UnWrest Focus: The Hardys' WrestleMania 33 Weekend Part 2: Hardys vs. Young Bucks- Ladder Match (Supercard of Honor XI)

As the Hardys weekend continued, they faced one of the hottest acts in wrestling: The Young Bucks. And let's be real here: There's a TON of similarities between the Hardys and the Jacksons. Both are legit brothers with massive athletic ability matched only by their creative genius. So, it was appropriate that in their "EXPEDIIIITION OF GOLD" that the Hardys would travel to the "Honorable Ring" to procure tag team gold from "The Bucks of Youth." And that is what they did on their first night at ROH. Fast forward to Apri1 1, 2017. The Hardys are still the tag team champions of ROH, and they have to face the Young Bucks again. This time, it's in a match that The Hardys made famous and that the Young Bucks were no rookies in themselves: a ladder match.

Without further ado, let's do this!

Credit: ROH Wrestling (http://www.rohwrestling.com)

Supercard of Honor XI
April 1, 2017
Ladder Match
ROH World Tag Team Championships
The Hardys (c) vs. The Young Bucks

Kevin Kelly on commentary thanks the Young Bucks for "the house." (And if they leave in 2019, that house comes burning down right on top of Ring of Honor.) The Hardys have The Young Bucks' Superkick Tag Team Championships which they stole just to mess with the Bucks. The fans chant something negative about Impact Wrestling which The Hardys just left.

The bell rings. After some taunting, the match is on. Matt just bites Nick Jackson to break up his offense. The Bucks suffer some of the Hardys' tandem offense. The Jeff Hardy leg jump into the corner gets countered with a SUPERKICK! The Bucks are now fighting back. Matt Hardy again digs his molars into the flesh of Nick Jackson. But Matt Jackson gets him with a superkick. Now The Bucks start hitting their offensive tandem offense, including the somersault backstabber in the corner. Double Twist of Fate to The Bucks. "WONDERFUL!" The Bucks baseball slide a ladder into the Hardys. The Hardys are still outside. A little Rise of the Terminator action with dives through the ropes onto the Hardys. The fans chant "Too Sweet." I agree.
Here comes the ladder into the ring. TWO ladders. More brawling by the two sets of brothers here. "Delete/Obsolete" chants as the Hardys chop the Bucks. The Jacksons each take an Irish whip into a ladder in the corner. Matt Jackson gets hit with a ladder and falls through a table at ringside. And now, the Hardys set up a seesaw with two ladders. Nick stops Jeff on the top of the corner. Crucifix Powerbomb by Matt Hardy on Matt Jackson. A lot of time being used to set up the props here, which takes out some of the momentum. Jeff gets caught jumping in the corner with a superkick. Nick Jackson then jumps off the top and sends the seesaw-ed (is that even a word?) ladder into Jeff's face before doing his trademark apron moonsault onto Matt Hardy.
(A critique early on here: One thing I hate about these type of matches is the time it takes to set up the ladders/tables. It just suspends disbelief in a match where the objective is to get to the title belts that these guys are just destroying themselves and wasting time to set up the next big spot. And that's not a critique on The Hardys or The Bucks. It's just for the match stipulation period. And that's why ladder matches have never been my favorite type of match.)
Nick Jackson now hits a BIG 450 SPLASH OFF THE TOP ROPE ONTO JEFF HARDY THROUGH A TABLE ON THE OUTSIDE. The Matts face off with each other on top of a ladder with the tag team titles hanging within reaching distance. The Bucks get Matt Hardy off the ladder and hit a bucklebomb/kick combination. The Hardys avoid Matt Hardy getting a ladder shot. And now, Nick Jackson gets thrown backwards by the Hardys THROUGH the ladder. Ouch!
Matt Jackson runs in and stops the Hardys from getting the titles. Matt Jackson hits some sort of SPRINGBOARD TORNADO DDT OFF THE ROPES ONTO JEFF ON THE APRON. Ouch! Jeff is now on a table on the outside. Matt Jackson climbs a ladder in the ring, but Matt Hardy suplexes him off instead. Now, Nick Jackson climbs up another ladder. Matt Hardy sends him falling towards the other ladder, which Nick steps on. AS THAT LADDER TIPS, NICK GOES ON THE TOP ROPE AND NAILS A SWANTON BOMB SPLASH ONTO JEFF HARDY THROUGH THE TABLE ON THE FLOOR! Wow. (The only criticism I have is on ROH for not having the mic around that table so that the sound of the table breaking could have added to that spot. But that was amazing nonetheless.)
The Matts collide on top of a ladder. Both men punch each other and eventually tip the ladder onto the top rope, sending both men to the mat below. Now another ladder is in the ring. And after another awkward moment of positioning, they all fight on top of these ladders. Now, the classic Hardy ladder tip takes place, and it's now Jeff Hardy and Matt Jackson going at it on top of the lone standing ladder. Jeff gets sent off the ladder. Matt Hardy tips over the ladder, sending Matt Jackson FLYING BACK TO THE FLOOR THROUGH A BUNCH OF TABLES!!! (And ROH had them mic'ed this time. Lol.)
The Hardys are now double-teaming Nick Jackson. Spinning kicks and attacks by Nick Jackson. Matt Jackson is wobbly, but he gets back in the ring to nail Superkicks to a Whisper in the Wind by Jeff Hardy. Superkicks to Matt Hardy who counters with a double clothesline. All four men are down to applause. Loud ROH chants. All four men are exhausted. DAMN! Both Matt Jackson and Jeff Hardy get propelled over the top rope to the floor through tables!!! SIDE EFFECT TO NICK JACKSON SENDING BOTH MEN THROUGH A TABLE ON THE FLOOR! "This is awesome!" I agree.
Nick Jackson slithers into the ring first. The others follow. Two ladders are set up. Both sets of brothers climb up the ladders. Matt and Jeff on one ladder. Nick and Matt on the other. They are fighting on top of the ladders. SUPERKICKS OFF THE LADDERS FOR BOTH MATT AND JEFF HARDY! ThE BUCKS GET THE BELTS!!!!

Winners: The Young Bucks (NEW ROH World Tag Team Champions)
Match Grade: A. As I stated earlier, I am not a fan of these ladder matches for the most part. But I do admire the athleticism, the craft, and the heart of the men involved in such a match to try to make it work. These two teams each brought something unique to this match with The Bucks using their athletic abilities to do some crazy spots with the ladders. Meanwhile, The Hardys, while doing some insane moves themselves, brought an Old School physicality to the match on a couple occasions. I enjoyed this match a lot, but I can't give it an A+ due to some of the pacing issues which I mentioned earlier. Still, an awesome ladder match that I recommend everyone check out.

Matt Hardy gets on the mic. And he puts over The Young Bucks as the best tag team that they have ever faced. The Hardys get on their knees and give respect to The Young Bucks. Jeff Hardy classifies himself and Matt as "obsolete." The Hardys raise their hands and leave the ring for The Bucks to celebrate their victory.
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Next time on this edition of Focus, we cap off this look at the Hardys' WrestleMania 33 weekend with a look at their surprise return to WWE in... (what else?) ANOTHER Ladder Match!

Until then, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.