When you’re talking about the greatest WrestleMania moments of all time, it’s now increasingly difficult to look past the emphatic return of The Hardy Boyz at WrestleMania 33.

There were slight rumblings in the build-up to the event. Not many sources had reported on it, but those that did boldly claimed that one segment on Monday Night RAW suggested a return was on the cards.

WRESTLEMANIA 33

It all revolved around the inclusion of ladders during the multi-team feud. If ladders were going to be used, then it was a sign that Matt and Jeff would be returning - and that’s precisely what happened.

You only need to watch their return to realise just how big of a deal it was that the brothers had returned home, and the fans inside Orlando, indeed, showed their appreciation.

However, it has now been revealed that this wasn’t the original plan for The Hardy Boyz, as they were initially scheduled to pull an entirely different stunt outside of the arena before the WWE was able to tie them down to a deal.

Last year, former WWE writer Jimmy Jacobs had been released by WWE after uploading a photo on his Instagram account featuring members of the Bullet Club during their ‘invasion’ of RAW, spearheaded by Cody and The Young Bucks.

By the sounds of it, WWE didn’t really like that stunt and when speaking to Chris Jericho on his Talk is Jericho podcast, claiming that the invasion was originally scheduled to take place at WrestleMania 33, with The Hardy’s involved.

INVASION

According to Wrestling Inc, they said: “We had that planned, man, for a long time. Maybe even longer [than six months].

“Actually, we were originally going to do it with The Hardy Boyz. We were going to do it outside of WrestleMania, and we were going to do something with The Hardys. They were going to transport to WrestleMania, and we were going to be there and have a little altercation.

“That’s right, we were going to take their titles. They were the TNA [tag] champs at the time.”

It’s clear that WWE didn’t really like the invasion they did do during an episode of RAW, resulting in Jacobs being fired. So, it would have been interesting to see what would have happened had Matt and Jeff decided to feature in the original invasion in Orlando.

Obviously, a writer like Jacobs is more expendable than a legendary team like The Hardy Boyz, so it probably wouldn’t have deterred WWE from signing them.

In the end, it worked out for both sides.

WWE managed to create an incredible WrestleMania moment by having them return - as they’re enjoying life on Monday Night RAW and SmackDown LIVE, while The Young Bucks got the attention they desired with their RAW invasion.

What do you make of the original plans for The Hardy Boyz at WrestleMania 33? Have YOUR say in the comments section below.

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