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Jeff Hardy is a former three-time world champion in WWE, having held the WWE Championship once and the World Heavyweight Championship twice. The last of these reigns took place back in 2009, after which Hardy left the company for almost eight years.
Jeff Hardy signed a new contract with WWE last year. Now 43 years old, this new deal could be the last of Hardy's in-ring career. Before he ends his time as a WWE Superstar, though, the North Carolina native has made no secret of his desire to once again hold world championship gold in the company.
Speaking on the ESPN West Palm Podcast back in March, Hardy revealed his title aspirations.
"I said I'd like to win the Royal Rumble but most likely that's never gonna happen. I think the one thing more than anything I would like to be the World Champion again or the Universal Champion again. Just for a little bit. Even if its for - flashback to CM Punk (cashed in), I was like champion for I don't know, maybe a minute and then he cashed in his Money In The Bank, so just one more time I would like to do that and it will make it all worthwhile," said Hardy.
Hardy returned to WWE TV for the first time since March this past Monday night. However, far from being a featured part of RAW, Hardy instead lost to Jinder Mahal before the show in a match taped for WWE Main Event.
Jeff Hardy featuring on Main Event is not a great sign for his current prospects in WWE in itself. Him losing on the program is even worse.
Hardy is still a highly popular superstar with members of the WWE Universe. With the right story behind it, his quest for one last run as a world champion could be very enjoyable to watch.
Here are five ways WWE can establish Jeff Hardy in the world title picture once again.
#5 A win streak would push Jeff Hardy into contention
It is rare these days for WWE to allow a superstar to go on a long unbeaten run, which is why it is so effective when it does happen. Main Event is not a show with a huge viewership, so WWE doesn't need to acknowledge Hardy's defeat to Mahal in the future.
Instead, Hardy should be treated as a serious contender when he makes his first appearance back on RAW. Most importantly, though, Hardy needs to win a match on his return.
It doesn't need to be a long bout, or even necessarily a featured part of the show, but Hardy should leave with a decisive victory. If this process is repeated on RAW for a few successive weeks, it won't take long before the announcers can put Jeff Hardy over as being on a hot streak.
At this point, with the image of Hardy as a winner fresh in fans' minds, it would be entirely reasonable for him to be presented as a championship contender. In an era of 50/50 booking, this approach could help Jeff Hardy stand out as a main event player.
#4 Jeff Hardy could directly challenge fellow veteran Bobby Lashley
If WWE is looking for a ready-made main event rivalry for Jeff Hardy, it doesn't need to look far.
Reigning WWE Champion Bobby Lashley was celebrated throughout the industry after winning his first world title with the company earlier this year. The All Mighty finally got his hands on a piece of top-tier gold in WWE against The Miz on WWE RAW, having made his debut in 2005.
Jeff Hardy, though, is one of the few superstars on the current WWE roster who boasts a longer tenure than Lashley. Hardy first appeared on WWE programming all the way back in June 1994, when he lost to Razor Ramon in a squash match.
If Hardy was to defeat Lashley in a non-title match on RAW, WWE has plenty of archive material to showcase two veterans going at it for the biggest prize on the brand.
When it comes to hype packages, WWE is second-to-none. The company has full access to footage of both men from their early days in the wrestling business, as well as high-profile moments throughout their respective careers.
Vince McMahon has long been said to be a fan of the quote "perception is reality." WWE could swiftly adjust the perception of Jeff Hardy in the minds of fans by reminding them of his past accomplishments - and presenting him as a true threat to Lashley.
#3 Jeff Hardy could turn heel
While he did have a brief heel run in TNA in 2010, Jeff Hardy has always been a face during his WWE singles career.
It is easy to understand why. Hardy is not the biggest competitor in the world and possesses an arsenal of high-flying moves which never fail to please the crowd.
However, at present, WWE is not staging shows in front of a live audience. This means the WWE ThunderDome is an ideal location for Jeff Hardy to turn heel in pursuit of championship glory.
For example, if Drew McIntyre regains the WWE Championship at WrestleMania Backlash, Hardy could launch into a jealous rage and attack the Scottish Warrior.
McIntyre pinned Jeff Hardy inside the Elimination Chamber in February, denying the North Carolina native the chance to lift the WWE Championship again in the process.
Hardy's turn could be fuelled by resentment over that result. Jeff could also bring up his recent relegation to Main Event as a reason for him feeling disrespected by the entire company.
It is not completely necessary for McIntyre to win the championship for the rivalry to work, but it would immediately establish Hardy as a title contender.
As mentioned, Jeff Hardy is far from a natural heel. With that said, a turn would put a fresh twist on his character and offer feuds which would not otherwise be likely.
#2 Jeff Hardy could move to SmackDown and challenge for the WWE Universal Championship
On each of the three previous occasions Jeff Hardy has won a world title in WWE, he has been a member of the SmackDown roster. With that in mind, a return to the blue brand could benefit Hardy as he looks to get back into the main event mix.
With Daniel Bryan and Edge both now out of the picture having challenged for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania, SmackDown is currently running short on headliners.
Although Cesaro looks certain to be the next challenger for Roman Reigns' crown, Friday nights are still lacking in terms of depth when it comes to established babyfaces. Jeff Hardy could be one of the solutions to this situation.
Hardy could be reinvigorated if he were to switch brands. Feuds with the likes of Reigns and Seth Rollins have great potential - and are a million miles away from where Hardy currently finds himself on RAW.
In prior years, WWE has hosted a "Superstar Shake-up" in the weeks following WrestleMania. Given that WWE only hosted its last draft in October, there is no indication that the company plans to shift its rosters around in the near future.
Jeff Hardy, though, is being wasted on the RAW brand. It wouldn't take much for an authority figure like Adam Pearce to quickly explain that a deal had been done to bring Jeff to SmackDown. The move makes a lot of sense.
#1 Jeff Hardy could win the 2021 Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Jeff Hardy built his reputation on the back of some unbelievable ladder matches early in his WWE career. He could instantly propel himself back into the world title picture by claiming victory in this year's Money In The Bank Ladder Match.
Surprisingly, Hardy has only ever competed in one MITB ladder match during his time with WWE. Hardy was one of eight participants in the match at WrestleMania 23, which was eventually won by Mr Kennedy.
Timing is on Hardy's side for another crack at the famous briefcase, though, as the 2021 Money In The Bank pay-per-view is scheduled to take place next month.
No details are available when it comes to WWE's plans for the MITB briefcase this time around. But it will be on the line in some form, giving Jeff Hardy an ideal opportunity to get back into the championship picture.
The winner of the MITB contract is guaranteed a world championship opportunity at the time of their choosing. Hardy has already been on the wrong end of this stipulation in the past, when CM Punk cashed in his briefcase to defeat Hardy at Extreme Rules 2009.
12 years later, could Jeff Hardy do the same to one of WWE's current world titleholders? The Money In The Bank route perhaps represents Hardy's best chance at returning to headline status in WWE.
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