Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk was one of the best standout feuds of 2009. It began when CM Punk turned heel over the course of spring and summer that year, slowly becoming more devious and deceptive. When he attacked Jeff Hardy after a match, fans learned that he was now fully a heel and was determined to show his superiority over Hardy.
Extreme Rules 2009: Jeff Hardy Wins and Loses the World Heavyweight Championship
On June 7, 2009, Jeff Hardy faced Edge in a ladder match at Extreme Rules, for the two had been feuding over the World title. Hardy defeated Edge and became World Heavyweight Champion. Money in the Bank winner CM Punk immediately came out to cash in his MITB contract and defeated Jeff Hardy for the title. This meant that only minutes after achieving his dream and winning the World title, Hardy lost it to Punk.
When the two had a title match at The Bash on June 28th, Punk apparently injured his eye and couldn’t see and so kicked the referee, which resulted in a disqualification for Punk, and meant that Punk kept his title even though he lost. Hardy accused Punk of faking his eye injury so that he could keep the belt. Punk insisted he was telling the truth, but something was fishy.
Jeff Hardy CM Punk Feud
CM Punk began talking about Jeff Hardy’s two violations against the WWE Wellness Policy, which caused Hardy to be suspended twice. Jeff defended himself by saying that he had learned from his mistakes and that he would not commit them again. But Punk insisted that his own lifestyle, the Straight Edge lifestyle, was best, as he did not abuse drugs and alcohol like Hardy supposedly did.
Punk portrayed himself as superior to Hardy by extolling the virtues of his lifestyle which meant being free of alcohol, tobacco and drugs. If only Jeff Hardy could be like him, he would be a better person, as would everyone else, Punk said. But Jeff Hardy was too happy abusing alcohol and drugs, according to Punk, to want to change.
At Night of Champions on July 26, 2009, Jeff Hardy won back his World Heavyweight Championship from CM Punk. Soon after, Punk attacked Jeff Hardy on an episode of Smackdown. He attacked Jeff numerous times after that, but Jeff’s brother Matt saved him from Punk’s rage, as did John Morrison.
CM Punk Beats Jeff Hardy at Summerslam
CM Punk fought Jeff Hardy in a TLC match at Summerslam and won the World Heavyweight title from Hardy, though The Undertaker soon after greeted him with a chokeslam. Since Jeff Hardy was the champion Punk had defeated, Hardy had the right to demand a rematch between him and CM Punk on the Smackdown after Summerslam.
Jeff Hardy Leaves WWE
Jeff Hardy faced CM Punk, at Punk’s stipulation, in a Loser Leaves Town match on Smackdown August 28, 2009 in a steel cage. Although he fought valiantly and came very close to winning the match several times, ultimately CM Punk escaped the cage first and retained his World Heavyweight Championship.
Jeff Hardy made a nice goodbye speech to his fans and assured them that he would not be gone forever, though the farewell was marred by Punk’s attack on Jeff with the title belt. Attacking such a beloved fan favorite during a sentimental goodbye elevated Punk to super heel status.
Considering that Jeff Hardy is now wrestling for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), it seems doubtful that he will return to WWE anytime soon. What is certain is that Jeff Hardy and CM Punk put on an excellent feud that was all the more real to fans because of Jeff Hardy’s real-life drug troubles and Punk’s real-life Straight Edge lifestyle. When wrestlers’ lives become part of a storyline, it is all the more potent.
Sources:
Online World of Wrestling
World Wrestling Entertainment
Jillian Bost - Jillian Bost is an experienced writer with interests ranging from Victorian literature to 1980s pop and professional wrestling.
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