20 Greatest WWE SmackDown Superstars Ever

17. Matt Hardy

The Rock SmackDown Fox
WWE.com

Like Jeff, Matt Hardy contributed some exhilarating moments during the duo's deadliest days in the early 2000s, but the now-BROKEN/WOKEN star deserves extra credit for two additional runs that grafted for what they achieved in 2002 and 2007 respectively.

The former - a superb heel run as deluded good 'Matt Hardy Version One' - was cut short by WWE's creative indifference to Hardy in general (as well as a move to Raw for Matt to be with Lita that...didn't end well), but his 2006 return to the blue brand following a lost cause feud with Edge resulted inadvertently one of 2007's genuine bright spots.

A wretched stint for WWE was enhanced supremely by Matt's friends-to-enemies Tag Team Title run with Montel Vontavious Porter. From uneasy union to brutal turn, the story survived injuries and delays to carry both through to a post-WrestleMania programme the following year.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back almost 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 60,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett