The mystery of Mattitude: escaping the shadow of his flashy brother, the older Hardy has emerged as a singles standout - Interview: Matt Hardy

Wrestling Digest, August, 2003 by Chris Yandek

AT ONE TIME, BOTHERS MATT and Jeff Hardy were the top tag team in WWE.

But like so many great duos--Martin & Lewis, Sonny & Cher, and Tom & Nicole--they were destined to go their separate ways.

As singles wrestlers, younger brother Jeff initially received more of a push, but in the last year, Matt, with his Version 1.0 and Mattitude gimmicks quickly gained more heat and momentum.

With Jeff's sudden dismissal from the federation in May, 28-year-old Matt is the sole Hardy in WWE. We sat down with Matt recently to discuss the transition from tag-teamer to solo wrestler, the book he penned with his brother, and his relationship in and out of the ring with Lita.

WRESTLING DIGEST: Before your brother was released from WWE, you guys penned a book, "The Hardy Boyz: Exist 2 Inspire." What inspired you two to write a book?

MATT HARDY: Well, the original reason we wrote "Exist to Inspire" was because we were honored to have the opportunity to be the first tag team in WWE to write an autobiography. I think it says a lot for our level of popularity. It was quite an honor to do it. Although we are both young, we went through all the trials and tribulations to get into WWE because we didn't have any connections or family in the business. We had a tough journey, but any journey that is tough can be rewarding. I wouldn't change anything and I have no regrets. That is basically the story of our life and career. It is really interesting and emotional. It makes you laugh and cry, and overall it is a great story.

There have been numerous rumors about you since your WWE debut. Did you address all those stories in the book?

MH: We tried to. I definitely wanted to make the book look honest I didn't want to sugarcoat things, dance around subjects. Every Internet rumor that has been pegged on the Hardy Boyz--our relationship with Lita, Jeff and his passion, and Jeff and the alleged drug use--we tried to hit every topic head on. I think we did a good job with it.

WD: You and Jeff were a jobber tag team of sorts for years in WWE. What led to you guys getting your big break?

MH: I think the thing that really made us stand out was we were coming in and doing jobs, working as extras and doing anything else they needed us to do. Whenever we got in the ring, we didn't try to go in there and say that we could do this move and that move and this. If guys had some spot or, move they wanted to do to us, we would just take the spectacular bump. It would be something people would see and think "Wow they took an amazing bump. Did you see how they got thrown out to the floor?" It would be just something that stands out and got their attention. After we did that for a few matches in a row, people started thinking we were a little different from everyone else. We were just trying to catch somebody's eyes--and we did it

WD: How much have you enjoyed your singles push, which culminated with you winning the WWE cruiserweight championship?

MH: The whole WWE cruiserweight championship I consider an honor. Anytime you hold a title in the wrestling business, it says the office has confidence in you to carry and be a champion. It was a fun storyline for me to wrestle and beat Billy Kidman for the WWE cruiserweight championship.

WD: What are your thoughts on your Wrestlemania XIX victory over Rey Mysterio Jr.?

MH: Mysterio Jr. is a phenomenal talent and he really is the pioneer of the whole WWE cruiserweight division. He brought all his lucha libre trying to beat Matt Hardy Version 1.0. I think the match was off the charts. We were given the right amount of time, and I think we stole the show.

WD: Do you prefer tag-team or singles wrestling, and have you enjoyed the push with the Matt Version 1.0 storyline, replete with true Matt Hardy facts?

MH: Yeah, I definitely have enjoyed the push I have received in singles. I feel since now that I am wrestling as a singles wrestler, I am now getting some credit I didn't get when I was with the Hardy Boyz. Jeff did so many amazing moves and was just such a flashy wrestler. It is kind of what stood out about the Hardy Boyz. Once I got a chance to go alone and get some character development with the Matt Hardy Version 1.0 and as the founder of Mattitude, it has been a lot of fun and has caught on.

I can't tell you how happy I am to do it, as it is a good change of pace. It is fun to have a character change after you have been doing the extreme thing for so many years. Everything that has made my storyline go has been my creative ideas, and I take a lot of pride in that. The Matt Facts were actually presented to me by the office. Every week I get to come up with those, and that is probably one of the most fun parts of my day, coming up with my own facts. I have hundreds left to go.

WD: What are your thoughts on the WWE brand extension between "Raw" and "Smackdown," which had you and your brother wrestling on different programs? Do you think it has benefited the company?

MH: I think the brand extension is a really good thing. I think it gives guys a chance that really never had a chance before because we have so many guys under contract in this company right now. Vince McMahon said to all the wrestlers, "I think the brand extension is going to be a good thing. I think we're going to have to take two steps back and then take one step forward, but in the end it is going to be good." I agree with him completely on that. It is a new concept. I think people were so spoiled because they were used to seeing all their stars on Monday and Thursday, and then you take it and split the guys up. Now people have to see both shows to see all their stars. Some people only see one show, and they are not so happy. It takes awhile for people to adjust to it, but I think now people are adjusting to it. In the future, if you can build two different promotions and brands, then you have lots of dream matches and inter-promotional feuds down the line.