During an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Jeff Hardy opened up about the physical and emotional toll of the infamous screwdriver spot he endured with Randy Orton in their 2018 WWE Hell in a Cell match. Hardy described the experience as unforgettable, highlighting the intense pain involved with the dangerous stunt.
He recalled the significance of the moment, explaining how he had wanted to create a memorable Hell in a Cell moment like the legendary Mick Foley and The Undertaker, but the harsh reality of the stunt was far more challenging than anticipated.
The Origin and Impact of the Screwdriver Move
Hardy credited the idea of incorporating a screwdriver into the spot to input from someone backstage, possibly Michael Hayes. He explained that although Orton had previously grabbed him using his fingers and other objects like a chain or rope, the screwdriver twist was a new element that heightened the intensity of the move.
Hardy vividly described the gruesome visual as the area turned purple from the maneuver, emphasizing its brutal nature and how it left a lasting impression on him.
Hardy’s Perspective on the Hell in a Cell Environment
Jeff also commented on the unique setting of the match, noting it was the first Hell in a Cell structure painted red, which felt awkward and strange. He reflected on how massive and unforgiving the steel cage was, mentioning missed spots like a splash while hanging, which added to the tense atmosphere of the encounter.
He acknowledged how the hard ring surface made impacts even more painful, revealing the physical risks involved inside the ring during their brutal contest.
Significance and Lasting Effects of the Match
This match and particularly the screwdriver spot have become defining moments in Jeff Hardy’s career, representing the extremes wrestlers endure to create unforgettable moments for fans. Hardy’s account sheds light on the physical sacrifice behind high-risk wrestling spots and the mental preparation demanded to survive and perform in such intense environments.
For Randy Orton, the move added to his reputation for executing dangerous, impactful maneuvers, while Hardy’s resilience confirmed his status as one of the most daring performers in WWE history. This recollection may also influence how future stunt planning addresses safety without compromising dramatic effect.
“It hurt a little bit. That’s my hell in a cell moment. For years after seeing Mick Foley and Undertaker, naturally, I was like, Man, I want to do something like that. When he went off that first time through the table, I totally get why he does stuff like that. But then the chokeslam, when that gave way and he hit that, and that was back in that when that ring was super hard. Actually being in a Hell in a Cell with Randy, and it was the first one time it had been painted red, and it was awkward and strange, but just seeing how big that structure is, and even the splash I missed when I was hanging, it’s just such a massive structure. So thank God for that screwdriver and Randy and the twist that he did, because I consider that my hell in the cell moment that it’s kind of hard to forget.”
?Jeff Hardy, Professional Wrestler
“It was somebody else’s idea with the screwdriver. He [Orton] had used his fingers and pulled me around by it, and I think a chain or a rope. But somebody mentioned that screwdriver. It might have been Michael Hayes or somebody else. But anyway, it was somebody’s idea that was out there with us talking about the match, but twisting it like that, and just watching the way it looks, how it was turning purple, it was gruesome.”
?Jeff Hardy, Professional Wrestler
