Jeff Hardy vs. Umaga 07/22/07

Where: San Jose, CA

Backstory:

Umaga is the WWE's resident unstoppable monster, and Jeff Hardy is the little engine that could. These two have feuded on and off for most of the year, with Umaga taking Jeff Hardy's Intercontinental title in March of 2007. This is the rematch with Hardy trying to prove he can hang with the top guys. Once again the IC Title is on the line.

In Ring Analysis:

The bell sounds and Hardy starts firing away with punches. Umaga no sells them and takes Hardy down with one punch after Hardy ran the ropes. He continues pounding on Hardy knocking him to the outside. Umaga pummels him and sends him back in the ring. Hardy fights back and hits a sitdown jawbreaker, but gets hit with a Somoan drop after running the ropes. The theme so far is that Hardy gets a little bit of momentum, and runs to the ropes for a big move, but Umaga continues to take him down.

Umaga continues the beating hitting punches, a big headbutt, and a legdrop. Umaga is good at slowly stalking Hardy as if he's his prey. Umaga picks Hardy up and Hardy tries to fight back. Once again he runs the ropes to try to hit something big, but gets caught with a back elbow. Umaga then throws Hardy into the turnbuckle hard. He does it a second time, then continues to pound Hardy while he's on the ground. He then locks in a nerve hold. Hardy tries to fight out, but Umaga has too firm of a grip.

Hardy finally wiggles free, but Umaga brings him back down and reapplies the hold. Hardy battles back but is once again brought down. Restholds like this are sometimes boring, but Hardy is making sure to give the fans hope so that they don't get too bored. Hardy finally gets out of the hold, but foolishly tries to bodyslam the massive Umaga and falls down.

Umaga then uses a rope assisted butt splash on Hardy's chest twice. The third time Hardy puts his knees up and catches him in the groin. Hardy goes to the second rope and tries a big move, but Umaga catches him in a swinging sidewalk slam for a nearfall. Once again Hardy can't build any solid momentum.

Umaga goes to the second rope for a diving headbutt but Hardy dodges the move. The ref begins to count both men down as the fans can tell that Hardy is ripe for a comeback. Hardy gets up and punches Umaga and hits running foreamrs to the front and back of the head. He also hits a reverse spinning heel kick on Umaga followed by a DDT. Umaga kind of no-sells it since he's supposed to have a strong head. Umaga then charges Hardy out of anger, but Hardy pulls down the top rope sending Umaga to the outside.

Hardy then kicks Umaga down and hits a cross body over the top rope onto Umaga. Hardy gets back in the ring as Umaga is counted out. Umaga gets back in at 8. Hardy goes for a sunset flip, and Umaga tries to butt splash Hardy, but Jeff moves. Jeff hits a dropkick to Umaga's chest while he's sitting. Umaga finally comes back and pushes Hardy down into the corner. He then goes for his running buttsplash, but Hardy dodges it and runs to the top rope for a Whisper in the Wind (corkscrew moonsault) . That gets a nearfall as the fans really believed that Hardy had it won. Umaga sends Hardy into the turnbuckle and misses a Stinger splash which sends Umaga's head into the ringpost. Hardy then goes to the top and hits a Swanton which should win it. Hardy takes too long to cover and Umaga kicks out right before 3.

Hardy goes for a twist of fate, but Umaga sends Jeff into the turnbuckle and comes back with a superkick. Umaga then hits his running butt splash into the corner. He finally finishes Hardy off with a spiked thumb for the three count and the win

Winner by pinfall in 11:20: Umaga ***1/4

Very good match with Hardy getting pummelled for the first half, but then going on an amazing run where he seems to have Umaga beat several times. Umaga shows how lethal he is by taking advantage of one opening and finishing off Hardy.

Hardy's run in 2007 and 2008 is very similar to Shawn Michaels in 1996 as he shows great resilience and is able to get fans to believe that he has no chance until he shows that he has a chance. Unfortunately he loses these big matches more than he wins so he hasn't quite developed the giant-killer persona yet.