for the next three years now, we're WWF, but [The Hardyz pause and take their WWF t-shirts off to reveal t-shirts underneath with the OMEGA logo] we are OMEGA forever! So, right now, Jeff Hardy, I'll give you an offer - I know you're wrestling my best friend There's been a lot a' personal problems - a lot of antimosity between you and Jason Storm (maybe it was Jason Storm; I'm not sure) Venom and if you want me to be here in your corner tonight, you know - I will. That's no problem. That's no swell off my back. It's up to you. I know you're talkin' about this [inaudible word(s)] one-on-one [inaudible] word(s)."
Jeff says that he knows that Matt and Venom are good friends, but he doesn't want any help tonight. "I wanna' do this on my own, man." Matt asks if he's sure and he says, "yeah." Matt starts talking again and says, "but tonight I have one favor I want to ask you. Incase you weren't in Stamford last week, Venom Jason Storm (I think that's what he said) made an accusation 'n said that Jeff Hardy is Willow the Whisp. Well, Jeff, just to prove that you're not, I wanna' ask you to be in my corner tonight when I wrestle Willow the Whisp in the main event Title versus Mask. Will you do that for me?" Jeff says, "I'll be there." Matt says, "Thanks" and then a few more words before leaving the ring. Jeff remains as the ring announcer starts making an introduction.
We cut out briefly and then return to see Jeff walking around the ring as the announcer introduces him as being from Ann Harbor, Michigan and as "Rory" (sp?). Jeff gets a pop. The ring announcer introduces his opponent, who's nicknamed "The Human War Machine." I can't make out his actual alias, so I'll just call him HWM. He's a big dude, though - even bigger than Mike Maverick. This match wasn't listed in the match list on RFVideo.com, BTW. HWM enters the ring and yells at the fans. Jaime Skarland is reffing this match. Please note that Venom is future-Mean Street Posse member Joey Abs.
MATCH 9: Jeff Hardy vs. "The Human War Machine" Venom (OMEGA)
The bout starts slow before Jeff takes Venom out with a springboard vertical plancha. Back in the ring, the Hardy boy hits a side Russian legs weep and a Catapult Slingshot Monsault Splash for 2 before body slamming Venom and using a Diving Huracanrana off of the top buckle into a 'rana pin for 2. Venom fights back and uses a backdrop suplex, but misses a flying elbow drop off of the middle buckle. Jeff tries a huracanrana, but Venom won't let him take him over. Instead, with Jeff in a piledriver-type position, Venom leaps backwards and catapults Jeff back over his head and face-first into the mat! Cool counter. He follows with a leg drop for 2. Venom works over Jeff's left leg with some kicks, an atomic drop kneebuster, and a dropkick to the leg. He then abuses Jeff using the ring ropes and fights off an attempted comeback with a back body drop for 2.
Venom follows with an awesome wheelbarrow suplex before applying an inverted surfboard stretch, which he eventually releases and continues abusing Jeff's legs. Jeff drops out of a crucifix powerbomb attempt and gets a backslide pin for 2 before receiving a lariat. He applies a leg submission and tries another crucifix powerbomb, but this is again countered, this time via a nice looking huracanrana. Venom gets back up quickly, though, and delivers a leg drop to Jeff's legs before continuing to work his legs over with a figure four leglock. Jeff eventually makes it to the ropes and Venom releases. He hits a cool suplex with a leg cradle applied before attempting to apply another figure four, but Jeff counters into an inside cradle pin for the surprise 3 count win!
Shane Helms and another guy run in and help Venom beat up Jeff after the bout. They assault his leg with a steel chair until Matt Hardy runs out and scares them off. He tends to Jeff before we cut out.
- Matt Hardy is in the ring as Willow the Whisp makes his entrance. There are four other Willow the Whisps (besides the one that initally came out) that are dressed in similar attire, though, so the fans and Matt start wondering which one is the real Willow the Whisp. According to DeathValleyDriver.com's review of this bout, one is Cham Pain, one is Shane Helms, one is a dark-haired ref, and the last is Black Skull. One of the five Whisps eventually enters the ring and the bell rings, beginning the bout. Jaime Skarland is the ref here.
MATCH 10: Best 2/3 Falls Title (Matt) vs. Mask (Whisp) Match: Surge (Matt Hardy) vs. Willow the Whisp (the storyline at the time was that Whisp may be Jeff Hardy under a mask) (OMEGA; 7/31/98)
First Fall (Pinfalls Only): Whisp immediately attacks Matt and one of them hits a move on the other, but a sign that's in the way of the camera blocks it. Whisp body slams Matt for 2. Matt flips out of a backdrop suplex attempt and the two do ay Irish whip routine, ending with Matt dropkicking Whisp out of the ring from behind. Whisp re-enters the ring and Matt hits a swinging neckbreaker and some driving fist drops for some 2 counts. He follows with a body slam and a leg drop off of the middle buckle for 2. Matt follows with an inverted DDT and hits the Megahertz super quebrada, but is too tired to cover.
Matt eventually makes it back to his feet and whips Whisp into the corner, but receives two feet in his face when he charges. Whisp follows with a hard Irish whip for 2. Whisp follows with a sitout front suplex for 2. A snapmare and a dropkick to the back gets the same result. Whisp tosses Matt out of the ring and hits a Running Catapult Somersault Attack Suicida! They get back up to their feet and - with Jeff standing in front of one side of the apron - Matt charges, but Whisp slingshots him up into the air so that he handsprings off of the ring apron and the ropes and flips back downwards, DDTing Whisp on the way down. I remember seeing Matt do that same move on an episode of Sunday Night HeAT in like 2000. I think it was vs. Kurt Angle, but I may be wrong.
Anyway, Matt then goes for an Asai Moonsault, but hesitates and instead decides to dive off of the apron and bulldog Whisp's face into the concrete. They re-enter the ring and Matt hits a Michinoku Driver II for 2. Whisp reverses a corner Irish whip and Matt tries to tipup and over his foe, but Whisp catches his legs on his shoulders and uses a double-leg slam. He covers and puts his feet on the ropes for leverage to obtain the 3 count and win the first fall.
Second Fall (Submissions Only): Whisp weakens Matt with a leg drop and a cross armbreaker before body slamming him and applying a camel clutch. Matt starts standing back up and whips Whisp off of his shoulders and down to the mat. Whisp fights back, though, and chokes Matt in the corner before a slightly botched Irish whip sequence ends with Whisp applying an abdominal stretch. Matt eventually counters into one of his own before Whisp hiptosses him out of the ring. Whisp beats on him at ringside briefly before working over Matt's left leg with Jeff's double-legged leg drop to the crotch, a leg breaker leg drop, and a leglock. Matt eventually fights out, but Jeff continues working over the leg with a kick, a Japanese dropkick, and a figure four leglock. Matt eventually turns the hold over so that he's lying on his stomach and the pressure is on Whisp, who grabs the ropes and forces the hold to be broken.
Whisp gets right back on the offense and uses some kicks to Matt's legs before knocking him down with a spinning heelkick. Whisp tries to apply the figure four again, but Matt rolls him into an inside cradle. The ref doesn't count, though, since this fall must be won via submission. Whisp gains control back immediately with a snapmare before he applies a sharpshooter. Matt grabs the ropes after a few moments to break the hold. Whisp tries another (single-legged) leg drop to the crotch, but Matt blocks it (although it doesn't look like he did) and applies his own sharpshooter. Whisp taps and Matt wins the second fall.
Third Fall (No Disqualification/Pinfalls Count Anywhere): Both men sell their leg injuries well by limping around. Matt punches Whisp down and then uses a snapmare and an elbow drop for 2 before lariating Whisp out of the ring. Matt hits a pescada to outside before using a steel chair that a fan gives him to chairshot Whisp twice. He follows by hitting Whisp with a garbage can and then whips him into the guardrail. Jeff is dropped throat-first across the guardrail before being beated up with a ladder. Matt finally rolls Whisp back into the ring and throws the ladder into the ring, too. Matt re-enters and lays the ladder down on the mat and - as a "SURGE!" chant begins, positions Jeff inside of the ladder and Moonsaults off of the middle buckle and onto the ladder and Jeff.
Matt rolls out of the ring and positions a table at ringside before trying to suplex Whisp out of the ring and through it. Whisp counters and suplexes him back into the ring, though, before positioning him in a tree of woe and hitting a running rolling koppu kick to Matt, while he's in that position. Matt rolls out onto the apron and Whisp leaps off of the top buckle and dropkicks Matt off of the apron and through the table. Another "SURGE!" chant begins as Whisp lifts Matt back up and tosses him into the remains of the now destroyed table before he hits an Asai Moonsault off of the top ring rope! Sweet! The "SURGE!" chant surfaces again as many fans move out of their seats when they see that Whisp lays a table up against the guardrail vertically and positions Matt in front of it. Whisp climbs into the ropes and dives out with a friggin' Running Somersault Topè through the middle rope, splashing both himself and Matt through the table! Holy Sh*t! The camera position on that spot made it look even better, as if Whisp shot in like an airplane! A small "Oh My God!" chant begins as Whisp covers at ringside for 2.
He brings Matt back into the ring and hits a Superplex before rolling back outside and sliding another table into the ring, as the "Oh My God!" chant resurfaces. Whisp sits the table in the corner on the middle ring ropes and grabs a ring bell or something similar from under the ring before delivering a ring bell (if that's what it is) assisted non-flying version of the Arabian Facebuster (leg drop). Whisp knocks Matt back down with the lid of a garbage can or something similar before trying to unsuccessfully light the table in the corner on fire. After beating Matt up with some punches, he sets him up in the corner and charges toward him. He does a front roll where he rolls up the body of Matt and ends up in a powerbomb position. He tries to huracanrana him out of the corner, but Matt instead runs toward the opposite corner and running powerbombs him through the table in the corner!
The ref begins a 10 count and Matt eventually gets back to his feet. He attempts a German suplex, but Whisp counters into his own back waistlock and rolls Matt backwards and does the same with himself so that he ends up in a backwards bridging pin with Matt on his back. Jaime Skarland counts to 3 and gives Whisp the surprise - and somewhat abrupt - win! Meh. I really didn't like that finish, not do I think that any reasonable person would, either. It was really quite lame.
Oh, wait a second...The ring announcer says that Jaime Skarland told him that both men's shoulders were down for 3, so the match will now continue under Sudden Death rules. OK, that's better, but that "false finish" was still really lame.
The bout continues with both men trading blows before Whisp DDTs his foe and follows with the Whisper in the Wind (Flying Corkscrew Somersault Senton) for 2. Whisp now runs off of the ropes and leaps up for a huracanrana, but Surge counters with a powerbomb. He follows with the Megahertz super quebrada for 2. Venom suddenly runs into the ring and starts choking Whisp. Matt tries to pull him off, but Venom knocks him away, as the bell rings, signaling a DQ. WTF?! The third fall was supposed to have a No DQ stipulation!
Venom then turns his attention to Matt and sitdown powerbomsb him, before Whisp uses a leverage move to toss him out of the ring. Whisp climbs out and body slams Venom before re-entering the ring, as the commentator says that the winner is Whisp, via DQ. He says that Surge retains his title. Venom now attacks Whisp before being pulled away by security, who escort im back to the locker room (although he doesn't go willilngly by a long shot).
Whisp rolls back into the ring now and regains his breath before calling for the mic. He cuts a promo and sounds like a wounded duck for the first few sentences: "Does anybody have any idea what it's like to be totally covered by the shadow of somebody else? I never had many friends. I've never been a grade A talent, [raises his voice big-time] but this nonsense about Jeff Hardy being Willow the Whisp is just nonsense! Jeff Hardy could never be Willow the Whisp. He's shy, he's silent, and he's all to himself, all thanks to you (Matt)! Now, you see, Matt Hardy - what you have is something special. You have a brother. You have a [inaudible]. You and Jeff Hardy are a team! And to let someone like them change your mind and leave Jeff Hardy in the dark like you've done for the last four years, until someone recognized that we actually had a chance [inaudible]. [inaudible] I am normal. Yes, underneath that mask [inaudible] human pain. Underneath this mask, I'm tired of disre--[I imagine he said "disrespect," but you couldn't hear the last syllable, so I'm not quite sure.] ["And" or "I'm"; I'm not sure which] not [unmasks to reveal himself to be Jeff Hardy!]. [a couple more inaudible words]"
Jeff then drops the mic and exits the ring.
Matt sits in the corner (like Raven) and seems to be thinking as we cut to a few minutes later. Matt is now standing and holding the Whisp mask and his title belt. The ring announcer holds the mic for him and he cuts a promo of his own: "I knew from the very first moment we locked up. I could feel Jeff Hardy in there all day long like I've never felt before. And all I can say is - if I pushed Jeff Hardy by being the older brother into the shadow or put him onto the backburner, all I can do is apologize for that. This wasn't necessary for Jeff to get my respect. Jeff's got all the respect in the world he's ever needed. And now I know that all along, Venom...And now I know that all along, Venom was my true enemy and Jeff was my true friend. The only reason he ever resorted to being Willow in the first place was because of me. It was because of that World Heavyweight Title. It was because I put all the time into...I put all the time into [inaudible] time for the Hardy Boyz and Jeff was alone. So maybe if it's time for me to be alone, then it is time for me to be alone."
Matt drops his title belt and puts the Whisp mask on: "If he's had to live behind this mask for the last four years in an attempt to prove Jeff Hardy is his own man, by God [starts crying], I want to let him know he didn' because Jeff Hardy is the most corageous and the strongest kid I've ever known and I'll do anything to earn Jeff Hardy's forgiveness. I will love him for all he's worth, no matter what he's done, and as many chances as I've gave Venom, I'll definitely give Jeff another chance. Jeff, me and you - please accept my apology and me and you will do it in the future. Jeff, I love you!"
With that, he gives the mic back to the ring announcer, grabs the mask and his title belt, and starts leaving the ring as we cut out.
- This is the very rare RVD/Sabu vs. The Hardyz match. The footage condition is definitely some of the worst I've ever seen in my life. This was clearly filmed on a handheld digital camera and is quite blury, to the point where it's pretty difficult to differentiate the Hardyz from one another. I'm able to, but I have to keep my eye on one throughout the match and remember who he is in order to not lose track of who's who.
Anyway, RVD is introduced first and he does his signature spinning high kick. Next, Sabu is introduced. Then, Bill Alfonso - who's in the corner of RVD & Sabu - is introduced. Matt now cuts a promo: "[inaudible; sounded like "Crable" or something like that, but it definitely wasn't "Sable," if that's what you're thinking), just for you...we - myself, Jeff and I - we're gonna' see if ECW out of ECU, so get off...Here we go!" WTF? I swear, I translated it as best as I could and that's exactly how it sounded...Anyway, the bout begins suddenly when Sabu attacks Jeff and RVD attacks Matt.
MATCH 11: Rob Van Dam & Sabu (w/ Bill Alfonso) vs. The Hardy Boyz (Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy)
After RVD/SabuSabu beat down their foes for a few seconds, Sabu body slams Jeff and hits an Arabian Press (Rope Slingshot Moonsault Splash) for 2, while RVD body slams Matt and hits his standing corkscrew leg drop. RVD/Sabu lift their foes back to their feet and RVD hits a nice leaping high kick on Matt, while Sabu just knocks Jeff into an adjacent buckle. RVD/Sabu hit Rolling Thunder (Tumbling Standing Frog Splash by RVD/Catapult Leg Drop by Sabu) on Jeff and then hit the same move on Matt. The Hardyz fight back after this and Matt DDTs Sabu at the same time that Jeff swinging neckbreakers RVD. The Hardyz hit a slightly botched Poetry in Motion variation on Sabu where instead of doing the heelkick, Jeff just hits a corner vertical splash. Matt now suplexes Sabu and Jeff follows with the awesome Springboard Super Backward-Leaping Splash that was described earlier in this review in the four-way singles match. Jeff covers for 2.
Jeff/Sabu brawl while Matt/RVD do the same. Sabu fights back vs. Jeff while Matt hits the running leaping leg drop on RVD. Sabu now goes over and attacks Matt, who he throws out of the ring. RVD/Sabu hit their signature version of Poetry in Motion. Immediately following that, though, Matt ducks RVD's Booker T-style spinning calf kick and lariats him before knocking Sabu out of the ring. The participants use this moment to each hit high spots, as Matt first hits a pescada onto Sabu, then RVD takes them both out with his massive trademark running leaping somersault attack suicida, followed by Jeff's Asai moonsault on Matt/RVD, and finally Sabu's chairvault springboard vertical plancha suicida, which takes out all three! Now, RVD leads Matt over the guardrail and into the crowd, while Sabu does the same with Jeff.
An "EC-Dub!" chant begins, but one can't tell why because of the cameraman sitting in the crowd on the opposite side of where the two teams are now brawling. The camera zooms in to reveal RVD (in the crowd) leaping onto the guardrail and springing off of it, delivering a single-leg kick to Matt while in midair. We zoom back out eventually and all we can see is a lot of fans cheering and the occasional flicker of Sabu's pink pants. Oh, and we can hear Fonzie blowing his whistle like a madman, as he so often does. Boring...Sabu finally reappears and rolls Jeff back into the ring. He whips him into a corner and hits Air Sabu (a Poetry in Motion heelkick w/ the assist of a steel chair). He follows with a bulldog that slams Jeff face-first onto the chair and covers, but there's no ref because he's busy following Matt/RVD around the building.
A confused Sabu gets up and looks for the ref, allowing Jeff to briefly gain control. Sabu fights him off quickly, though, and hits an elbow drop (I think; hard to tell!) before tossing Jeff out of the ring. RVD rolls Matt back into the ring and enters himself. RVD/Sabu hit a Kaientai-style camel clutch (Sabu)/running low dropkick to the face (RVD) combo. Jeff re-enters and breaks up RVD's pinfall at 2. Sabu grabs a table from ringside and brings it into the ring while the Hardyz beat up RVD - Sleeper Hold Slam by Jeff and a springboard leg drop by Matt. The Hardyz follow by attacking Sabu and hitting their side Russian leg sweep (Jeff)/Elbow Drop off of the middle buckle (Matt) combo. Both Hardyz cover, but RVD - who has set up the table by now - breaks it up at 2.
Jeff attacks Sabu and Matt does the same to RVD, but RVD/Sabu eventually fight back and lay the Hardyz on the table (which is in the center of the ring). They hit their stereo Flying Leg Drops through the table and - as an "EC-Dub!" chant echos - cover their foes, but Matt places his foot on the rope at 2 and Jeff kicks out at...1, and quite lamely, I might add. They lift their foes back up to their feet and RVD hits a Corner Slingshot Splitlegged Moonsault Splash and Sabu hits a standing Arabian Facebuster (steel chair-assisted leg drop) on Matt and RVD covers for the win.
The ring announcer says that the fall was at 11:36 and that RVD & Sabu (along w/ Fonzie) are the winners. RVD's ECW theme ("Walk," by Pantera) hits as the tape cuts off.
2/11/98 (I think this is it) or 10/22/1998. All-Star Wrestling. Asheville, NC?