On a recent episode of his “The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy” podcast, experienced TNA wrestler Matt Hardy shared his memories of masterminding the first-ever TLC (Tables, Ladders, and Chairs) match at WWE SummerSlam 2000, a face-off that included The Hardys, Dudley Boyz, and Edge & Christian.
Key moments from the podcast are outlined below:
Speaking about the referees’ roles during the match, Hardy stated: “The optimal situation is to ensure the referees understand what we’re up to. This way, they can both help and assist us…This gave room for better communication…Because spotting the time cue while two fellows are wrestling on a 12-foot ladder can be quite challenging.”
Hardy also shared his process of organizing the match: “Planning the TLC match was quite intriguing. I remember a sequence in the Raleigh match where I’m on top of the ladder… we would ascertain the right timing during the rehearsal. On the day of the match, Vince wanted me to land on a crash pad for safety’s sake, but I told Michael [Hayes], ‘This is a one-time deal, we’ve measured everything and I’m positive about it…’ This depicts that planning such an event is definitely a team effort.”
Hardy reflected on a conversation they had with Jim Ross, requesting a bonus for the match: “Bubba once brought up that our remuneration was not proportional to the effort we put in for the TLC match. As he urged us to confront JR, we did. JR then responded, ‘Okay, you think a bonus is deserved? I’ll give you a small one. However, I would suggest not to broadcast this to everyone as it could stir up discontent among the rest.’”