In an interview with Chris Van Vliet on Insight With Chris Van Vliet, Matt Hardy discusses his AEW contract nearing its end, his aspirations to enhance his legacy, thoughts on winding down, and more.
On what is important to him as his AEW contact is close to expiration:
“What’s important to me, I think more than anything else right now, it’s just the legacy of Jeff and Matt. Because we do get that we are mentioned in the conversation of the greatest tag team and we want to help younger teams, we want to build teams. But also you have to be put into a position to succeed where you do seem relevant, where you do seem like you’re at the top of your game, you can’t just go out there and get beat every single week. So it’s very important to me that we’re utilised in the right way so that when we do have a programme with someone, and we build to a big match, and when they beat us, then it means something. Because if you just get beat without reason, it doesn’t really mean anything.”
On adding to the legacy:
“I think a legacy could be completed, like a good run as Tag Team Champions somewhere else where we have good quality matches, especially working with guys that we are smartly booked against. Because Jeff right now is in one of the best stages of his life that he’s ever been in throughout the entirety of his wrestling career. He’s just got everything together in his personal life, which is really good. And he’s also a maniac now that he’s in this position. He gets up every morning at 5 am and he does cardio for an hour. This is kind of what he does, and that’s his drill, but he’s also taking really good care of himself and he’s got it together. So I think between him and I kind of going through this midlife transformation and trying to be in the best shape that we can possibly be. I do think there’s legs in us being successful as a tag team, wherever it may be.”
Possibly winding down:
“Yes, I do. And I think a couple more [years], just depending on how my body feels. And like the way my body felt over the winter break. And it was so good, it was weird. I was feeling so good and so healthy. Sting had an injury and he wasn’t there, and they ended up doing Jeff vs. Darby and Jeff had some singles matches for a few weeks. And just during that time I was ready, that’s when I started dieting and I was trimming down, I was ready to like get in the ring and started rock and roll, whatever, and it’s just I’ve had time off, but just the way my body felt so good during that time, that makes me feel like I can go for a little bit longer. But I would love to do another two years, especially if I’m capable. Because I feel like I don’t have to do the things the young guys do. As long as I can go out there and be competitive and do my stuff, do the greatest hits of Matt Hardy, and sell for these people or take their stuff and then we’re good.”
On the original AEW debut plans:
“The original plan was that we were still going to do a double reveal. It was going to be in Rochester, New York, Brodie Lee’s hometown. We were both going to reveal on that day, so that didn’t necessarily change. But it was going to be a deal where I joined the Elite and I was their fifth man, because Nick Jackson was out, and I was going to be in that first Blood and Guts, which ended up getting postponed for a year.”
Matt Hardy Talks Nearing End of AEW Contract, Legacy Aspirations, Thoughts on Winding Down, More
