Jeff Hardy's Push & Stephanie Being Against It, Hardy/Orton, More

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

- Jeff Hardy has been gaining a ton of momentum the last few weeks. Instead of people seeing him as a stepping stone for Orton on the way to Triple H, you hear that a lot of people are saying that it's time for WWE to move him up. Although, if they do so, it would mess up long-term title plans they have involving Triple H.

At last word — and remember, plans can change in an instant — the original plans are not changing. Orton will more than likely go over Hardy in their match tomorrow night at the Royal Rumble.

It should also be noted that people in power are pushing for Hardy to get the strap. Michael Hayes is Hardy's biggest advocate right now. Hayes has always pushed the Hardys, and earlier in their WWE careers he came out of retirement to be their manager. Hayes doesn't favor Hardy at all times though as he's said to be fair in evaluating him — both good and bad — but he feels that Hardy has proven himself enough to get the strap and he deserves to be rewarded with a title run. Hayes is pushing that the crowd reactions are telling WWE to finally pull the trigger.

However, there is at least one person in particular who is against a Jeff Hardy title run at the moment and that person is Stephanie McMahon. She doesn't want WWE to give Hardy the belt because she feels that it would force a change of plans. Stephanie has given her reasons for why Hardy should not get the strap, though some backstage are saying that it sounds like Triple H rhetoric.