HARDY BOYZ (C) & MICHAEL HAYES VS. THE ACOLYTES

 Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are on commentary for this match. The Fink is our ring announcer.

The Acolytes make their way out before Michael Cole is shown backstage with Hayes and the Hardyz. Michael Hayes says he’s taken the Hardyz from curtain jerkers to champions and he’s going to lead by example tonight. The trio make their way out and Hayes is dressed like his clients, bringing “hello fellow kids” to mind.

 

  The Acolytes meet the champions on the ramp, doing pretty well against the numbers advantage as they move towards ringside. Farooq sends Jeff’s head into the ring steps, Michael Hayes is holding his own early, Bradshaw chops Matt across the steps and sends him into the ring steps. Referee, Tim White tells them to bring the match into the ring as Hayes is sent into a clothesline by Bradshaw. Farooq picks up the ring steps and Bradshaw sends Hayes back the other way. Jeff Hardy seems to have made his way into the ring, Farooq follows and officially starts the match.

 

HARDY BOYZ © & MICHAEL HAYES VS. ACOLYTES

(No DisqualificationHandicap tag team) - WWF Tag Team Championships

WWF Fully Loaded 1999 (25^th July 1999)

 

  Farooq clubs at Jeff as Hayes uses the sideof the ring to stay on his feet, getting pummeled by Bradshaw. Jeff Hardy is sent across the ring, but he ducks the clothesline and swandives over onto Bradshaw. Farooq follows to the floor but Matt Hardy hits both Acolytes with a moonsault from the top rope.

  Michael Hayes is back, laying the boots to Farooq as Bradshaw is brought into the ring by Matt, I guess tags mean nothing. Bradshaw reverses an irish whip, sending Matt across the ring, Matt ducks a clothesline but is caught on the crossbody attempt, eating the Fallaway Slam. Jeff Hardy is on the top rope, he hits Bradshaw with a missile dropkick into a rollup by Matt for a nearfall. Both Hardy Boyz hit Bradshaw with dropkicks, sending him through the ropes, he catches a plancha from Matt but the dropkick from Jeff knocks them down. So, dropkicks work. Michael Hayes sends Farooq into the ring as Lawler says he’s keeping one Acolyte occupied whilst the Hardyz deal with the other. The Hardyz hit Poetry in Motion on Farooq, Matt prepares for a suplex and waits for Hayes to get in the ring. They hit the double suplex and Jeff hits the Swanton Bomb, but Farooq kicks out at 2 as Bradshaw gets in the ring and knocks Matt down with a clothesline. Bradshaw sends Jeff through the ropes with zero fucks and knocks Hayes off the apron. Farooq hits a standing Spinebuster on Matt Hardy and makes the first tag of the match. Bradshaw slams Matt, who tries to fight to his feet but is knocked back down by a big boot. Bradshaw makes another tag, Farooq sends Matt near the corner and almost drops a backbreaker/rib breaker from the way Matt landed, he forces his weight on Matt Hardy in what seems to be a cover attempt and gets 2. A legdrop to the back of Matt’s shoulders gets another 2, he tries to fight back again but Farooq rakes the eyes and tags Bradshaw back in.

  The Acolytes send Matt across the ring into a double shoulder block, Jeff has had enough, interrupting a powerbomb attempt by Bradshaw with a boot to the jaw. Matt Hardy is able to make a tag to his manager, Hayes clubs at Bradshaw but is knocked across the ring with a forearm strike. JR makes a Freebirds reference as Michael Hayes kisses Bradshaw’s boot. Bradshaw kicks him in the back and hits an elbow drop for a nearfall. Farooq gets the tag and lays in the boots, he sends Hayes across the ring but ducks early, Hayes kicks him and scrambles to tag in Jeff, who gets some momentum with right hands but runs into a rough-looking powerslam for 2. Bradshaw tags back in, sending Jeff into the corner. Jeff Hardy climbs the ropes but is slammed back to the mat before Bradshaw tells Hayes he’s the #1 Freebird. Both Hayes and Matt Hardy break up the cover, Farooq gets the tag and immediately covers but only gets 2, so goes to the chinlock.Jeff fights out of it with a sitout jawbreaker, but Farooq sets him up for a powerbomb, Matt gets in there, saving his brother and brawling with Farooq. Bradshaw evens the numbers, dropping Jeff with a big boot. Michael Hayes is sent through the ropes before he can affect the outcome, and Jeff follows. Matt Hardy slips out of the Dominator and hits the Twist of Fate, but Bradshaw breaks up the pin. He knocks Matt down with a short-arm clothesline, he lifts Matt Hary onto the top rope and hits a back superplex! Bradshaw slowly covers but Jeff breaks it up, he hits Bradshaw with Michael Hayes’ cane and covers, but Bradshaw kicks out at 2! Farooq and Hayes are shown brawling at ringside as Bradshaw clotheslines Jeff Hardy out of the air in the Poetry in Motion attempt. Matt breaks up the pin.

   Farooq is back in the ring, Matt Hardy charges him but is backdropped over the top rope. Michael Hayes is in the ring with his cane and he hits Farooq with it but the Acolytes hammer at him. They hit the double powerbomb and cover Hayes to win back the titles.

WINNER: THE ACOLYTES (NEW WWF Tag Team Champions)

This match was clunky in areas, with Farooq seeming to drop the Hardyz a few times and sandbagging the Twist of Fate. The Acolytes rules only seemed to come into effect for tagging in and out and the finish. It made sense having Michael Hayes take the fall and it was an OK match, it just didn’t seem to flow for me, even as a brawl. [*¾] 2/10