WrestleMania 33, held on April 2, 2017, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, played host to one of the most thrilling and unforgettable tag team ladder matches in WWE history. Originally scheduled as a Triple Threat Ladder Match for the Raw Tag Team Championships, featuring Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson (champions), Cesaro & Sheamus, and Enzo Amore & Big Cass, the match took a shocking turn when WrestleMania hosts, The New Day, arrived to announce a last-minute addition to the contest.
As the New Day’s music hit, the WWE Universe roared with anticipation, expecting Kofi Kingston, Big E, and Xavier Woods to insert themselves into the bout. However, what followed was one of the most iconic returns in WrestleMania history—The Hardy Boyz, Matt and Jeff Hardy, made their long-awaited WWE comeback. The stadium erupted in a deafening ovation as the brothers, who had been absent from WWE for nearly a decade, stormed to the ring, officially transforming the match into a Fatal Four-Way Ladder Match.
With the stakes raised and chaos imminent, the match began at an electrifying pace. Ladders were quickly introduced as each team jockeyed for control. Gallows and Anderson, the reigning champions, used their brute strength to overpower their opponents, while Cesaro and Sheamus relied on their hard-hitting European-style offense. Meanwhile, the fan-favorite duo of Enzo and Big Cass utilized their natural chemistry and size advantage, with Cass launching Enzo high into the air to reach the ladders.
The Hardy Boyz, however, wasted no time in reminding the world why they were legendary in ladder matches. Jeff Hardy’s daredevil antics and Matt Hardy’s strategic precision turned the tide in their favor. One of the match’s most breathtaking moments came when Jeff delivered a jaw-dropping Swanton Bomb off a massive ladder onto Cesaro and Sheamus, who were sprawled on another ladder at ringside. The impact shattered the ladder beneath them, drawing gasps from the crowd and leaving Jeff momentarily incapacitated.
Back in the ring, Enzo Amore found himself perilously close to victory as he scaled a ladder with the Raw Tag Team Titles hanging above. The crowd held its breath as the charismatic underdog reached for the gold, only for Gallows and Anderson to intervene, toppling the ladder and dashing Enzo’s dream of championship glory.
In the climactic moments of the match, Matt Hardy seized the opportunity amid the chaos. As Gallows and Anderson struggled with Cesaro and Sheamus, Matt scrambled up a ladder and unhooked the Raw Tag Team Championships, securing an emotional and historic victory for The Hardy Boyz.
The WWE Universe erupted once more as Matt and Jeff celebrated their return with championship gold in hand, solidifying their legacy in one of WrestleMania’s greatest surprises. The match was an instant classic, filled with high-risk maneuvers, jaw-dropping moments, and an unforgettable Hardy Boyz comeback that will be remembered for generations.
