The Hardy Boyz had unique careers with fans both viewing them as their own performers with their individual accolades, along with their legendary tag team run. Few tag teams can state they were a full brand together as Matt and Jeff Hardy worked for various promotions. WWE made them stars when they joined at very young ages and got over with the audience.
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However, the time in Impact Wrestling, Ring of Honor and now AEW all see more things associated with their careers. Only a select few tag teams are tied together that many stories can be shared about them as one act. The following backstage stories about the Hardy Boyz will shine a brighter light on their careers.
10 AEW Had Plans For Tag Title Run Before Jeff Hardy's Arrest
The AEW tag team run of the Hardy Boyz has been a lackluster stint so far partially due to Jeff Hardy getting arrested for driving under the influence to stall any momentum. AEW reportedly had some huge plans for the Hardy Boyz before Jeff’s issues and their age started to show.
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Matt and Jeff defeated the Young Bucks at Double or Nothing 2019 in a match that was meant to set them up as the next tag champs after Jurassic Express. Jeff looking banged up after that match slowed down those plans, and the arrest came shortly afterwards to end them altogether.
9 Went Shopping For Team Outfits At Mall With Michael Hayes
WWE paired Matt and Jeff Hardy with the legendary Michael Hayes when attempting to find a way to utilize him on television. Hayes managed the Hardy Boyz during their early success breaking out with the unique looks and personalities in the Attitude Era.
Matt shared a funny story on his podcast about going clothes shopping with Hayes before an episode of Raw at a local mall. Hayes wanted them to wear something unflattering, so they went to the mall and the Hardy Boyz picked out the infamous outfits they became known for.
8 They Were Blindsided By Break Up During Brand Split
One of the wildest aspects of the 2002 brand split was how little the WWE roster knew about their future. Multiple all-time great tag teams broke up during this time since Vince McMahon wanted to make new top stars with the two separate rosters. However, WWE dropped the ball by not having the ideal creative for some.
Matt and Jeff Hardy revealed that they were not told about breaking up until days before it happened. Both Hardy brothers were a bit worried about their future since they weren’t preparing for a drastically different singles role. Matt ended up thriving more with his Matttude heel gimmick than Jeff did while pushed as a beloved face.
7 Christopher Daniels Was Part Of Their WWE Chef Boyardee Commercial
Matt Hardy recently shared a funny story about the first time he met Christopher Daniels since both are now good friends in AEW. WWE selected the Hardy Boyz for one of their many sponsored commercial ads of the Attitude Era.
Chef Boyardee filmed an ad with Matt and Jeff Hardy fighting unknown wrestlers on an island. Daniels was early in his career and got cast in the role as an extra. This commercial now holds more sentimental value today getting to see a young Daniels fighting with the Hardy Boyz over ravioli.
6 Jeff Hardy Almost Broke Character During Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt Segment
WWE separated the Hardy Boyz when Matt started teaming with Bray Wyatt using their similar characters of the campy side. Jeff returned from an injury and played his usual babyface character in a singles spot moving forward that year.
A hilarious backstage segment saw Matt and Jeff reuniting to have a conversation with Matt in the Broken state and Jeff going in and out. Jeff has shared in interviews that he almost broke character going back to that style of segment, especially with other names like Finn Balor and Seth Rollins present.
5 Regretted Bringing In Jeff Hardy's Real-Life Tragedy Into Their Feud
WWE booked a blood feud between the brothers of Matt and Jeff Hardy during a controversial 2009 storyline. Jeff had a real-life tragedy of his dog passing away after a house fire. There was an on-screen storyline going at the time of a mystery person trying to injure and end Jeff’s career.
RELATED: 5 Wrestlers The Hardy Boyz Love (& 5 They Don't)
Matt was revealed as the evil and jealous brother that would stop at nothing to ruin Jeff. WWE had Matt claim he started the fire and killed Jeff’s dog to the point of holding a burnt collar. Both Jeff and Matt have discussed regretting this angle and wishing they never went along with it.
4 Jeff Jarrett Ruined Cross Promotion Young Bucks Vs Hardy Boyz Feud For ROH & Impact
The Hardy Boyz became arguably the most popular act outside of WWE when they adopted the Broken personas for Impact Wrestling. A friendship with the Young Bucks saw both top tag teams helping set up a deal for Ring of Honor and Impact to work together for the first time in many years.
The cross-promoted matches were to see them having multiple matches for both tag titles in each company. However, Jeff Jarrett became the new decision maker returning to Impact and ended it. The Hardy Boyz having issues with Jarrett changing their plans led to an ugly falling out and lawsuit threats.
3 They Attended Promoted Pre-WrestleMania Party To Fake Out Fans About WWE Return
The end of the Impact Wrestling run for the Hardy Boyz led to them working for Ring of Honor and having the great matches against the Young Bucks there. An epic ladder match ended the ROH run, but fans were curious about the chances of a WWE return that weekend at WrestleMania 33.
Matt and Jeff went as far to attend a tailgate party the following afternoon before WrestleMania as part of a Highspots event to make fans think they were not appearing for WWE. However, it was a great way to fake fans out as they did appear for WWE that night in another ladder match on back to back nights in different companies.
2 Jeff Hardy Stayed Out Of The Matt Hardy & Edge Drama
Many fans wondered how the other parties of the Edge and Christian vs Hardy Boyz history felt when Edge and Matt Hardy had their massive falling out. The love triangle between Lita, Matt and Edge could have seen Christian and Jeff Hardy getting involved.
However, both guys have talked about staying out of it since it wasn’t their lives. Jeff remained professional with Edge, and they even worked a future World Championship program. Matt and Christian never had issues either since it would have been petty to get more people in the drama.
1 JBL Asked Them To Tag Michael Hayes In For Him During Tag Match For Beat Down
The association between Michael Hayes and the Hardy Boyz led to Matt and Jeff being placed in an uncomfortable spot. Matt shared in a shoot interview that JBL had issues with Hayes from the past that saw him escalating everything when all parties were involved for a six-man tag match.
Jeff and Matt were asked by JBL to tag Hayes in with the intent of giving him some stiff shots as revenge for their past. The Hardy Boyz went along with it since it wasn’t their jobs to fix the WWE system and Hayes was going to enter the match at some point anyway.
