Why don't TNA utilize Jeff Hardy better?

[Chip Chipperson]

This is a man who was the second biggest face in all of wrestling at one point and TNA has hurt him so much that he's in midcard hell and doesn't seem to be coming out of it. It's been well over a year since Jeff Hardy has been in regular main events for TNA and quite frankly he deserves better and should probably be TNA World Heavyweight Champion right now. 

I understand that TNA is basically a nostalgia promotion but nobody is really interested in The Hardy's in 2015. Hardy's haven't entertained me since 2002 and it seems like Matt has dragged younger brother Jeff down every time they've reunited. Time to be done with the Hardy's, fire Matt, push Jeff and get a good 3-5 years out of him before he passes the torch to a young baby face that TNA can build around.

Thoughts?

[cabbageboy]

I kinda wish Jeff would just go back to WWE for one last big money run there. The problem however is that due to his drug arrest there really isn't a viable way to push him that hard at this point, at least not consistently. He can't really travel overseas, thus he missed the entire massive TV tapings in the UK.

[Jedi-El of Tomorrow]

Mar 21, 2015 9:55:47 GMT -5 cabbageboy said:

I kinda wish Jeff would just go back to WWE for one last big money run there. The problem however is that due to his drug arrest there really isn't a viable way to push him that hard at this point, at least not consistently. He can't really travel overseas, thus he missed the entire massive TV tapings in the UK.

Exactly. You don't want to put the title on a guy that can't go overseas. There's also the fact that while Jeff is the biggest "name" TNA has now, his being champion has no effect on the ratings. People just want to see him go back to WWE.

Give the title to EC3.

[Deleted]

I think Hogan/Bischoff were high (no pun intended) on him, which is why they initially tried the stupid heel turn, and then the redemption face turn, but now he is just treading water for a company that doesn't realize what they have. Ultimately, Jeff seems like the type of dude who is just happy to be getting what I presume to be a good paycheck, being with his brother, and doing his own shit (music, art, Willow character, etc). I'm assuming the WWE can be creatively stifling to someone like Jeff, even ignoring the drug policy and all that stuff, although maybe he'd go back on an RVD schedule.

[Deleted]

Jeff needs to go back to the WWE it's just depressing seeing him kill himself for a lame duck company in front of 300 fans. I'm sure that they'd give him an easy schedule as Vince loves the dude. Jeff is the one dude that could have overtaken Cena during his peak, every demographic loved Jeff. He could walk in tomorrow and probably be the second or third most over guy in the E. TNA as usual TNA'd it up.

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

He was gonna get a push but then he got high

[Chip Chipperson]

Mar 21, 2015 9:55:47 GMT -5 cabbageboy said:

I kinda wish Jeff would just go back to WWE for one last big money run there. The problem however is that due to his drug arrest there really isn't a viable way to push him that hard at this point, at least not consistently. He can't really travel overseas, thus he missed the entire massive TV tapings in the UK.

They tour overseas once a year. I understand that's a month or so in TV time but when your business is mostly in the United States it doesn't really matter.

Now if it was WWE who do multiple international tours and Jeff couldn't go I'd totally get it but right now it's a real non issue or at least it should be.

[cabbageboy]

True, but look at all the TV TNA has taped in the UK of late. Jeff has had to be off TV for quite a long time. They did a good angle to write him out for a while, but either way it's a lot of TV time missed.

Speaking of the Hardy 2010 heel turn, anyone else think Van Dam would have been a better choice to turn there? Hardy always made for a very awkward heel and he flamed out something fierce with the Sting match debacle. RVD had been the same babyface character basically since the demise of The Alliance and it would have freshened him up a lot. RVD is a better heel promo than babyface as well.

[Mayonnaise]

Jeff is only going to do what he wants to do, that is why he is in TNA. We can talk about him needing to be used better but this is one time I don't entirely fault TNA. TNA needs the money he brings in (best selling merch. guy in their history, including in the years between his runs) and is the only reason they stand a chance to sell tickets to shows but the trade off is they have to let him express himself musically and in the ring. That is why we got Monologue Hardy, Willow and now the Hardyz reunion. I honestly think that they want to build around and do more with him but you never know where his mind is or is going. Throw in his legal trouble costing him what is like a 1/4 of their year and it is hard to really dig in.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

If TNA "used Jeff Hardy better" people would complain about them pushing a WWE alumnus over homegrown/indy talents

[blackmegaman]

Mar 21, 2015 22:19:40 GMT -5 CATCH_US IS the Conversation said:

If TNA "used Jeff Hardy better" people would complain about them pushing a WWE alumnus over homegrown/indy talents

Ehh....if Bobby Lashley's title run did anything it showed that if you do it for the most part right people are willing to overlook the fact that he was a WWE guy.

[Magic knows Black Lives Matter]

Mar 21, 2015 22:19:40 GMT -5 CATCH_US IS the Conversation said:

If TNA "used Jeff Hardy better" people would complain about them pushing a WWE alumnus over homegrown/indy talents

I would have no problem with it. Jeff's super over and he busts his ass every night.

[Non Banjoble Tokens]

Bring Willow back and pair him up with Matt Hardy so Matt can dress up like some crazy asshole and have his own whacky persona.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

[Chip Chipperson]

Mar 21, 2015 22:19:40 GMT -5 CATCH_US IS the Conversation said:

If TNA "used Jeff Hardy better" people would complain about them pushing a WWE alumnus over homegrown/indy talents

Not really. It makes sense because he's young and recognizable.

Now when you're force feeding Angle, MVP and Anderson down our throats people are going to complain because they're old and nobody cares anymore but people still care about Hardy and he still has "it"

[jimmyjames]

As I said in another thread about Jeff Hardy, I don't know if TNA trust Jeff hardy to be the #1 guy and TNA champion, and his not being able to go outside the U.S. is a big problem. Regarding Jeff, TNA has screwed up a lot, but he's screwed up more, so I can't be upset with them if they're gun shy about him. If he and Matt were to win the tag titles, and help with the division that would be great, or Jeff with a run as X division champ and in the process, help rebuild the X division, would also be a good thing. Him being TNA World champion isn't happening.

[Paco]

He was used plenty (maybe even TOO) well from 2010 till 2013. They pushed him hard.
I was even kinda glad that they scaled him back after his title loss to Bully.
...and Willow was probably mostly Jeff's thing so blame him.

Jeff is bulletproof. He can go back to main eventing anytime.
He was Lashley's fIrst REAL title defense and he helped legitimize that reign (the Aries & Roode wins later on helped too).

I had no problems with TNA keeping Jeff busy with a Hardys (and Team 3D) nostalgia run to help the thin (pretty much just Wolves & BroMans) Tag Title scene while Lashley got an awesome run.

Now is probably a good time for him to return to the World Title scene but I have no qualms with how he's been used by TNA. His slight depushes have made sense to me.

Besides, I'm all for EC3 as Champ at the moment...or a successful cash in from Aries.
...and the Tag Division is probably where he's needed most right now with Eddie Edwards on the shelf. Kind of an essential when you think about it.
I think TNA definitely wants Jeff back hanging around the top as a single but the Eddie injury has pretty much extended The Hardys nostalgia run indefinitely. TNA's fault for not making any other teams besides the Wolves and BroMans.

[Super Nintenjoe KBD]

Mar 22, 2015 2:28:47 GMT -5 Chip Chipperson said:

Mar 21, 2015 22:19:40 GMT -5 CATCH_US IS the Conversation said:

If TNA "used Jeff Hardy better" people would complain about them pushing a WWE alumnus over homegrown/indy talents

Not really. It makes sense because he's young and recognizable.

Now when you're force feeding Angle, MVP and Anderson down our throats people are going to complain because they're old and nobody cares anymore but people still care about Hardy and he still has "it"

Funny that "young" Hardy debuted and was a "name" before Anderson, MVP or even Angle made it to WWE.

[Deleted]

Jeff should have been used better in 2010. They had just signed arguably the most over star in the WWE, and they used him as just another guy until the heel turn (don't get me started on how turning him heel was a stupid idea, even if he played the role well). If they had let Hardy beat Styles for the title and just let him run with the belt for as long as he was hot, then I don't think too many people would have been against it. His booking was better in 2012, but they had him drop the title to Bully right when they were about to tour, which made no sense because you'd want Hardy on top of the card if you want to sell tickets.

TNA hasn't used him well at all, but as mentioned, the Hardy we've seen the past two years is probably just him doing what he wants to do. He doesn't strike me as someone who cares about going back to the WWE for a nostalgia run as much as doing what makes him happy. If he's still being paid decently (by TNA's standards), then he's working like 20 dates a year tops with the way TNA tapes nowadays, while still being able to do whatever he wants on the side. Not a bad gig if the paycheck is still good enough.

[Chip Chipperson]

Mar 22, 2015 9:19:08 GMT -5 Super Nintenjoe KBD said:

Mar 22, 2015 2:28:47 GMT -5 Chip Chipperson said:

Not really. It makes sense because he's young and recognizable.

Now when you're force feeding Angle, MVP and Anderson down our throats people are going to complain because they're old and nobody cares anymore but people still care about Hardy and he still has "it"

Funny that "young" Hardy debuted and was a "name" before Anderson, MVP or even Angle made it to WWE.

Anderson: 39

Angle: 46

MVP: 41

Jeff Hardy: 37


Whilst he isn't particularly young he is a huge star so age could be overlooked and even still he's got 2 years on the youngest guy on that list. 9 years between him and Angle.