The Long-awaited, Christian versus Matt Hardy

On ECW, GM Tiffany issued an ECW Homecoming Tournament to determine Christian's challenger at the Royal Rumble. Matt Hardy returned to ECW and won his qualifying match, earning a spot in the Final Showdown that takes place the week before the Royal Rumble. If Matt Hardy were to win and become the #1 contender, the wrestling fans would have the match that we have all been waiting for.

In early 2000, two tag teams were emerging and making an impact in the WWE. Formed by the bonds of brotherhood, The Hardy Boyz, and Edge and Christian were taking professional wrestling to new heights, quite literally 'heights', with the reestablishment of ladder matches and the innovation of the TLC matches. Each team gained much success with a bounty of tag team title reigns, 13 between the two. But unlike their other rival, The Dudley Boys, jealousy looked to break apart the teams of Edge and Christian, and The Hardys.

The older siblings, Matt and Christian, were believed to be the future of the business by one day becoming the company's top champions; but fate had other plans. After Jeff Hardy won the Intercontinental Title from Triple-H, and Edge became the 2001 King of the Ring winner, the younger siblings became fan favorites. Their success as singles competitors rose animosity amongst the elder brothers, which culminated in sibling rivalries.

Matt Hardy claimed that he was the brains behind Team Xtreme, and that without him, Jeff wouldn't even be in the WWE, let alone wrestle. Matt was given a European Title reign, but it seemed like a charity case on the part of Mr. McMahon to keep him happy. Well, Matt wasn't happy, and took out his frustrations on Jeff at Vengeance 2001, with then-girlfriend Lita as the special guest referee. Jeff managed to get the better of his brother, and went on to feud with The Undertaker for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Jeff Hardy, in such a short time, was already competing for the richest prize in sports entertainment, while Matt decided to reinvent himself with Version-1. Eventually, Jeff Hardy was released from the company for erratic behavior, drug use, refusal to go to rehab, and deteriorating ring performance, as well as constant tardiness and no-showing events. But Matt as well would be released due to real life issues with Lita and Edge.

Christian, on the other hand, didn't contemplate too much before betraying Edge and entering a feud for the I-C Title. Both Edge and Christian managed well as singles competitors, Edge capturing the traditional Intercontinental and United States titles, and Christian capturing defunct titles: European, Light Heavyweight, and Hardcore Titles, along with the, still-active, Intercontinental. However, at WrestleMania 21, the true shift of power occurred in the first-ever Money in the Bank Ladder Match as Edge went on to win the briefcase granting him a shot at any World Title. As Edge went on to become the WWE Champion, Christian departed from the WWE.

Edge became a top heel in the business, having feuded separately with both Matt and Jeff, and became a 9-time World Champion. Jeff Hardy, after returning to the WWE in 2006, captured a multitude of titles, including the Intercontinental title three more times, another run as the World Tag Team Champions with his brother Matt, and becoming a 3-time World Champion. Matt Hardy, despite an impressive comeback after surgery, became the United States Champion and later captured the ECW Title. Christian returned from his hiatus on TNA and the independent circuit and became a 2-time ECW Champion.

So, despite Matt and Christian having had numerous triumphs in their career, Edge and Jeff Hardy overshadowed their accomplishments by rising to the top of the WWE holding world championship titles. Once believed to be the future of the business, are now forced to settle for the re-hashed ECW Title. Christian is, to this date, the longest reigning WWE-era ECW Champion, and is still the current title-holder. Matt Hardy and Christian know the detriment of being overlooked and settling for the ECW Title; while their younger siblings grew into household names.

At Extreme Rules, Edge and Jeff Hardy discovered who was the better of the youngsters in a ladder match to determine the World Heavyweight Champion. Jeff Hardy won that exchange, which later led to Edge being put on the shelf for a torn Achilles tendon. Now, comes the time for the wrestling world to know who is, in fact, the better of the two older siblings: Matt Hardy, with his "Never Say Die" attitude, or Captain Charisma?