[2000-04-13-WWF-Smackdown] Matt & Jeff Hardy vs Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko

[soup23]

Benoit continues his strong claim as the best wrestler in the world. This wasn’t given much time but they really maximized everything and it became a fully formed very good tag match. Benoit’s dropkick and crispness is unparalleled. The Hardy’s also seemed amped to be in there with this sprint and were motivated to provide high energy. Benoit lifts Jeff up and Dean comes off the top rope with a clothesline. Dean/Benoit are working so well here that I want them to be a tag team again in WWF running against all of the big teams at the time. Hot tag was again at rapid pace and a great finish with Jeff hitting a Swantom on Dean who had the cover and Matt getting the pin for the surprise victory. This was really great for the time. ***1/2

[Loss]

Great TV match. These guys gelled really well with each other, which is interesting because I remember hearing about problems the Hardys and the Radicalz had working together around this time. Maybe that involved Saturn. Anyway, usually Matt is FIP and Jeff is the hot tag so he can do his cool moves, but in this case, they flipped it for a change, which was interesting. I also liked that the full-time tag team won the match, even though Benoit was being pushed higher on the card than anyone in the ring. Fast-paced without feeling rushed, and short without feeling too short. ***1/2

[GSR]

Benoit and Malenko are still being referred to as ‘the Radicalz’ which I doubt will last much longer. Matt with a high hip toss on Malenko, followed by a drop toe hold. Whip to the turnbuckles, but he side steps out the way and Hardy goes crashing into them. Dean tags in ‘the Crippler’, and after the Radicalz miss a double team lariat in the corner, Malenko dropkicks Matt and Benoit with the rolling German suplexes. Back elbows by Hardy prevent the third and break the hold, but as he goes to nail Malenko on the apron, Benoit dropkicks him in the back sending him tumbling out of the ring. Back inside and an elbow to the jaw of the charging ‘Crippler’, bulldog off the middle and he’s able to make the tag to his brother. Jeff takes it to the Radicalz until Benoit reverses an Irish whip and boots him in the mid-section. He lifts him up for a powerbomb, but with Jeff on his shoulders, walks backwards and tags Dean who comes off the top with a flying clothesline. Lariat in the corner connects and Benoit with a vicious looking short clothesline. Running elbow smash for two. Drop toe hold/baseball slide dropkick double team. ‘The Crippler’ whips Jeff chest first into the turnbuckles and sits him on top for a belly to back superplex, however Hardy is able to counter in mid-air and lands on top. Hot tag to Matt, but he’s quickly stopped in his tracks by a Malenko flying leg lariat. Jeff breaks up the count at two and all four men are in the ring. ‘Poetry in Motion’ on Dean, but Benoit then launches him over the top rope to the floor. Malenko with a powerslam and cover on Matt, however the official is trying to get ‘the Crippler’ out the ring. ‘Swanton bomb’ to the back of Malenko and Matt drapes an arm over for the three as Jeff takes care of Benoit.

 

It’s kinda unfortunate that Malenko and Benoit’s trajectory are taking them in separate directions because they’re bloody good here (Light Heavyweight and I-C champion respectively). Fast paced action, quick tags, nice double team manoeuvres, they’d have been a hell of an asset to the tag team division. Real good TV match and a surprise to see the Hardyz come out on top.