The Holly's vs The Hardy Boyz 9-6-99

I remember watching this eleven years ago. Hardcore Holly definitely had the best undercard act in wrestling in 99. I remember him and the Acolytes were the highlight of any given Raw for me. Best part was when he was the Big Shot and Big Show's buddy. He was even a part of the Big Show/Undertaker alliance. Shortly after that his cousin Crash Holly was introduced. A pint sized version of Hardcore. He had a big chip on his shoulder and was determined to prove he was as tough as his cousin.

Now Crash probably did water down the act some. But at the same time he really added to it. The Hollys were a tag team and picked a fight with everybody from The New Age Outlaws to the Acolytes to the Rock and Mankind.

Now for me the highlight of their run was their epic brawl on Heat with the Acolytes. I talked about it in an entry from last June.

But the other highlight is this and it is not really related to a match. The Hollys said they were super heavyweights and insisted on only fighting their fellow super heavyweights. Tonight their oppoenents are the Hardy Boyz, Matt and Jeff. Believe it or not there was a time Matt could be referred to as "Anorexic Andy" and not be in an ironic fashion.

"Karen Carpenter" (Jeff) is invited to step up next. Well the Hardyz do not meet the weight requirement. But wait Matt and Jeff have a manager at this time, Gangrel.

Hardcore in a generous giving mood, makes an invitation.

"Hey, Hey Dracula, why don't you hop on there and see how much you weigh ya fat bastard."

Which is one of the single greatest lines in the history of Monday Night Raw. I love that this genuinely cracked up Jerry Lawler and JR (who tried to hide it.)

Well Hardcore is distracted and does not see Jeff Hardy perched on the top rope who nails Hardcore with a flying dropkick, and the match starts. The Hardyz get the better of the first part of the match. Knocking Hardcore out of the ring and working over Crash. Crash is in the corner and Jeff hits poetry in motion and Matt knocks him down with a big clothesline.

The Hardyz were very underrated as brawlers. They could hold their own in a straight brawl and not look out of place.

That said the match is strangely booked. I think the Hardyz and Hollys are both heels. Crash works face in peril for the Hardy Boys and the Hardyz do a a good job working him over. I love when Crash will bust out a fancy crusierweight move when he is desperate. Like he wants to win a fist fight, but once he gets desperate he goes to what will work.

Hardcore gets tagged in and he is an excellent house of fire. Hitting a great looking powerslam. Hardyz get back the advantage using quick double teams. Matt hits a suplex and Jeff the Swanton Bomb. But it is not a finisher yet.

They go for another double team, but Hardcore kicks Jeff in the face and hits the Falcon Arrow on Matt for three. Just realized this was a clean finish on a 99 Raw. Weird.