On a recent edition of his “The Extreme Life Of Matt Hardy” podcast, AEW alumnus Matt Hardy analyzed AEW’s decision to air the All In 2023 footage of CM Punk and Jack Perry’s backstage altercation on this week’s episode of Dynamite.
The podcast was recorded before the episode aired on Wednesday night.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On AEW airing the All In footage: “It’s intriguing. It’s very unlike AEW to do this, but I’m not opposed to it. Because I am someone who says more than anyone: wrestling is entertainment when it’s all said and done. And like, pro wrestling isn’t primarily about pro wrestling. It’s about entertainment and it’s about following different characters, the journey, and their story arc and being invested in them. That’s — you know, I said that all the time. I’m okay with them doing it, like I’m not opposed to it. I think it’s gonna be really interesting to have a follow-up to this. Because I think it could be something that is beneficial to AEW. And if they do it, and there’s a lack of follow-up on how they do it. Or if they do it in a way that seems untruthful, it could backfire. It could be detrimental. So I’m really curious to see how the whole presentation happens and how it goes down.”
On what he hopes happens out of it: “And I also — in the big scheme of things, in reality. I feel like if you were going to pull the trigger on this, I would have rather had been pulled months ago when this was a lot more current and relevant to day-to-day situations. I think out of this, you’re probably going to get Jungle Boy back, which I think is a good thing. I think Jungle Boy shouldn’t have been punished as hard as he was. I understand, he was at fault too. Because he started this thing, and he made that snide comment. But it started before that. And these guys had a little bit of an issue that should have been squashed from the beginning. It should have never been allowed to get to this point. So it is what it is. But I’m hoping that Jack Perry ends up being back, he ends up being a hill and you put him with the Young Bucks. I think that’s a winning combo.”
On pushing the envelope: “I mean, they’re totally going to be interest in it. And I know they’re looking to pop ratings, they feel like maybe numbers have been stagnant or whatever. And I’m here for this like. Especially if Tony Khan pushes for more controversy, trying to build attention because of a story he’s telling or something that seems controversial. I’m here for that. I think that’s important in pro wrestling. Pro Wrestling is not just pro wrestling, you have to do things outside the box. And the longer AEW is in existence, then the more you’re going to have to do that, I think.”
On AEW thinking outside of the box: “I think it depends on the presentation [not being able to deliver on the match]. You know, if it highlights and focuses more on Jack Perry, and have the Bucks talk about how Jack Perry shouldn’t be a scapegoat, how he shouldn’t have been exiled. And I don’t think he ever should have been exiled from all that at the end of the day.
“I mean, you have to go back in time, when you look at the CM Punk experience. And when you go back All Out — I mean, when he started speaking to the scrum, it had to be stopped right there. If you stop things right there, then we don’t get a lot of these events that transpire. None of this happens. I really believe Jack shouldn’t have been exiled as he was, and you can’t take all the blame for him. Is he at fault? Of course, sure. They’re both at fault to a degree, right? But it’s one of those things, I feel like his punishment outweighed the crime. That’s what I believe when it comes to that. And I think Jack Perry is a big asset to AEW, and I’ll be happy to have him back.”
AEW’s decision to air the All In 2023 footage of CM Punk and Jack Perry’s backstage altercation on this week’s episode of Dynamite has sparked a lot of discussion and speculation among fans and industry insiders. In a recent episode of his podcast, “The Extreme Life Of Matt Hardy,” AEW alumnus Matt Hardy shared his thoughts on the matter.
Hardy expressed his intrigue about AEW’s decision to air the footage, noting that it is unlike AEW to do something like this. However, he also mentioned that he is not opposed to it because he believes that wrestling is primarily about entertainment. He emphasized the importance of following different characters, their journeys, and story arcs, and being invested in them. Hardy’s perspective aligns with the idea that pro wrestling is not just about the in-ring action but also about the storytelling and character development.
While Hardy is open to AEW airing the footage, he also highlighted the significance of a proper follow-up. He mentioned that if AEW fails to provide a satisfactory follow-up or presents the situation in an untruthful manner, it could backfire and be detrimental to the company. This suggests that how AEW handles the aftermath of the altercation will play a crucial role in determining its impact on the promotion.
In terms of what he hopes will happen as a result of airing the footage, Hardy expressed his desire to see Jack Perry, also known as Jungle Boy, return to AEW. He believes that Jungle Boy should not have been punished as severely as he was and hopes that he will be back in action soon. Furthermore, Hardy suggested that pairing Jungle Boy with The Young Bucks could be a winning combination, indicating his belief in the potential success of such a collaboration.
Hardy also acknowledged AEW’s intention to push the envelope and generate interest through controversial storylines. He expressed his support for this approach, stating that it is important for pro wrestling to think outside the box and create moments that capture attention. He believes that as AEW continues to exist and grow, pushing boundaries and creating controversy will become increasingly necessary.
Regarding the potential fallout from the altercation, Hardy emphasized that the presentation is crucial. He suggested that if the focus is on Jack Perry and the Young Bucks advocate for him, highlighting that he should not have been exiled, it could help rectify the situation. Hardy believes that Perry’s punishment outweighed the crime and that he is a valuable asset to AEW. He expressed his happiness at the prospect of having Perry back in the promotion.
In conclusion, AEW’s decision to air the All In 2023 footage of CM Punk and Jack Perry’s backstage altercation has generated significant interest and speculation. Matt Hardy’s analysis on his podcast provides insights into the potential impact of this decision and highlights the importance of a proper follow-up and presentation. Ultimately, fans will have to wait and see how AEW handles the aftermath of this incident and whether it leads to any significant developments in the promotion.