Back on Track or Fade to Black!?!


What Have the Hardyz and Lita Learned From Misfortune?


The Hardy Boyz and Lita's careers in the WWF have been a roller-coaster ride, filled with thrills and heart-pounding excitement. But every roller coaster has steep falls--something Matt, Jeff and Lita recently became acquainted with. Whether they'll be able to keep on track is a question being asked about the eXtreme trio.


Recently, the threesome's luck seems to have changed. Matt lost his coveted European Championship; Lita had her knee assulted; and Jeff's extreme risks began to exact a terrible toll on his body. Could these problems have been a forewarning of something greater? In the words of that modern-age philosopher The Hurricane, "Wassup wit dat?"


Since debuting in the Federation, the Hardy Boyz have had nothing but success with their high-risk, daredevil style. Some might argue that had the Hardyz not taken these risks, they would not be where they are today. Audiences hold their breath every time the Boyz pull off one of their high-flying maneuvers and emit a sign of relief when they emerge unscathed. But in the long run, have their risks really been worth the rewards?

Week after week, the Hardyz perform a dizzying aerial ballet. At one time, such acrobatic moves were unusual, but now, they have become almost expected by fans. In an effort to remain original and innovative, the Hardyz have taken to executing more dangerous maneuvers than ever before. Fans tune in to see what new assults the Boyz will devise.

The reason that Matt, Jeff and Lita take all of these chances is because they have an innate need to hear the crowds cheer them on. Whether it's the Hardyz ripping off a shirt to the roar of thousands of women before soaring off a 20-foot ladder, or Lita executing a flying moonsault, the threesome thrives on the applause and crowd reaction. But how far are they willing to go to satisfy their compulsion to please their millions of admirers?

After competing in three Tables, Ladders & Chairs matches, the Hardyz were lucky to walk away from the battles without severe injuries. When Jeff perched himself atop a 15-foot ladder and attempted to excute aSwanton Bomb onto Rob Van Dam, who was prone on a table, his risky maneuver failed. At the last second, RVD moved out of the way, leaving Jeff to crash through the table and onto the concrete floor. The table shattered,leaving fans concerned about Jeff's physical state. Not only did he lose the Hardcore title match, Jeff damaged his body and, more importantly, his pride. Fortunately he didn't suffer severe damage, but he was hampered for weeks by the injuries.

Only a few days after Jeff's mishap, Matt and Lita ran into some hard luck of their own. Since reigniting her feud with Alliance member Ivory, Lita has had to remain on her guard. Ivory savagely attacked Lita's knee on several occasions, even smashing it with a foreign object in hopes of grounding the high-flying Diva. One of the attacks happeneing during Matt Hardy's European title defense, an act which took his attention from the match and led to an Eye of the Hurricane finisher by the enigmatic Hurricane. With Jeff and Lita injuried, and Matt mourning the loss of his title, it seemed like the trio were beaten. This was not the case.

Devoid if titles and nursing their damaged pride, the Hardyz and Lita were forced to lick their wounds and regroup. The three Superstars bounced back, proving that they had indeed become veterans as well as students of the game. Like the saying goes, "That which does not kill us, only makes us stronger," the Hardyz and Lita have learned from their misfortunes and become more focused.

Although it is unlikely that Jeff is going to stop taking risks because of a mishap that cost him a victory, he may have second thoughts about leaping off of a 15-foot high ladder and through a table again. Jeff simply needs to realize that the "oohs" and "aahs" from t crowd aren't going to win any matches. Once Jeff flies with a goal to maim opponents rather than garner applause, he will realize his full potential and skyrocket to the top of the Federation. Jeff is a proven athlete in the ring. If he vcan better assess the risks he takes, there's no telling how far he will go.

With any luck, Matt has also learned a lesson: Not to let the events occurring outside the ring distract him fromwhat really matters. If having Lita accompany him to ringside is making him vulnerable, he needs to let her view his matches from a monitor in the back. Research gathered during the many years of valets escorting their proteges to ringside has proven that they can be as much of a hindrance as a help. Matt is a talented athlete who cannot let his relationship with Lita deter him from success. As soon as he realizes that his top priority is his career, he will become an even greater force in the Federation.

If Lita has learned anything from her own hardships, it's that she needs to become more aggressive. Lita is arguably the strongest, the most athletic and most aerial female in sports-entertainment history, so there is no excuse for her being blindsided by smaller women. Everyone knows Lita's capabilities, but lately she has shown a passive side which made her seem more susceptible to attack. Even if it means savagely assaulting someone, she needs to demonstrate her dominance. Once Lita shows the other Divas her mean streak, they will not only show her fear but also respect.

Maybe some good has come out of Matt, Jeff and Lita's misfortune. They have discovered their own weaknesses and now know what is necessary to rectify the problems and move on. Thankfully this isn't the end of the Hardyz and Lita--it is simply the beginning of something new: the eXtreme Era. Now that the exhilarating young athletes have survived some key mishaps that have made them wise beyond their years, they are ready to lead the WWF to new heights.

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