Count me with the people who do not think Hardy was in the wrong. I know that he shouldn't have gone to the internet, but I think that even the nastiest gossip that goes on in a world that the WWE thinks is populated with about 100 13-year olds pales in comparison to polarizing the locker room and putting countless of co-workers in uncomfortable situations.
For those who think that Hardy has gone off the deep end in letting Edge's wife post...don't forget that this is EDGE'S WIFE. Now, I'm sure they are estranged at the moment, but to me this is a situation that has gotten even uglier because of EDGE'S WIFE, not Hardy's ally. If Edge can't keep his wife from posting this stuff on the 'net, I say give Christian his spot and send him and his buttrocker haircut packing. :)
The WWE is a publicly-traded company. In this society, a publicly-traded company is only accountable to its' shareholders. Did Edge & Lita hooking up negatively effect the product (and the company's ability to make money) on it's own? No. Matt Hardy, right or wrong, informing all of us of this on the internet did.
I understand that he's a hurt guy. I understand that this situation sucks for him. But he went online looking for sympathy (and found it), but he also opened a can of worms that have ended up costing him his job. The WWE likes making money, and Matt has made it harder for them to do that.
"Um, wasn't Matt the longest running Cruiserweight Champion on Smackdown only losing it because he was moving to Raw to be with Lita?"
No! He lost the cruiserweight title to Rey Mysterio in May 2003, and spent a full six months kicking around doing less than nothing before jobbing to Zach Gowen and jumping to Raw. He gave up nothing tangible on SmackDown to move.
"For those who think that Hardy has gone off the deep end in letting Edge's wife post...don't forget that this is EDGE'S WIFE. Now, I'm sure they are estranged at the moment, but to me this is a situation that has gotten even uglier because of EDGE'S WIFE, not Hardy's ally. If Edge can't keep his wife from posting this stuff on the 'net, I say give Christian his spot and send him and his buttrocker haircut packing. :)"
I'm pretty sure Edge no longer has the man-of-the-house sway over Lisa. And it was Hardy who posted Lisa's comments on his website, so yeah, it was his ally stirring things up again. With his help.
Sure, the incident being publicized altered the way fans react to Edge and Lita. But in the case of Edge, anyway, isn't that a good thing, seeing as how he's a heel anyway? Now (in addition to disliking his character) fans have a whole new reason to boo Edge.
Lita, being a face, is a different matter. However, it looks like there's a possibility of a quadruple-turn coming soon, with Vis and Trish turning face and Kane and Lita turning heel.
So, precisely what is the long-term damage to the way people react to Edge and Lita? Sure, there will no doubt continue to be "YOU SCREWED MATT!" chants, but it would fit right into Edge and Lita's heel personas.
In the meantime, Matt's no-compete clause is in effect until July 10 according to his internet radio interview, upon which time he can sign with TNA, ROH, a Japanese promotion or do whatever else he wants to do. Upon reflecting on this incident, I think everyone involved will be happier with this solution in the long-term. I don't think Matt would necessarily want to remain with WWE anyway, since they've basically been pissing away the prime of his career. Wouldn't it be better to see him in a position of actual value to a company, like a main-event slot in TNA or ROH?
Now if Jeff Jarrett can actually be a man and drop the title for a change...
“Hi, Haley. Look, I found all these free swords. They were in my spleen.” --Elan, The Order of the Stick
Four-Time Wiener of the Day (5/27/02; 7/3/02; 7/30/04; 8/28/04)
The Only Five-Time (and Last) N.E.W. World Heavyweight Champion
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I still find it hilarious people think they can look at someone and know they're on steroids. It really is quite funny. Not just here, but every person I have ever met in my life looks at someone with muscles and says he's on steroids. Even if they have no fucking clue what steroids are, or how they affect the body. They must think they have x-ray vision that analyzes the pee of everyone they look at. Visiting one natural bodybuilding competition would be a nice field trip for some of these know-it-all-who-actually-don't-know-shit.
(edited by Hogan's My Dad on 22.4.05 1218) Hot Virgins-The World's Most Steadily Shrinking Commodity
Assessing someone in WWE, the company where Daivari the 170 lb. manager who wears a suit has gyno, almost infinitely increases the odds of one being right.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroAssessing someone in WWE, the company where Daivari the 170 lb. manager who wears a suit has gyno, almost infinitely increases the odds of one being right.
"170 lb manager who wears a suit yet has gyno," sorry. As in, this is a guy playing the Arab Jimmy Hart and who until last week never had to take his shirt off, but still feels he has to be in otherwordly cosmetic shape. Unless you were asking me to find a picture or are just trying to make me giggle and type "is developing 'bitch tits.'"
Originally posted by JustinShapiro"170 lb manager who wears a suit yet has gyno," sorry. As in, this is a guy playing the Arab Jimmy Hart and who until last week never had to take his shirt off, but still feels he has to be in otherwordly cosmetic shape. Unless you were asking me to find a picture or are just trying to make me giggle and type "is developing 'bitch tits.'"
(edited by JustinShapiro on 22.4.05 1641)
It is pretty amazing how in shape a lot of the non-wrestlers are. After a house show in Texas, I went out for a beer and Randy Orton, some unknown girl, and Mike Chioda walked into the bar. Chioda had on a mostly-unbuttoned silk shirt and was pretty muscular. He also looked like a gigolo, but maybe I'm just a bumpkin and that's how people in New York dress.
(edited by asteroidboy on 22.4.05 1621) -- Asteroid Boy
Does anyone know what Daivari was doing before the WWE? From his match with HBK, I was under the impression he has at least had wrestling training, especially after that leg drop off the top turnbuckle.
I dunno. Just because he’s not in a role where he’s expected to wrestle, that doesn’t mean he can’t be in shape to do so or won’t become one eventually (see also: Coach, Rico, Raven, DDP).
Originally posted by big ast extreme boyAfter a house show in Texas, I went out for a beer and Randy Orton, some unknown girl, and Mike Chioda walked into the bar.
Okay so Randy Orton, Mike Chioda, and a rat walk into a bar. Bartender says I'm Scott Hall I drink alcohol lol.
Originally posted by The PhantomJust because he’s not in a role where he’s expected to wrestle, that doesn’t mean he can’t be in shape to do so or won’t become one eventually
Daivari is a trained wrestler. My point was, in increments, it looks like Daivari has gyno, because Daivari is on steroids, even though he's a manager and doesn't take his shirt off, yet he's taking steroids, because practically everybody in the company is on steroids, even the Daivari type guys who you wouldn't think need to, but they feel they need to, so it's not exactly a "J'ACCUSE!" situation to say that someone in WWE uses steroids.
Originally posted by Hogan's My DadI still find it hilarious people think they can look at someone and know they're on steroids. It really is quite funny. Not just here, but every person I have ever met in my life looks at someone with muscles and says he's on steroids. Even if they have no fucking clue what steroids are, or how they affect the body. They must think they have x-ray vision that analyzes the pee of everyone they look at. Visiting one natural bodybuilding competition would be a nice field trip for some of these know-it-all-who-actually-don't-know-shit.
(edited by Hogan's My Dad on 22.4.05 1218)
I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that we see clear before and after proof (see Eddie Guerrero, Triple H). And there are, in fact, quite a bit of physical changes you can SEE, separate from muscle gain. Edge, you can see, looks DIFFERENT. He had the bacne, the new rugged jaw, the strangely-deeper voice....I mean it's all right there. AND the muscle gain, of course. If you can't look at Kurt Angle, Eddie Guerrero, Edge, Triple H, etc. etc. and figure out that they have used steroids, well then you just have to look harder.
Plus guys like Edge have admitted to taking them. I remember on OTR he said that he took them before but stopped because he didn't like how he felt with the extra mass. Then the asked Christian if he took steriods, he just smiled and said "Next question". Then they all laughed outloud because Christian will be as impotent as a Nevada boxing commissioner, and apparently they all found that really funny.
Originally posted by Tribal Prophet Then the asked Christian if he took steriods, he just smiled and said "Next question". Then they all laughed outloud because Christian will be as impotent as a Nevada boxing commissioner, and apparently they all found that really funny.
Tribal Prophet
LOL !!!
The first wrestler that always immediately pops in my head when I think of drastically changed wrestlers is WCW Billy Kidman and WWE Billy Kidman.
I liked him alot better when he had the thin bodied, long hair trailer trash look rather than the dull cookie cutter "Joe Body-Builder" look that he has now.
"This just got a hell of a lot better." - Stifler, American Pie
Originally posted by KevintripodThe first wrestler that always immediately pops in my head when I think of drastically changed wrestlers is WCW Billy Kidman and WWE Billy Kidman.
I liked him alot better when he had the thin bodied, long hair trailer trash look rather than the dull cookie cutter "Joe Body-Builder" look that he has now.
I think that's something that the WWE misses time and again. People find it easier to relate to people like WCW Kidman than they do the WWE Kidman.
I remember Ron Jeremy saying in an interview somewhere (Sureal Life?) that once he wasn't trying to be a muscleman and just a regular looking guy, his demand went shooting up, no puns intended. I know pro-wrestling isn't the same as pornography, but I think that the basic idea of what he's saying has something to it. Vince is still, maybe even more than before, looking for only bodybuilders to be the top guys in wrestling. He's still marketing it for kids, as if every wrestler has to look like one of the friggin' X-Men. People in their 20's can relate to guys like Matt Hardy more than Masters. Matt looked (relative to other wrestlers) like the kind of regular guy that you could see sitting at a bar. Masters looks like the kind of preppy musclebound douche that steals your girlfriend at the bar and makes out with her right in front of you. (But, that's my issue, and I'm dealing with it....)
(Another recent Matt Hardy interview posted on www.PWTorch.com)
Matt says that he is flattered that there are so many people who care about what happened to Matt in his personal life, and he appreciates the online petitions and other internet support.
His knee is back to normal, and Matt is "good to go" and ready to return to the ring.
V1 was Matt's favorite character because the ideas were mostly his, and he took his character further than anyone expected. Had people gotten behind it, he said, he could have gone even further. It was a lot of fun for him, because it was the first time he had a chance to be a singles wrestler and to prove his worth on his own. He had a great time behind the scenes working with Shannon Moore.
While his no-compete expires on July 11, Matt is available for autograph signings and personal appearances.
Because of the popularity of the site www.thematthardy.com, his Webmaster Kirby is looking for a new web server and the site should be up in a few days.
Matt said that the WWE never asked him to remove his website. While he said he didn't think they had a problem with him because he's an "internet guy," he believes that the WWE does not utilize the net to their advantage.
"If you don't believe in the power of the internet all you have to do is to go back to last week's Raw, where Amy Dumas was in the ring and the crowd was chanting ‘You screwed Matt.,' ‘We want Matt.' Over 20,000 people in MSG. That's a definite sign of the power of the internet because that's where the story got started "
Matt then discussed how he was loyal to the WWE, and even honored an appearance a week after his surgery despite the pain. When he was rehabbing his knee all of the drama unfolded.
On the Matt-Amy-Adam bizarre love triangle:
"Then there's a situation where you've got a guy – Adam Copeland – who's married already and he's committing adultery with my girlfriend. And this situation isn't reprimanded and I'm the one sitting at home and they end up taking the cheap way out by getting rid of me."
"The situation was going to get out regardless, I mean we are all in the public eye. Once it started coming out in bits and pieces on the internet I went ahead and addressed it because I was not going to look like the bad guy. Especially with my situation with Amy because Amy and I never had any problems in our relationship at all. It always was just smooth sailing ‘till the day that I found out about this and she was asked to leave the house. Everything was smooth sailing, there was never a problem, never a fight, never an argument, never anything."
On the WWE's decision to release him:
"For those guy's to take the cheap way out and release we while I'm sitting at home, coming off such terrible circumstances is just really bad business."
Matt said that WWE management never addressed the Lita/Edge situation with him, but once they found out about the story they wanted it to be worked out between the three of them. When Matt was released he was at the point where he was social with Amy, and could did not care about Adam. If he had gone to back to Smackdown, there would have never been a problem. However, WWE management never contacted him and tried to work things out; instead, when they did get a hold of him, it was to notify him of the release.
Matt discussed he's not going to leave the wrestling scene and that TNA is an option and there are other companies out there that he would like to work for and that he has heard from "almost everybody you can think of" about wrestling for them. He is excited about working in the six-sided ring.
Matt was brief when asked about the job of John Laurenaitis taking over for Jim Ross as VP of Talent Relations:
"I'll just say that JR brought me in, and I loved working with JR. And I really missed JR [working] in his position.
Matt said that the Hardy Boyz were not the most dominating tag-team, but that they did help make tag team wrestling "cool" again. They also sold more merchandise that any other tag-team.
He said that he was with Shannon on the night of his accident in South Carolina, and that he was lucky that he wasn't driving his sports car because they could have been injured even worse. He also cleared up the rumor that he slashed Edge's tires in Columbia were slashed, stating that he was in Fayetteville with Shannon and Edge was three hours away. It would not surprise Matt if Edge slashed his own tires.
The alleged comments making the rounds by Triple H did not hurt Matt's feelings. Matt called the comments "petty" and mentioned that drew money both as a tag team with Jeff, and as well as a singles wrestler. He always had one of the loudest reactions, and sold more merchandise than any other WWE tag team. Plus he was never put in a position to draw money as a World Champion, so he thinks the comments are ridiculous.
Matt closed the interview plugging his appearance and mentioned that he is working on a comprehensive DVD to chronicle The Hardy Boyz's career.
Sounds like Triple-H possibly made some really prickish and unnecessary parting shots at Matt after he was terminated.
Wonder if Matt will have any trouble getting Vince to allow him to use any of the WWE's Hardy Boyz video footage for his DVD...especially when Jeff is in TNA and Matt might not be too far behind.
"This just got a hell of a lot better." - Stifler, American Pie
Thread ahead: The Brood is coming back! (i.e. Gangrel signed to contract) Next thread: TNA Wrestlers on the ECW: One Night Stand PPV? Previous thread: your WWE SMACKDOWN COMIX- 5/5/2005
WrestleMania.com already has Angle vs. Jericho listed as the main event. Is this a spoiler for the Jericho/Austin match or is someone working overtime to keep that site up-to-date?