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#Post#: 30379--------------------------------------------------
Chat with Matt Hardy. Talks Reby in TNA, Teaming with Jeff &
More
By: ChrissiCalvert Date: April 20, 2015, 4:12 pm
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Let's begin with your return to TNA last Summer. Unfortunately,
you didn't leave the company under the best of circumstances in
2011. How eager were you to return and to do so in a much more
positive frame of mind?
Thank you! It was extremely exciting to return, especially to
team with my brother again and show the world that we were still
great as a tag team. In 2011, I needed to take some time away, I
had to. I needed time to heal my body, mind and soul after
busting my ass for 14 years straight as a full time pro
wrestler. I've really learned how to pace myself as I've gotten
older, especially from the perspective of optimizing my physical
health. That's one of the main reasons that Impact Wrestling is
such a great fit for me. My schedule with TNA allows to me to
recuperate enough so that I can continue to perform at the level
that I expect of myself and that the 2015 wrestling fans expect
of me. It's a great time for me to be part of TNA. I know I have
lots to contribute to the TNA brand, especially when Jeff & I
ultimately become TNA World Tag Team Champions."
Since your return, you reunited with your brother Jeff and
competed in a series of tag team matches against the Wolves and
Team 3D that culminated with what many have called the best
match of 2014, Full Metal Mayhem. Firstly, share with us how it
felt working with Jeff again. And secondly, that tag title
series, tell us a little about that experience.
Considering Jeff & I have been doing this together for 23 years,
it's more magical than ever when we team now. Teaming with my
brother just feels right, it's natural. I am very proud of the
tag team series, it was such a pleasure to work with the
talented Wolves, as well as our longtime rivals, Team 3D. It was
nice to have 3 excellent teams, plenty of time and creative
control to make this series special. I honestly believe that the
Full Metal Mayhem match we had stands up to any of the old TLC
matches of ours.
We saw a lot of crazy spots during that tag title series. I'm
curious, what is the process behind planning these spots, and do
you ever feel pressured by TNA or the fans to perform these high
risk maneuvers?
"There's always a pressure to please the fans...always. That's
what makes good wrestlers GREAT WRESTLERS. Considering we've
raised the bar so high in similar matches in the past, there's
always expectations during a Matt & Jeff Hardy tag match. Jeff
is a cyborg-like anomaly, he still does maneuvers like he's 20
years old. Me, on the other hand, am very calculated about the
risks I take. I'm at a point in my career where I want to be
exciting, but I also want longevity."
Unfortunately, you and your brother fell short of capturing the
tag titles then but this week you have an enormous opportunity
to finally become the TNA tag team champions in Tag Team Gold.
Could you tell us who your opponents are in your qualifying
match? And how exciting is it for the Hardys to potentially add
another championship to your list of achievements in this
business?
Our opponents in our first round qualifying match are James
Storm & Khoya. I'm sure everyone is familiar with our history
against the Revolution, as James Storm attempted to end both of
our careers. We have two reasons to be motivated to win this
match: #HardysRevenge and going into the Ultimate X to compete
for the TNA World Tag Team Titles. The thought of adding another
championship to our title history is very cool. At this stage in
the game, being considered the greatest tag team in the world
means a lot to myself and my brother. We're at a point right now
where we feel like we're cementing our legacy as one of the
greatest tag teams of all time and becoming the TNA World Tag
Team Champions would definitely help that cause."
There are some impressive teams in Tag Team Gold. Which team(s)
do you feel present the toughest competition?
"The team that really stands out & gets my attention is The
Dirty Heels; the pairing of Austin Aries & Bobby Roode. These
guys have teamed together, have great chemistry together and are
very dangerous as singles competitors. They're both great
wrestlers on their own, but when they get together it seems like
they give one another a certain confidence that makes them even
more successful than they are in singles matches."
Some fans feel that Ultimate X has always been an X Division
staple and shouldn't be used for other divisions, simply because
the rules are often changed to accommodate the talents in the
ring. For example, a ladder was brought into the ring for
Ultimate X at Bound for Glory 2013 in order to retrieve the
title belt. How do you feel about that? Should Ultimate X remain
an X Division staple? And should props such as ladders be
permitted?
"That's a great question. When I initially learned that to win
the titles it would be in an Ultimate X match, the first thing
that went through my mind was, 'Isn't this an X Division
exclusive match?' My advice to TNA management is this: You need
to decide what the Ultimate X match is; either strictly an X
Division match which features X Division wrestlers for the X
Division title, or The Ultimate X Match is a TNA brand match
that can feature anyone on the roster. Regardless of what TNA
management decides, they need to etch the premise of the
Ultimate X match in stone & stick with it."
You said in an interview about a year ago that wrestling fans
are much more informed and sophisticated than they were in the
past and that wrestling promotions will have to adjust
creatively. Do you feel that TNA caters to those fans enough
with their nuanced and complex storytelling or do you think they
need to go even further?
"I think TNA is moving in the right direction. I think they're
doing a good job of telling strong stories that allow for worthy
payoffs in the ring, in the form of a great wrestling match. One
thing I think TNA needs to remember when dealing with these fans
is that often the shows are taped in advance & when that is the
case, you don't want to 'spoil' your own product. You have to be
careful how you word things, as not to insult your fans."
You said that TNA might have a stigma problem which is why some
wrestling fans won't give the product a chance. Do you still
feel the same or do you sense the tides are changing? Do you
feel like wrestling fans are more and more coming around lately?
"I absolutely feel the tides are changing. I think TNA has been
on the right track since last June, as they've been consistently
producing great weekly television. I think as long as this trend
continues and TNA continues to think outside of the box, the
stigma will be reversed and fans will have confidence that every
Impact Wrestling episode that they tune into is going to be
great."
I'd love to hear your opinion on the current TNA Tag Team
Division. How do you feel it stacks up? And how would you
improve it?
I think the current TNA Tag Team Division is strong; they have a
stout roster of tag teams. I think it would be nice if there
were 2 or 3 more sets of exclusive tag teams in the division,
meaning strictly tag team guys. I think The Wolves are great,
The Dirty Heels are awesome, James Storm has an interesting
thing going with The Revolution and The Bromans are underrated."
Are the Wolves the best tag team in the world right now?
"I think they're the greatest young tag team in the business
right now...but, the greatest tag team in the world is Matt &
Jeff Hardy, and there will be no questions about that after
Friday night."
Speaking of tag teams, I think I speak for many fans when I say
that I'd love to see the Hardys and the Young Bucks face off
inside a TNA ring. Is there any chance of it happening?
If it were up to me, it would be #1 on my list of priorities. I
have the utmost respect for The Young Bucks and would love
nothing more than to see them come to TNA and be utilized
correctly. Selfishly speaking, I would love to see Hardys/Young
Bucks in a Best of 7. MONEY $$$"
Does Reby have any plans, after giving birth, to return to the
ring? And if so, is it possible that we could eventually see her
in TNA?
First and foremost, Reby's priority is to be the best mother
possible to our son. I do know that Reby enjoys wrestling and
she had a blast doing TNA's One Night Only (Knockouts Knockdown)
PPV last May. I would certainly think it's a possibility if
everything goes well at home and we have a pretty good grip on
our family life. I imagine that you could see Reby on a TNA
television screen again one day in the future.
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