Post by #HEEL Dark Lord on Oct 18, 2006 15:50:18 GMT -5
October 18, 2006 - For six consecutive years IGN and THQ have teamed up to bring our readers an ongoing exclusive look at the superstars of the WWE, and this season is no exception. Famous the world over, our "SmackDown Countdown" chronicles each wrestler, diva, and legend that will appear in WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007, and comes complete with never-before-seen screenshots and direct-feed movies of every last one of them. Every day for the next nine weeks, we'll profile more than 60 different personalities (including two each on Mondays and Fridays as a special homage to Raw and SmackDown fans), and for the first time ever, will cover two different platforms with images and video from both the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 versions. Hot stuff? You bet.
But enough with the formalities it's time to throw down with today's Countdown superstar, Matt Hardy!
HEIGHT:
6'2"
WEIGHT:
225 lbs
HOMETOWN:
Cameron, NC
Matt Hardy came to the WWE in 1998 as a tag team specialist, teaming up with his brother Jeff to form the appropriately named 'Hardy Boyz'. While severely undersized, the Hardy's outstanding chemistry and unmatched heart carried them to stardom. The Hardy Boyz went on to become five time World Tag Team Champions in WWE before breaking up in 2002. In 2003, shortly after joining the SmackDown roster, Matt Hardy pursued the Cruiserweight Championship. After struggling for weeks to make the weight limit, Hardy defeated Kidman for the Championship at No Way Out '03.
After he won the title, Hardy endured an up and down rivalry with Rey Mysterio. Hardy got the best of Rey Mysterio in a controversial Championship match at WrestleMania 19. A month later however, Mysterio got his revenge, defeating Hardy for the Cruiserweight Championship on SmackDown. In 2004, Matt Hardy's girlfriend Lita became the object of Kane's affection. For weeks on RAW, Kane stalked Hardy and Lita, routinely abusing Matt while pursuing her, at one point even planting a disturbing kiss on Lita's cheek. On a June episode of RAW, Lita told Matt she was pregnant, presumably with his child. One week later, Matt prepared to propose to Lita, but was interrupted by Kane, who made a shocking allegation. Kane claimed that the baby Lita was carrying was not Matt's, but his own. While Kane was marrying Lita, a desperate Matt Hardy tried to come down and interrupt the wedding, but a force-field of flames kept him from getting to the altar. After the vows, Kane attacked Hardy and brutally chokeslammed him off the stage. As a result, Hardy was badly injured and was forced to take time off from RAW.
While Hardy was away, he learned that his long-time real life girlfriend, Lita, was having a sordid affair with Edge. Adding to an already emotional period, Matt was also released from WWE. It wasn't long before information regarding the personal hell Matt was experiencing became public knowledge. His faithful followers began to make their voices heard at WWE events across the country. In fact, Matt points out the crowd's reaction at Madison Square Garden during a RAW taping as the catalyst for starting his "movement. Unable to simply sit at the sidelines while his heart was wrenching, Matt started popping up uninvited at WWE events, wreaking havoc on Edge and Lita every chance he had. He even called in and crashed Lita's Byte This! interview, confronting her about their tumultuous relationship. Not long after, Mr. McMahon said that Hardy was starting fires all over the place, and he couldn't help but to pour gasoline on those fires by re-hiring Matt. Upon his return, Hardy adopted a vicious focus that has been previously unmatched in his career. For several months in 2005, Matt made the lives of Lita and Edge a living hell, just as they did to him.
After clashing with Edge on several occasions including a classic steel cage bout at the 2005 Unforgiven which saw Hardy defeat Edge following a daring legdrop from the top of the cage, Hardy and Edge would meet one more time in a ladder match at the RAW Homecoming in October 2005. The battle would result in the two bitter rivals' careers going in quite different directions. After taking Edge to the limit and nearing an end, Lita interjected herself in the match costing Matt not only the match but his spot on the RAW roster.
Signed by Friday Night SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long as part of the new talent initiative that October, Long saw Hardy as the perfect addition to the roster based on his incredible showing in the past. There's no denying how great the acquisition of the daredevil renegade Matt Hardy is for SmackDown. Once again, Matt Hardy stole the show in a Ladder Match. At WrestleMania 22, Hardy was one of six competitors in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Even though he was unable to win the match, Hardy once again added to his legacy of high flying, show stealing antics, entertaining the crowd while showing complete disregard for his well being.
Source: WWE.com
Stats
Strength: 7
Submission: 7.5
Durability: 7
Technique: 7.5
Speed: 8
Charisma: 7.5
Hardcore: 7
Stamina: 7
Overall: 84
FINISHERS
Twist of Fate 1
Twist of Fate 2
But enough with the formalities it's time to throw down with today's Countdown superstar, Matt Hardy!
HEIGHT:
6'2"
WEIGHT:
225 lbs
HOMETOWN:
Cameron, NC
Matt Hardy came to the WWE in 1998 as a tag team specialist, teaming up with his brother Jeff to form the appropriately named 'Hardy Boyz'. While severely undersized, the Hardy's outstanding chemistry and unmatched heart carried them to stardom. The Hardy Boyz went on to become five time World Tag Team Champions in WWE before breaking up in 2002. In 2003, shortly after joining the SmackDown roster, Matt Hardy pursued the Cruiserweight Championship. After struggling for weeks to make the weight limit, Hardy defeated Kidman for the Championship at No Way Out '03.
After he won the title, Hardy endured an up and down rivalry with Rey Mysterio. Hardy got the best of Rey Mysterio in a controversial Championship match at WrestleMania 19. A month later however, Mysterio got his revenge, defeating Hardy for the Cruiserweight Championship on SmackDown. In 2004, Matt Hardy's girlfriend Lita became the object of Kane's affection. For weeks on RAW, Kane stalked Hardy and Lita, routinely abusing Matt while pursuing her, at one point even planting a disturbing kiss on Lita's cheek. On a June episode of RAW, Lita told Matt she was pregnant, presumably with his child. One week later, Matt prepared to propose to Lita, but was interrupted by Kane, who made a shocking allegation. Kane claimed that the baby Lita was carrying was not Matt's, but his own. While Kane was marrying Lita, a desperate Matt Hardy tried to come down and interrupt the wedding, but a force-field of flames kept him from getting to the altar. After the vows, Kane attacked Hardy and brutally chokeslammed him off the stage. As a result, Hardy was badly injured and was forced to take time off from RAW.
While Hardy was away, he learned that his long-time real life girlfriend, Lita, was having a sordid affair with Edge. Adding to an already emotional period, Matt was also released from WWE. It wasn't long before information regarding the personal hell Matt was experiencing became public knowledge. His faithful followers began to make their voices heard at WWE events across the country. In fact, Matt points out the crowd's reaction at Madison Square Garden during a RAW taping as the catalyst for starting his "movement. Unable to simply sit at the sidelines while his heart was wrenching, Matt started popping up uninvited at WWE events, wreaking havoc on Edge and Lita every chance he had. He even called in and crashed Lita's Byte This! interview, confronting her about their tumultuous relationship. Not long after, Mr. McMahon said that Hardy was starting fires all over the place, and he couldn't help but to pour gasoline on those fires by re-hiring Matt. Upon his return, Hardy adopted a vicious focus that has been previously unmatched in his career. For several months in 2005, Matt made the lives of Lita and Edge a living hell, just as they did to him.
After clashing with Edge on several occasions including a classic steel cage bout at the 2005 Unforgiven which saw Hardy defeat Edge following a daring legdrop from the top of the cage, Hardy and Edge would meet one more time in a ladder match at the RAW Homecoming in October 2005. The battle would result in the two bitter rivals' careers going in quite different directions. After taking Edge to the limit and nearing an end, Lita interjected herself in the match costing Matt not only the match but his spot on the RAW roster.
Signed by Friday Night SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long as part of the new talent initiative that October, Long saw Hardy as the perfect addition to the roster based on his incredible showing in the past. There's no denying how great the acquisition of the daredevil renegade Matt Hardy is for SmackDown. Once again, Matt Hardy stole the show in a Ladder Match. At WrestleMania 22, Hardy was one of six competitors in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Even though he was unable to win the match, Hardy once again added to his legacy of high flying, show stealing antics, entertaining the crowd while showing complete disregard for his well being.
Source: WWE.com
Stats
Strength: 7
Submission: 7.5
Durability: 7
Technique: 7.5
Speed: 8
Charisma: 7.5
Hardcore: 7
Stamina: 7
Overall: 84
FINISHERS
Twist of Fate 1
Twist of Fate 2
