This match on the **August 23, 2001 episode of WWF SmackDown! ** saw **Rob Van Dam defend the Hardcore Championship against Jeff Hardy in an intense, weapon-filled bout that opened the show. Both men traded daring offense and brought weapons into play — brooms, chairs, and even a ladder — as they fought throughout the ring and to the outside, with Hardy at one point attempting a Swanton Bomb off the ladder through a table only for RVD to avoid it, sending Hardy crashing through the table instead and scoring the victory when officials called the match in RVD’s favor. <br />411Mania<br />+1<br /><br />As Hardy was being tended to backstage, Raven then blindsided RVD, attacking him in an impromptu encounter that played off the Hardcore Title’s 24/7 rule; RVD ultimately regained momentum and hit his Five-Star Frog Splash on Raven to pin him and retain the championship.
