Matt Hardy interview on between the ropes

[Dave Youell]

Matt Hardy interview

Matt Hardy Interview on Between the Ropes
By Michaelangelo McCullar, wrestling.insidepulse.com

What did Matt have to say to all his MFers?

Matt Hardy appeared tonight on Between the Ropes. Among the topics covered:

-- Matt discussed his release. He said that Johnny Ace called him and told
him he was released but gave him no explanation aside from the typical "we
have nothing for you and will be looking at new guys," although he knew
exactly why he'd been cut.

-- He talked about the fan reaction during Lita's segment at MSG Monday,
thanking the fans for all the support.

-- He said that, since his release, he's had to triple the bandwidth at his
site sue to all the hits, and they still can't keep up.

-- He said that he'd filmed some vignettes for his return. These were filmed
by Matt, along with help from Jeff and Amy (Lita). He would have come back
as a vigilante, Punisher-style character, driven over the edge by losing
everything to Kane and sticking up for the little guy. His tagline would
have been, "The Scar Is a Symbol", referencing the scar on his knee.

-- He said that Edge had been one of his best friends, and that when Edge
was out with his neck injury, he was one of only four or five guys who kept
in contact with him.

-- He said that Edge is the superstar who dumped a bloody mary on Amy Weber,
as cited by Amy in this interview.

-- He talked about coming over to RAW, and how his first night there Lita
caught heat backstage for screwing up some lines during their promo. She
smarted off to those who were criticizing her, one of who was Vince. The
backlash she caught bounced back on him, and he was immediately depushed.

-- He said nothing is going on between him and Lisa Copeland, Edge's wife,
and dodged questions about who's hotter, Lisa or Amy.

-- He said that his 90 days expires July 10, and he's already been getting
calls from TNA, ROH, and Japan. He would love to go to TNA, but isn't really
interested in reforming The Hardy Boyz, as he wants to focus on his singles
career, although he admitted a limited Hardy Boyz run would be a huge draw.

-- He said he felt it was hypocritical of Vince to give one of the other
wrestlers, who was married and cheating on his wife with one of the Divas, a
free pass, but to cut him when he was the aggrieved party.

-- He said that he never planned to publically comment on the Edge/Lita
situation, but it hit the Net and a lot of false things were floating
around, so he spoke up to set the record straight. He admits that he "may
not have handled it in the best way," but neither did WWE by releasing him.

-- He claims he would have been able to co-exist with Lita and Edge if he
came back to Raw. He still socializes with Lita casually, but with regards
to Edge, he would simply ignore him and go about his business.

-- He credits Paul Heyman with helping push the Matt Hardy V.1 character,
and that it got over with some catch phrases and hand signals despite some
in creative not believing it would. He also said that there were some things
that he would have done differently with his character, such as turning
babyface but keeping the same wise-ass/cocky attitude after he lost the CW
Title to Rey. He enjoyed being on Smackdown, and thought that, when this
incident occurred, he would be sent back to Smackdown, not cut.

-- He said if Vince called him tomorrow and asked him to come back, he would
probably say yes, and that overall his seven+ years there were positive and
Vince did a lot for him. He is just unhappy about how it all ended.

To hear Matt's interview in its entirety, head over to BetweenTheRopes.com.

[Corkscrewed]

:y:

Came out pretty truthful and straightforward. Not sure he REALLY would have just "ignored" Edge, but whatever. Matt still holds my immense respect.

[RGWhat316]

Sounds like a good interview, and I have really felt for Matt and what he is going through. And it seems that Randy Orton is not the only guilty party when it comes to messing with the new divas.

[KayfabeMan]

Good for Matt. He obviously won't have any shortage of work, and I'm sure he'll do fine. He's a heck of a performer, and really enjoys what he does / the fans - so while it's unfortunate that this happened to him, it's also opened some new doors for him to get some much deserved and overdue respect.

[RP]

The sad part is. That Punisher gimmick may have worked with me.

[Dave Youell]

The sad part is. That Punisher gimmick may have worked with me.
yeah that sounded really cool, could still work if he came back say within the next year and it does seem like he would want to come back and if Hogan, Nash and Hall can come back. Anyone can

[Scarface]

The Scar is a symbol is a really cool line. Shame WWE fired him. Matt Hardy's awesome.

[Kane Knight]

Wait. They had a new gimmick, a Punisher-esque persona, and were filming vignettes, but let him go because they didn't have anything for him? :rofl:

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

lol, I can't wait to see more people flip out over Edge.

I have news for you, three quarters of wrestlers are assholes, it's a hick business.

[YOUR Hero]

HE didn't come off as an idiot at least.

[Kane Knight]

blah blah blah, more of Dale trying to sound hard

[Londoner]

lol, I can't wait to see more people flip out over Edge.

I have news for you, three quarters of wrestlers are assholes, it's a hick business.


This is pathetic the level you have sunk to in order to defend edge. Yes most wrestlers are assholes, so does that mean we shouldnt defend the ones that arent?

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Well I am pretty hard :naughty:

You misinterpret me though, I'm not saying what the guy did was right. It's completely dickheaded, it just doesn't surprise me and I don't care...as long as he works well in the ring that's all I care about.

Chris Benoit cheated with his wife, and we all praise him.

Orton shat in the same broad's bag and it's been just considered childish shennanigans and "he needs to grow up".

Wrestler's are assholes, it's the way of the business. They're all big greasy juiced up tatooed freaks, who beat the crap out of each other for a living with a fixed outcome. It's always has been and always will be a shady business, and when I hear shit like this it doesn't surprise me.

I mean we all know Hennig (RIP) shat in the bucket when Warrior had to go under the ring and whatnot, and workers just do stupid crazy shit. Now dumping a bloody marry on her head is a little fucked up, but he was probably all rowdy and wasted and roid raging, so while it's not at all right, I can't say it surprises me one bit or it changes my perspective on the guy. He's a solid worker, but he's a dick, much like many other wrestlers.

[Kane Knight]

:yawn:

[Innovator]

Chris Benoit cheated with his wife, and we all praise him.
Benoit never lied about it. He talked about it on his DVD, saying how he wanted his kids to grow up before he explained everything that happened. Besides after he stole Woman, Benoit and Sullivan went out and tore the house down.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

:yawn:

Hey at least my arguments proved some use, helped you get some sleep ;)

Obviously I'm coming from the "who gives a flying fuck" place here and you're coming from the "what a dick" place, which is understandable, so whatever.

[Kane Knight]

as long as he works well in the ring that's all I care about.
And while I appluad your comment, I don't find him to "work well" in the ring, and haven't since before the whole Matt Hardy incident. Or at least, before it was announced.

Further, I have to ask. When Chris Benoit cheated, I don't recall anyone being fired as a direct result. Can you please tell me who it was, so that I can better understand why the comparison is valid?

Hate to say it, but the fact that he cheated is only part of the issue.

[Kane Knight]

Hey at least my arguments proved some use, helped you get some sleep ;)

Obviously I'm coming from the "who gives a flying fuck" place here and you're coming from the "what a dick" place, which is understandable, so whatever.
Obviously you're wrong, but feel free to keep putting words in my mouth. It's obvious it's about the only way you can make an argument work. :p

[6to1]

now lets see if matt can get the belt off double j. good trade, trade matt for kash.

[Innovator]

And while I appluad your comment, I don't find him to "work well" in the ring, and haven't since before the whole Matt Hardy incident. Or at least, before it was announced.

Further, I have to ask. When Chris Benoit cheated, I don't recall anyone being fired as a direct result. Can you please tell me who it was, so that I can better understand why the comparison is valid?

Hate to say it, but the fact that he cheated is only part of the issue.Benoit was paired up with Woman, Kevin Sullivan's wife. Pretty soon they started seeing each other. No one was really affected work wise about it, like I said when this was going on they had a fantastic no rules match.

[Londoner]

Kane knight already said what i was going to say, cheating is only part of the issue here, its all about backstage politics n shit on top of it which makes it go that one step further. I never knew about the benoit incident, but i couldnt careless to be honest. No politics or anything were involved in fucking up things further.

[Kane Knight]

Benoit was paired up with Woman, Kevin Sullivan's wife. Pretty soon they started seeing each other. No one was really affected work wise about it, like I said when this was going on they had a fantastic no rules match.
That was kind of my point. To my knowledge, nothing was altered professionally. Now, Benoit did something wrong, but I had no memory of it bleeding through into the wrestling world.

Matt Hardy being fired clearly affects the actual wrestling world (Even though the affair itself does not).

[Crashnburn]

I love the part of the interview where Matt was talking about coming up with a new gimmick, "Matt Hardy Version 1.0" and Stephanie overheard him and told him that it would never get over. Great call, Steph. I can see why Daddy is leaving the business to you.

[olympic hitman]

Well I am pretty hard :naughty:

You misinterpret me though, I'm not saying what the guy did was right. It's completely dickheaded, it just doesn't surprise me and I don't care...as long as he works well in the ring that's all I care about.

Chris Benoit cheated with his wife, and we all praise him.

Orton shat in the same broad's bag and it's been just considered childish shennanigans and "he needs to grow up".

Wrestler's are assholes, it's the way of the business. They're all big greasy juiced up tatooed freaks, who beat the crap out of each other for a living with a fixed outcome. It's always has been and always will be a shady business, and when I hear shit like this it doesn't surprise me.

I mean we all know Hennig (RIP) shat in the bucket when Warrior had to go under the ring and whatnot, and workers just do stupid crazy shit. Now dumping a bloody marry on her head is a little fucked up, but he was probably all rowdy and wasted and roid raging, so while it's not at all right, I can't say it surprises me one bit or it changes my perspective on the guy. He's a solid worker, but he's a dick, much like many other wrestlers.



Here's a little advice, bro. Don't try to intelligently debate KK. He will supposedly "debate" your point by flaming and then disguising it as "fact" to back up his arguement when it is HE who misinterprets & assumes.......then, watch as the rest of the board will basically agree seeing as they all seem to love him[amazingly :eek: ]. I'm on your side here, Crash, so, just tryin' to help ya and prevent another 3 or 4 page flamefest aimed in your general direction.......

As far as Hardy goes; I think he was shafted. He wasn't the same[character-wise] after he left the creative direction of Paul Heyman on SmackDown and went to RAW, where clearly, people involved creatively didn't think as highly of V1 as Mr. Heyman did.

It's a real shame that the WWE took sides on the issue too. The only reason they could site for Hardy's release was that he went "public" with the info on the love triangle between himself, Edge, and Lita. Edge & Lita were clearly in the wrong for having an unethical relationship. Did you see the post on Hardy's website where Lisa Copeland[Edge's wife] shot on Adam? She said "without the steroids, Adam would be another 6'4, skinny guy" :rofl:. She also said that the reason the WWE were upset about the public's knowledge on the issue was because they "didn't make a dime" off the situation. I find this to be dead-on accurate and most likely the reason Hardy was released.

It's a damn shame too, seeing as Hardy hadn't tapped into his full-potential neither. His best work on Smackdown in 03 was probably just scratching the surface. His mic work while there improved and his character really developed and connected with the fans. The problem is, he never got the opportunities he deserved to take that next step in his career[to the main events].

I just hope the WWE soon realizes what a disaterious mistake they made in releasing Hardy and hire him back soon.

[Londoner]

^incase you didn't notice, that post you quoted was in reply to me.Or are you confusing me with KK?

[Kane Knight]

^incase you didn't notice, that post you quoted was in reply to me.Or are you confusing me with KK?
He's just being a crybaby. Trying to take a cheap shot while veiling it under "advice." I think the post is irrelevent, as long as the message (Hitman's a twat trying to take shots from "higher ground") gets through.

[Disturbed316]

That new gimmick would have rocked :'(

[Kane Knight]

It would have indeed. Especially with MAtt. Now watch, they'll give it to Gene Snitsky.

[Lamuella]

damn. A punisher gimmick would have rocked.

now I'm just thinking of Matt Hardy as Waylon Mercy.

here's a question: when he pops up in TNA, can he call himself "Matt Hardy Version 2.0"?

[Kane Knight]

I suppose it all depends on how they went about their trademark.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Obviously you're wrong, but feel free to keep putting words in my mouth. It's obvious it's about the only way you can make an argument work. :p

Hey I didn't put words in your mouth. You think he's an asshole, and that his actions are inexusable...or at least that's what it seems like, correct me if I'm wrong. I'm coming from the standpoint that "it's wrestling, fucked up shit happens, as long as he's doing his job I'm fine with him".

In saying that, Matt shouldn't have made it public because that's digging your own grave, while I sympathize with him, it's his own fault for getting fired...now I wouldn't have blamed him if he had fought Edge backstage, and it leaked out but instead he went straight to his MFers with it, which wasn't smart.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

He's just being a crybaby. Trying to take a cheap shot while veiling it under "advice." I think the post is irrelevent, as long as the message (Hitman's a twat trying to take shots from "higher ground") gets through.

Yeah lol, we're just having a debate, noone's being an asshole.

[Lamuella]

it was "out" before Matt said a word about it.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

THat's not the point I'm getting at. The dirt sheets are gonna spread a lot of rumours and shit...he shoulda kept it on the d/l himself. And again if he walked up to Edge and punched him in the mouth and that leaked out, I wouldn't blame the guy, and he shouldn't have been fired. But alas, his emotions got the better of him and that's what happened.

[Lamuella]

why was he under an obligation to keep it quiet? Who did he owe this obligation to? Edge? Lita? Vince?

[CYCLOPTERSAURUS]

Nothing against Hardy, but am I the only one that thinks that punisher gimmick is awful? He was over as V1, with Mattitude and everything, he was great as a cocky heel. It was over, why change it? especially into a "bad-ass" punisher rip-off...and that catchphrase sounds terrible. What would he do, say the line and make the camera zoom in on his knee?

[Innovator]

one of the one gimmicks that I want to see in wrestling, taken from me! DAMN YOUS WWE! DAMN YOUS STRAIGHT TO HELL!

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

why was he under an obligation to keep it quiet? Who did he owe this obligation to? Edge? Lita? Vince?

Himself, to keep his job.

[Lamuella]

you still haven't explained why it should be a matter over which someone should lose their job.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Because that's how Vince is...I'm not saying whether it's right or wrong, but come on, he had to know Vince wasn't gonna be pleased.

[Shadow]

It's called keyfabe people. Hello!

Wheeee!

[Mr. JL]

Nothing against Hardy, but am I the only one that thinks that punisher gimmick is awful? He was over as V1, with Mattitude and everything, he was great as a cocky heel. It was over, why change it? especially into a "bad-ass" punisher rip-off...and that catchphrase sounds terrible. What would he do, say the line and make the camera zoom in on his knee?
Matt Hardy, the V1 character was jobbed out on Velocity and the WWE never capitalized when they had the chance. Instead of pushing him to the mid-card scene/main event they had the one-legged wrestler defeat him on several occasions. It just became unmarketable with shit like that. So, once the WWE moved Matt from Velocity to Raw, the character was already dead.

Whats funny is that not only did the V1 character get Matt Hardy over with the fans but it also got Shannon Moore over too. Of course, then WWE decided to job both of them out and into oblivion. So then it was back to square one.

Insert horrible angle between Lita/Kane/Hardy and eventually Snitsky here for Matt. And out of that the 'Punisher' gimmick would have been fucking awesome. But no, he's fired.

Now Shannon Moore is the Prince Of Punk, still being jobbed out on Velocity.

[Mr. JL]

What I tried to say was the V1 character was dead and the 'Punisher' character is a better idea than just the usual "Hey, I'm back from injury, cheer me for these two weeks before the WWE puts me on Sunday Night Heat."

[Kane Knight]

***Prince of Suck.

[Lamuella]

It's called keyfabe people. Hello!

Wheeee!

unless he was in an angle about Edge NOT fucking his girlfriend, I fail to see how kayfabe comes into it.

[Shadow]

unless he was in an angle about Edge NOT fucking his girlfriend, I fail to see how kayfabe comes into it.

Because he's still not coming clean. None of them are. They're still hiding behind the lies. THE LIES!

[PureHatred]

It would have indeed. Especially with MAtt. Now watch, they'll give it to Gene Snitsky.


Fuck this. That's Genius. Snirtsky as Snitsky trying to do the dark, brooding vigilante thing. :y:

[PureHatred]

I;d also like to say I totally agree with Newstead about how Matt going public was a mistake. It was never going to accomplish anything: it wasnt' going to get Lita back, it wasn't going to payback Edge. Basically the only thing it could've done was soothe his hurt feelings and make his working relationship with them (and their working relationship w/EVERYONE) uncomfortabl.

And considering Vince's "secret police" mentality, it was plain stupid to believe there'd be no retribution for him taking his dirty laundry to a public forum.

I feel for Matt. Edge and Lita were wrong in what they did. But posting all that drama on his website was just asking to get the pink slip.

[YOUR Hero]

why was he under an obligation to keep it quiet? Who did he owe this obligation to? Edge? Lita? Vince?
Himself, so's not to get fired.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Himself, so's not to get fired.

Hey hero, stealing what I said called, it said "good job" :p :y:

[Loose Cannon]

I see your guys points about Matt posting it on his site. But you know what, I doubt any of you have went through what he has. Think about the state of mind he was in. He wasn't in a great state and he didn't want to come out looking like the bad guy during the Beg of this thing, so he did. I think he made a few mistakes, but I can see why.

Anyway, does anyone have or know where I can get the Trish/Lita segment from this Mondays Raw?

[Loose Cannon]

And if anyone mentioned in this thread that Matt didn't draw/make money/or get a reaction for the WWE, they're dead wrong

[Loose Cannon]

LOL, I'm listening to the show now.

Matt is saying how very early on at the very start of the V1 gimmick, Matt was doing an interview and he made reference to the V1 thing and threw up the 3 fingers. Well Steph said to Matt "Woah, why did you say that and do that with your hands?" Matt said he saw the audience throwing up the fingers and everything and Matt said he was going to do that in interviews now. Steph actually said that he could do it for that interview, but IT WOULD NEVER GET OVER.

WOW, you really know the fans there jackoff.

Also he was saying how every thing is scripted for the wrestlers now as pertaining to what they say, what they do in the ring etc etc etc. And how it's so different from like 98-2002

:nono:

[Disturbed316]

Christ, whats with all the adverts before hand? I dont want to have sex feel like it was when I was 18 because I wasn't getting any then :rant::mad::rant:

[Loose Cannon]

it's called fast fowarding :y:

[Disturbed316]

These guys are crazy

[Loose Cannon]

you need Windows Media Player. That show is going to be a bitch without fast fowarding. There's like 40 commercials through it.

[Disturbed316]

Sorted it now. Just talking about Molly :'(

[Loose Cannon]

Oh they are the greatest. I LMAO every week. Especially when they do voices of wrestlers (HHH, Dusty, Steph) Excellent show. Matt Hardy interview is in the middle.

[Disturbed316]

Just about to listen to it now, hyping him up.

[Kane Knight]

And if anyone mentioned in this thread that Matt didn't draw/make money/or get a reaction for the WWE, they're dead wrong
Indeed. I'm gonna execute each and every one of them. Well, me and Brock Lesnar.