Matt Hardy isn’t sure how much longer he’ll wrestle, but he’s feeling great heading into his next big challenge.
Hardy spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard to promote TNA Slammiversary. Matt is feeling good heading into a four-way ladder match that will see The Hardys, Rascalz and Fir$t Cla$$ challenge the Nemeth Brothers for their titles. Hardy says he’s still in great shape after being in the wrestling business for more than 30 years. Hardy isn’t sure how much longer he’ll wrestle at this level, but he plans on making his next match special.
“I don’t know. We both are feeling really good, we are physically taking care of ourselves. We are big ice bath, cold plunge guys and that’s been a game changer for us. And we are feeling great. I’m actually diving real hard going into Slammiversary,” Matt Hardy explained. “This four-way ladder match, it’s the first time myself and Jeff are getting our actual rematch versus the Nemeths to try and procure the TNA World Tag Team titles.”
Matt knows he and Jeff will have three teams to face, but this is still a match stipulation that the Hardys made their name off of.
Matt Hardy says he and his brother are ready to evolve
“When you think about a Ladder Match, we are the guys that revolutionized it. We created the whole TLC staple along with Edge and Christian, and the Dudleys. So, this match is going to be indelible. It’s going to be special. And I think starting in this match, you are going to see a new version of Matt and Jeff Hardy going forward from here on,” Matt said. “We are pretty excited about this. We have been ready to evolve for a while. And we really stayed patient to wait for this moment to do something special.”
Pritchard asked if fans should read into his remarks about a “new version” of the Hardys and being ready to evolve. Matt offered a cryptic answer in response.
“I don’t know. Read it as you will,” Matt replied. “I laid out some breadcrumbs and follow it where it leads you.”
Can The Hardys still pull off a heel run now?
Evolving could mean many things. As John Cena has shown this year, even the most dedicated babyfaces can (finally) turn heel. The Hardys are still arguably one of the most popular duos in pro wrestling and have legions of fans around the world. Does Matt think the Hardys, at this point in their careers, could pull off a heel turn despite their popularity?
“It would be challenging. But it’s something, this is weird. I don’t want to compare this to John Cena, I think you can kind of compare it to that in some way. It is very hard to turn John Cena heel, because he is so beloved, right? And I think we have that, especially with Jeff, because he is so beloved. But I think both of us together, I think we could, I honestly think if we did something and we evolved into something that could be viewed as heelish. [However] I think when it was all set and done, it would just make us bigger babyfaces.”
Matt Hardy believes a heel turn could give The Hardys a “fresh coat of paint” and more depth. However, he doubts they would be able to sustain a negative reaction a heel needs for too long.
“We could do it for a little while and play that role. We could try and make some people. But then I think, at the end of the day, people are still ultimately going to cheer for us because we are such beloved figures from… a lot comes from people’s childhoods now.”
Jeff, one of the biggest babyfaces ever, along with Ricky Steamboat and Rey Mysterio, got over because of the connection he keeps with fans. Matt noted that Jeff worked very hard to get his “Antichrist” heel character over, but it was more of a short-term gimmick.
“Yeah, Jeff… All three of those guys [Ricky Steamboat, Jeff Hardy, and Rey Mysterio] very very special emotional connections to the crowd, and that’s what ultimately makes someone a star. That’s what makes someone sell tickets. That’s what makes people want to see them on pay-per-view and live in the arena. It is not necessarily the moves they do, it’s the connection they have with them and the emotional investment they have in them. And those guys are three special guys. I was proud of Jeff when he did the Anti-Christ of pro wrestling in the early 2010s. And I thought he busted his a**. I thought he worked really hard to try and be a heel. And try and get booed and come of as arrogant and cocky. But like you said, at the end of the day, it ended up kinda being a short-term thing.”
TNA Slammiversary takes place at the UBS Arena on Long Island on Sunday, July 20.
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