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Matt Hardy Relishes the Opportunity to Mentor Wrestling’s Next Generation

Though he isn’t a headlining performer anymore, Hardy has eagerly embraced his new role lifting up those who will carry the industry forward.

Justin Barrasso

The night before AEW comes to Boston for the “Blood & Guts” edition of Dynamite, wrestling icon Matt Hardy will set the stage with an evening full of memories.

Hosting a live, in-person episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast Tuesday just north of Boston at the famed Kowloon restaurant, Hardy will rewatch the ladder match from WWE’s No Mercy pay-per-view in 1999 that turned Edge, Christian, and Matt and his brother Jeff Hardy into bona fide superstars.

The match completely redefined the concept and possibilities of a multiman ladder match, which has since become a staple of pro wrestling.

“Before that match, none of us knew what was about to happen,” says Hardy. “All we knew was that we were gifted with an opportunity and we wanted to make the most of it. Jeff and I had wrestled several ladder matches before the WWE on the indies, when I wrestled as Surge against Jeff, who was under a mask, as Willow the Wisp. We had a pretty good grasp on ladder matches, and we thought Edge and Christian would excel there, too.

“All we knew was that this was a chance to become something bigger than we were. All these years later, I can still hear the applause. It went on all match. The next night on Raw, we got another standing ovation. The way audiences reacted to us, it kept getting stronger and stronger. We realized we made magic, but we never knew it would be that big. I can’t wait to watch it back and share some parts of the match that haven’t been shared.”

As hard as it is to believe, Hardy, 48, now has more than three decades in the industry since debuting in 1992. He is best known for his legendary work in WWE, but he has also had memorable runs in Impact Wrestling, Ring of Honor and now AEW. His wrestling has spanned generations, powered by a unique blend of athleticism, creativity and charisma that served as the recipe for a career of great longevity.

In May, Hardy wrestled in a six-man tag at AEW’s Double or Nothing, where he teamed with Jeff Hardy and Hook against Ethan Page and The Gunns (Billy Gunn’s sons, Austin and Colten).

“I remember the Gunns as kids from when they were the ages of my own children,” says Hardy, who recalls wrestling with them backstage at WWE shows before they were even teenagers. “Now we’re wrestling them. How crazy is that?

“Father Time holds back for no one. As you get older, things change, but you have to make the most of it.”

While the Hardys remain incredibly popular, their place is no longer on the top of the card. Instead, the two superstars from the antique town of Cameron, N.C., who forced wrestling to evolve as a direct result of their aerial maneuvers and eagerness to put their bodies on the line, now focus on helping the next generation of talent reach stardom.

“I love giving back,” says Hardy. “When we were younger, I remember that being much bigger of an issue with the older talent. Myself and Jeff, we promised we’d never be those guys. It’s part of the responsibility to give younger guys a rub.

“Without people giving back, the business withers away. Someone made the older talent. Then comes the time to make someone new. The business has definitely gotten a lot more selfless over the past 30 years.”

Hardy has played an integral role in the ongoing story line that has given far more of a spotlight to Page and Isiah Kassidy. His goal is to continue pushing until those two become cornerstones of AEW.

The Hardys have been an integral part of pro wrestling since 1997. They have influenced wrestlers in every major promotion, and their matches involving tables, ladders and chairs redefined the entire industry.

Twenty years ago, while they were making magic in the ring, Matt and Jeff Hardy also carved a lasting impression onto the minds of Matt and Nick Massie—best known now as AEW executive vice presidents Matt and Nick Jackson—who were back home watching in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

“The Bucks, we’ve loved those guys for over a decade,” says Hardy, who wrestled them in ROH before the creation of AEW. “I remember the night before we returned to WWE at WrestleMania 33, we wrestled the Bucks in a ladder match at Supercard of Honor. I told Matt and Nick that we were going to WrestleMania the next day and I can still hear myself saying, ‘Tell everyone you beat the Hardys for the Ring of Honor world tag-team titles. Use that, man. Use that.’ That’s how pro wrestling works in the grand scheme of things.”

Hardy is bringing a treasure trove of memories and insight to his live show tomorrow night at the Kowloon. Along with talented cohost Jon Alba, the highlight of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast is that it harnesses the magic of pro wrestling.

“Matt’s willingness to share the secret of the art is what makes him so unique as an orator and storyteller,” says Alba, who shares outstanding chemistry with Hardy. “It’s not exposing the business, it’s celebrating the elements that make it special. It has become one of the foundations of our podcast and is something he has gotten more comfortable with expressing over time. I truthfully view it as his way of paying it forward to an industry he loves.”

An added bonus to the live show is the venue. The Kowloon has hosted pro wrestlers after shows since the 1960s, and the restaurant, which is only months away from celebrating its 75th anniversary, is a Massachusetts landmark on Route 1 in Saugus.

“For pro wrestlers, the Kowloon is a safe haven,” says Hardy. “The owner, Andy Wong, is first class in everything he does. Andy is such a big wrestling fan. And this is AEW’s first time coming to the Garden in Boston for Blood & Guts, and, when you wrestle at the Garden, you have to go to the Kowloon.”

Hardy’s show will add to the excitement of AEW’s first trip to the TD Garden in Boston, which is where WWE performs when visiting the area. It is a treat for fans who saw WWE’s WarGames there last November and now can experience the Blood & Guts match.

Only a distinguished few pro wrestlers have performed shows at the Kowloon over the years, and now Hardy can join that group.

“This is our first official live show, and we’ll have surprises, too,” says Hardy. “I’m so honored we’re doing it at the Kowloon. I remember when we were younger and that road schedule was so aggressive. We were always traveling. When you find a place like the Kowloon, it’s peace of mind.

“And it’s the best food in the land. I’ve been around the world, and this restaurant is top three for places I’ve ever eaten. It’s going to be a special night, and we’re going to make sure people get their money’s worth.”

Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.

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Justin Barrasso
JUSTIN BARRASSO

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