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WWE announced a bar fight between Jeff Hardy and Sheamus at Extreme Rules, which has raised a lot of questions about the upcoming match. While some might see it as yet another stipulation in a stipulation heavy pay per view, it could also be a part of something bigger than that.
In fact, between WWE continuing to play up Jeff Hardy's past with substance abuse issues and Sheamus repeatedly rubbing it in his face, it seems like WWE has something unique planned here. This could very easily change the landscape of WWE's midcard after Extreme Rules.
With that being said and a bar fight now set for Extreme Rules, here are five reasons WWE decided to go with this stipulation. As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments below and be sure to tell us who you think will win at the upcoming pay per view.
#5. Elevate the winner
Whether Jeff Hardy is able to overcome his demons, or Sheamus ends up obliterating him, it's pretty obvious that this is going to elevate the winner. In fact, between how personal things have gotten between the two Superstars and the payoff of a bar room brawl, it's obvious that WWE has big plans for the winner.
WWE only goes with these feuds when they want the winner for a bigger project down the line. If nothing else, that's what WWE seems to have planned for the winner of Hardy vs Sheamus, and maybe it could end up being some kind of title shot.
If WWE is trying to prep someone for the main title picture after Braun Strowman's swamp fight, it would most likely be Sheamus. WWE could always do a babyface vs babyface, but that wouldn't be as interesting as watching this new heel version of Sheamus go to toe with Strowman.
#4. Plays up Jeff Hardy's past
WWE will be telling a very intense story with Sheamus vs Jeff Hardy at Extreme Rules and a lot of that has to do with the dark past of Jeff Hardy. In fact, it is almost the perfect way for WWE to tell a very real story about the consequences of alcohol abuse.
While some might wonder if a storyline like that needs to be told, it has resulted in some very honest and heartfelt storytelling. Furthermore the company is doing a great job of showing the ins and outs of substance abuse, which could help others through tough times right now.
In all honesty, WWE is mixing storyline with reality in the feud between Sheamus and Jeff Hardy at Extreme Rules to send a message about the dangers of substance abuse. Maybe some agree with airing that kind of content on television and maybe some don't, but it could, in some way, help others cope with their own demons at the moment.
#3. Variety of booking options
Extreme Rules is a very special time of year. It's that one time where brutality is almost mandatory. Where blood, sweat and tears will be spread right in the middle of the squared circle. Most of all, it is where one Superstar will come out victorious and their opponent will most likely lay in a crumpled heap.
It looks like WWE is employing a lot of stipulation matches in order to keep booking as fluid as possible. For example, the title match between Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler will have a stipulation, which will allow the company to protect the loser in defeat at Extreme Rules.
Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman are taking part in a swamp fight at Extreme Rules and that is almost sure to allow the company a variety of options on how to end it. If nothing else, these stipulations are needed to protect some of their Superstars, and Hardy versus Sheamus is no different.
#2. Get nuclear heat on Sheamus
WWE seems to have big plans for Sheamus after Extreme Rules and that could be why WWE decided to put him in a bar fight against Jeff Hardy Sheamus is riding a great wave of heel momentum right now, and needs a few more memorable moments to really hammer it in.
If nothing else, he has to do that one last unforgivable gesture that makes the WWE Universe absolutely despise him. Whether that turns out to be to getting him to drink, or torturing Hardy mentally during this match, remains to be seen, but there's some kind of point of no return that WWE is building to with this.
In the end, this is going to be one of the more interesting match ups at Extreme Rules. It will also result in a very rare and raw moment for fans watching at home. All WWE has to do is script it in a way that evokes and creates a feeling of no return for Sheamus.
#1. Help fans connect more with Jeff Hardy
It's no secret that one of the best things about a babyface character is how you relate to them and that's exactly what WWE is trying to get fans to do at Extreme Rules. Not only is that evident by Jeff Hardy's heartfelt appearance on Miz TV, but also by how common an issue like substance abuse is in today's world..
If nothing else, a lot of people suffer from this issue and WWE is exploring it in a very unconventional way at Extreme Rules. Furthermore, they are doing so in a way that is going to get a lot of people behind Hardy, which will definitely help as he moves around the midcard after Extreme Rules.
In the end, it's hard to get people to care about a character and that's one reason why a lot of Superstars end up failing. Fortunately for a Superstar like Hardy, he is a colorful butterfly in a world of caterpillars and that's why the fans love the man so much.
