Hardy finally gets chance to fulfill lifelong dream

Jeff Hardy has won a slew of titles over the course of his career. One major crown, though, has eluded him.

It's the most prestigious in the business, and Hardy has the chance to do something he's dreamed about since the days of bouncing around in a makeshift ring in his backyard in Cameron, N.C.

The high-flying, risk-taking Hardy challenges Randy Orton for the WWE heavyweight championship in one of the featured bouts at tonight's Royal Rumble pay-per-view in the most famous fight venue in the country — Madison Square Garden. He also could become part of history by being only the third man to hold the Intercontinental and WWE heavyweight titles at the same time.

Hardy says it's probably the biggest match of his career.

"By far this is the closest I've ever been to being the WWE champion and actually being one of the top guys. I've always kind of felt that I was a top guy although I'm not in main events all the time. But I've always been confident and true to myself that I am good at what I do, and I have a lot of people who care about me and a lot of really cool fans out there who want to see me be heavyweight champion."

Hardy, in fact, has one of the biggest and most loyal fan bases in the company. He readily admits he doesn't fit the bill as the prototypical WWE heavyweight champion, but it's his daredevil-style approach and hardcore fan following that propel him to that next level.

"They don't care if I'm just 225 pounds and I don't look like the standard champion in whom-ever's eyes."

Hardy's fans, he says, are the same kind of fan he was growing up and cheering on his mat idols.

"There's a special connection there. I always wanted to have that same kind of bond with my fans."

Hardy has been somewhat of a comeback kid since returning to WWE in August 2006. His career took a sharp downward spiral in March 2003 when, after a series of showing up late for matches, failing drug tests and refusing to go to rehab, he was released by the company that had hired him as a teenager, had nurtured him and had watched him steadily progress through the ranks.

Hardy, though, refocused his passions and energy, defeated his personal demons and made a triumphant return to WWE. And he's done it in spectacular fashion.

"I always knew it would take time, but I always felt I'd get there," the 30-year-old Hardy says. "The hardest thing for me to get used to was being away from home so much. These international tours are extremely brutal because they're sometimes like 20 days at a time. So it's hard to be consumed by the product, but that's what I pretty much knew I was going to have to do to be where I am now. That's why I am where I am now ... because I'm 100 percent committed to WWE. They know I'm not going to be missing any flights. They know I've got my head right and I'm all about wrestling. That's what they want and that's what they need."

Hardy remains the daredevil he always has been in the ring, and some of his recent death-defying spots have been highlight-reel gems. One week after executing a breathtaking Whisper of the Wind off the top of a cage in a Raw match with Umaga, Hardy followed it up with a Swanton Bomb off a scaffold more than 20 feet high onto a prone Orton. Fortunately a potential tragedy on live television was averted.

"That definitely was one of the most massive (moves). It was really creepy, but it looked amazing. You really feel proud of yourself when you watch something like that back because it's such a risky move. People will say you're crazy, but that's what my character was modeled after ... things like that. I'm usually pretty comfortable with anything I look at or stand on top of. If I feel I can't do it, I'll be the first to say I can't do it. I'll continue to do things like that and go with my instinct until something goes wrong and I do get hurt. But other than that, I can't really downplay my instinct because nothing bad has happened to me."

That, of course, doesn't mean Hardy is injury-free. Far from it.

"I'm beat up," he says matter-of-factly. "My ankles are really weak. A lot of that stems from motocross in the past. I've got a (bone) chip in my right kneecap now, pain in my elbows and two herniated discs in my neck and my back. I'm not feeling great, but I've been extremely lucky that I've gone this far without surgery. So I'll just keep knocking on metal or wood."

Success hasn't spoiled Jeff Hardy. He's just happy to be part of the show, and says not being at the top of the card at Wrestlemania wouldn't be a disappointment.

"Not at all. I'd feel just as successful as long as I'm a part of Wrestlemania. It doesn't take much for me to know that I'm popular and needed. I don't have to be in the main event to know that I've done something."

--Ric Flair's career is rapidly drawing to a close, and with the Lowcountry being one of his major stomping grounds over the past four decades, the Nature Boy left quite a mark here. Have a personal experience with the Nature Boy that you'd like to share? I'll be publishing some of the best in a future column. E-mail your favorite Flair memories to mooneyham@postandcourier.com. Submissions may be edited for brevity and clarity. Those from outside the area (list your city) also are welcome to share their memories.

Reach Mike Mooneyham at (843) 937-5517 or mooneyham@postandcourier.com. For wrestling updates during the week, call The Post and Courier Info Line at (843) 937-6000, ext. 3090.