Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Anderson
Mr. Anderson goes after Jeff Hardy right away dropping him with a series of right hands and stomps. Hardy attempts a cross body and Anderson moves as Hardy rolls to the outside. Back in the ring, Hardy fights back with right hands to Anderson and a clothesline in the corner. Anderson counters a dropkick to the chest in the corner by getting his boot up on Hardy. Anderson drives his knees into the ribs of Hardy. Anderson with kicks to the face on Hardy and forearms to the back. Anderson then locks on a modified abdominal stretch on Hardy. Hardy attempts a comeback hitting the ropes, but Anderson caught him with a big knee to the gut. Anderson misses a shot from the top turnbuckle, but dodges boots to the face and drops a quick elbow to the chest. Anderson with another abdominal stretch applied on Hardy. Anderson crotches Hardy on the top rope – or as Taz called it, “Hardy landed right on the yam bag!” Hardy responds sending Anderson over the top rope with a high back body drop with Anderson landing right on the entrance ramp.
Hardy grabs a steel chair and sets it up near Anderson on the ramp. Hardy with a jumping leg lariat off the steel chair onto Anderson sending both back inside the ring. Hardy grabs his elbow in pain. Hardy and Anderson begin exchanging right hands. Hardy gets the better of it and levels Anderson with a big clothesline takedown. Anderson with a rolling senton splash on Hardy for a close two count. Anderson with a Mic Check on Hardy, cover and Hardy gets his boot on the bottom rope to break up the pinfall. Anderson pulls Hardy away from the ropes and covers him again. Hardy kicks out after two. Hardy with a dropkick that drills Anderson in the chest and follows with a front suplex. Hardy then goes up top, but jumps down when he sees Anderson recovering. Hardy with a Twist of Fate on Anderson. Hardy goes back up top again and Anderson gets up and crotches him on the top turnbuckle. Anderson puts Hardy on his shoulders up top, Hardy hits right hands to the face and Anderson falls over landing face first on the mat below as Hardy goes down with him.
Hardy is back up top and connects with the Swanton Bomb. Hardy hooks the leg and gets the pinfall.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
After the match, Jeff Hardy stays on the mat and takes in the win as he slowly starts to recover. Mr. Anderson gets to his feet and stares down Hardy. Anderson has a clinched fist, but opens it in a handshake towards Hardy. Hardy declines and heads up the ramp.
Backstage, Christy Hemme is with AJ Styles and Ric Flair. Flair says he knows AJ will bring back the gold tonight. Styles said we are in some dark times with TNA when a man like Rob Van Dam is holding the company’s world title. He promises to show that RVD’s title win was a fluke and take back his title since Ric Flair deserves to be surrounded by greatness.
A video package runs highlighting Sting’s return to TNA in March and Jeff Jarrett questioning his actions leading into tonight’s match.
* Sting vs. Jeff Jarrett is up next.