How Jeff Hardy vs. Rob Van Dam could possibly be an underrated feud given the men involved and the quality of their matches is a mystery but over time, that seems to be the case. Prior to the Invasion storyline in the summer of 2001, Hardy vs. RVD was a dream match. Both had proven to be such innovative offensive performers during their time in WWE and ECW, respectively, that fans could not wait to see what they would pull out when they battled one another for the first time at July's Invasion pay-per-view. With the WWE Hardcore Championship on the line, anything went and the Superstars did not disappoint. They delivered a hellishly physical match that tested their wills to be champion. Ultimately, Van Dam won the match and the title, taking the first step toward superstardom in WWE. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka-SJ7i6H8M Over the next month, they would trade the title back and forth before a Ladder match was booked for SummerSlam in August. Hardy entered the extravaganza as champion and was the favorite to retain given his history in the gimmick bout. Van Dam, however, proved equally as adept at handling a ladder and the two Superstars delivered a match that somehow managed to eclipse their first a month earlier. Van Dam, again, emerged victoriously but fans got a hint of what Hardy would be capable of as a singles star further down the road. Though the program lasted only two months, it produced two Match of the Year candidates in a year chock full of them.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
