On a recent edition of his “The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy” podcast, AEW veteran Matt Hardy discussed working battle royal matches at WWE WrestleMania, Jake Hager’s old gimmick, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On whether he was ever disappointed to work battle royals at WWE WrestleMania: “No, I wasn’t really disappointed for being put into it two years straight… it is just what it is. And I feel like if you’re a competitor, and you get an opportunity to be on WrestleMania, on the card at all, you just like to make the most of that opportunity. Like, bust your a** all throughout the year and hopefully you get some sort of special marquee position on the card. But if you don’t, just deal with it and make the most of whatever you have to work with. That’s the best play when it comes to that.
“Are guys disappointed they end up in it? I’m sure they are. I’m sure they are. At the end of the day, especially where I’m at in my career now, I just want to be doing something productive. Like I don’t have to be in the main event or I have to be in the most highlighted match whatever. I just want to be doing something that is productive and keeping myself — and my brother if we’re teaming together — in a relevant position where we seem like you know, we’re still good to go.”
On his dream tag team partner: “I would say from the past, I will go with the idea of the Macho Man Randy Savage. Yeah, that’s a pretty easy one to call I think. And from the present. Hell I might even say from the present, myself and Christian Cage. We might have a fun little time.”
On Jake Hager’s Jack Swagger gimmick in WWE and some guys needing to be themselves to get over: “There are some guys who take a while to really become their best selves when it comes to being performers. Swagger is an example that. I think he has become a lot better as he’s been around, because nothing teaches you in pro wrestling experience. There’s some guys that just catch on immediately and set the world on fire like Kurt Angle. But most guys, it takes him a little while to really learn what they’re doing. I mean, one of the best examples ever, is Mark Henry. Because towards the end, when I was working with Mark in ECW and he was the ECW champion, he was great to work with. I would have worked with him every night. He was easy, he was safe, he was smart. He got the most mileage out of everything he did and he knew who he was. And he worked that way. He was great. I loved working with Mark.”
In a recent episode of his podcast, “The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy,” AEW veteran Matt Hardy shared his thoughts on various topics, including working battle royal matches at WWE WrestleMania and the importance of being oneself in the wrestling industry.
When asked if he was ever disappointed to work battle royals at WWE WrestleMania, Hardy expressed that he wasn’t disappointed and saw it as an opportunity to make the most of the event. He emphasized that being on the WrestleMania card itself is a significant achievement for any competitor. Hardy believes that regardless of the position on the card, it is essential to give your best and make the most out of the opportunity presented.
While some wrestlers might feel disappointed about being in a battle royal, Hardy stated that at this stage of his career, he simply wants to be productive and relevant. He doesn’t necessarily need to be in the main event or have the most highlighted match. Instead, he aims to contribute in a way that keeps himself and his brother, if they are teaming together, in a relevant position.
When asked about his dream tag team partner, Hardy mentioned two names. From the past, he expressed his desire to team up with the legendary Macho Man Randy Savage. Hardy believes that teaming up with Savage would have been an incredible experience. From the present, he mentioned himself and Christian Cage as potential tag team partners, suggesting that they would have a fun time together.
Discussing Jake Hager’s journey in the wrestling industry, Hardy highlighted the importance of wrestlers finding their true selves to get over with the audience. He acknowledged that some performers take time to discover their best selves and improve as performers. Hager, formerly known as Jack Swagger in WWE, is an example of someone who has grown and become better with experience. Hardy emphasized that experience plays a significant role in a wrestler’s development, although some individuals like Kurt Angle catch on immediately and achieve great success. Hardy also praised Mark Henry for his ability to understand his character and work in a way that maximized his potential.
In conclusion, Matt Hardy’s podcast episode provided insights into his mindset regarding working battle royal matches at WWE WrestleMania, his dream tag team partner choices, and the importance of wrestlers finding their true selves to succeed in the industry. Hardy’s perspective offers a glimpse into the mindset of a veteran wrestler who values opportunities and strives to make the most out of every situation.