10 Wrestling Matches That Changed Fans Opinions On Certain Wrestlers
3. Jeff Hardy Vs The Undertaker (WWE Monday Night Raw, 2002)
Almost 18 years before Drew McIntyre got his star-making moment, a young Jeff Hardy had his on an episode of Raw against The Undertaker.
On July 1st 2002, Hardy and The Deadman squared off in a ladder match for Big Evil's WWE Championship. This was the 25-year-old Hardy's biggest match to date and his first of what would become many world championship bouts.
The match is a classic story of power and strength vs speed and agility. The veteran Taker dominates large portions of the fight, only for the plucky youngster to get back in the game. Hardy puts in the performance of a lifetime, refusing to give up even when the odds are firmly against him. In the end, he did not claim Taker's gold that night, but he was now a made man.
Up to this point, Hardy was viewed a very entertaining tag team and midcard act. He was a pipsqueak compared most of the rest of the roster and the idea of him becoming world champion one day was almost laughable.
However, through sheer grit and determination, Hardy managed to win over all his doubters in this match and, in the words of JR, "make himself famous".