Matt Hardy Talks Starting With WWE, How The Current Product Can Improve, Wrestling Part Time
Philly.com has an interview with Matt Hardy, who was promoting tonight's Extreme Rising Pro Wrestling's "Unfinished Business" event which takes place at the former ECW Arena in Philadelphia, PA. Here are a few highlights:
Not wrestling full time:
Ever since my brother [Jeff Hardy] and I were teenagers, we were wrestling and we started in WWE at a very young age. So we kind of grew up in that wrestling bubble and now stepping away from that it really gives you a fond appreciation of how great life really is.
Starting with WWE:
My brother and I were very fortunate to be injected into WWE television at a very high time. We started during the 'Attitude Era' and wrestling was real hot. There were so many millions of people watching every single Monday. We were very blessed by being on that television in that era. Considering that it has carried so far and so strong, it's amazing. The power of WWE television is mind-boggling. [...] It's truly flattering.
Thoughts on the current product:
I think WWE and TNA need to continue to do a sophisticated product. I think we're in such a golden age of television right now. Television programming right now, especially drama series have gone through a renaissance.
Breaking Bad, Walking Dead, Sons of Anarchy, Mad Men, whatever shows it may be there is all this great television on out there. WWE and TNA both have to say is, 'We don't compete with wrestling. We compete with these great drama series and what we have to do when we're telling our stories is that we cannot insult our fans' intelligence. We have to tell sophisticated stories, have continuity and make sense.'
Extreme Rising Pro Wrestling's "Unfinished Business" takes place tonight at the former ECW Arena, 7 W. Ritner Street (Corners of Swanson & Ritner) in Philadelphia, PA Bell time is 7pm, doors open at 6pm. There will be a fan fest from 2pm – 4pm. You can get more information or purchase tickets at extremetixs.com.
Source: Philly.com