Before Jeff Hardy officially separated from his tag team partner and brother, Matt, it was a rocky start to Jeff's career as a singles competitor. Part of the reason for that should be obvious: The Hardy Boyz were a prolific tag team. One of the best in the history of business. So audiences (and likely management) are going to take awhile to catch on to the halving of this dynamic duo. But what's the fastest way to get your name out as a potential main event guy and have everyone in the stands and in the locker room take you seriously? Go one-on-one The Undisputed WWE Champion The Undertaker, holder of the WWE Undisputed Championship and ruler of the roster. Taker had just began his turn as a heel, and the brash young high-flyer decided to take the Champion up on his newest catchphrase to "make him famous," by competing in Hardy's specialty, the ladder match. In return, Taker promised that by the end of their match, Jeff Hardy wouldn't be able to stand. Oh, and the championship belt would also be on the line. Going into this, there was pretty much no way that Jeff Hardy was going to win this match. It wouldn't have made sense for the company to give the title to a scrawny daredevil with limited skills as a technician. But over the course of fifteen minutes, there were times when it certainly felt like there was a chance. Every time Jeff climbed the ladder and stretched his hand out for the belt, only to be brought back down to earth by Taker, it was a gut punch to Hardy fans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_ANV_KiB9Q Ultimately, Taker retained his title after a grueling, borderline sadistic match that looked like it should've crippled Hardy. But even after the match, Hardy refused to lay down, calling Undertaker back to the ring. In a moment that will stand alone, etched in history forever, The Undertaker forgoes the additional melee on Hardy that he promised and, instead, gives him a pat on the head and raises his hand, signifying that Hardy was the Undisputed Toughest Sumbitch on the Planet. Jeff Hardy could now be taken seriously as a main event guy.
