WWE: The 10 Craziest Jim Ross Reactions To Amazing Spectacles

9. Hardy Makes Himself Famous

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_ANV_KiB9Q The setting is Monday Night RAW, New Hampshire July 1, 2002. The Undertaker is facing Jeff Hardy in a ladder match for the undisputed WWE Title. This is Jeff Hardy's big foray into major-league single's competition, after years of tag team success and a few stints as the Hardcore Champion. Hardy is positioned as a brave underdog, who is spunky for challenging The Undertaker, but who has a real shot at winning because ladder matches are his specialty. Jim Ross exhibits his trademark way with words, as the match gets violent but quickly: "Jeff Hardy, leg-dropping the ladder onto The Undertaker's prone carcass". Can you hear Michael Cole saying "prone carcass" at all, let alone with any authority? Only Jim Ross can pull off such vivid vocabulary, and sound like a natural doing so. He refers to New Hampshire's state slogan, "Live free or die", and relates it to Hardy's career. The Undertaker tosses Hardy out to the floor, but instead of climbing to get the title belt, he elects to inflict more punishment on the challenger. This upsets Ross greatly, as he doesn't see this additional beating necessary when Taker could just finish the match. When Hardy is thrown onto the table in front of them, Ross directs his comments right at Taker: "What the hell are you €“ you're breaking this kid in half! No reason for it. Hardy cannot even defend himself." Lawler cautions against provoking The Undertaker, but Ross spit, "Another human being destroyed right in front of our eyes, and some of us give a damn!" From here on, Ross is disgusted. He paints a picture of Hardy being a pitiful soul who's being taken advantage of by the "evil, intense human being" that is The Undertaker. Lawler plays devil's advocate, saying Hardy asked for this match, which pokes at JR's ire even further. They do a wonderful job of positioning The Undertaker as a merciless cad, and Hardy as the plucky hero. "Jeff Hardy's spine crashed into that ladder, and the ladder could give a damn about the anatomy of this human being!" I love it. Hardy makes an exhausted comeback, and pulls out a huge ladder from under the ring. This is my favourite part of the match, when Lawler in all his ignorant glory blurts out "What's that for?" and Ross impatiently cries, "What's that for? He's going to paint his garage!" And while that's my favourite part, the most famous part comes when Jeff Hardy begins what looks like a successful ascent up the ladder: "CLIMB THE LADDER, KID! MAKE YOURSELF FAMOUS!" Everyone in New Hampshire is on their feet, and Hardy does indeed make himself famous. He gets one hand on the belt, but then the hand of The Undertaker is on his throat, and Hardy is choke-slammed into fame.