The Complete A-Z Of Wrestling In 2017
14. M - Matt Hardy
Beautifully BROKEN in 2016, Matt Hardy literally got his job and his life back in 2017, though the reality was far less dramatic than the cinematic overtones suggest.
Rebuilding his career from the ground up with the bizarrely imaginative persona, #BROKEN Matt and a 'Universe' that included Brother Nero (Jeff) and the rest of his family brought astonishing numbers of eyes to a product on life support. Unfortunately for Impact Wrestling, those eyes only had stars in them.
With the North Carolinians clean, healthy and - crucially - topical, one final destination on their 'Expedition Of Gold' remained, and WrestleMania 33 provided a perfect payoff.
That they actually won the Tag Team Titles in a broadly enjoyable stunt show has already been lost to the nostalgia that came with their earth-shattering return pop. Impossible not to be enslaved by the joyous outburst of the Orlando crowd, Matt and Jeff basked in the glory of their return until the latter was shelved with an injury this year. The former's subsequent slip down the roster has in-turn 'woken' the BROKEN brilliance of old.