Hardtop followed his rival Bumblebee to Earth, and was the first Decepticon to arrive on the planet. Like Bumblebee, he too managed to uncover the connection between Sam Witwicky and the All Spark, but never had time to act on it. Turns out Bumblebee managed to bury him under tons of rubble somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. This might not have been fatal, and Hardtop might still be alive... and really pissed.