Matt Hardy was on Between The Ropes last Friday (available online and originally broadcast on Central Florida’s Sports Radio 740 The Team). According to a report sent to us by Adam Samons, Hardy called the boxing match with Evander Holyfield “the most intimidating situation he’s been in.” He said he’s leaving Summerslam as United States Champion, and talked about how happy he is currently with his career, was close to not coming back to WWE during the Edge/Lita situation (although he’s past that), and would rather be a singles wrestler than a tag wrestler at this point. Some notable quotes:
I feel like I’m at a great place. Smackdown has really been plagued by injuries over the course of the summer and I feel like it has given me an opportunity to step up. Almost every week I’ve been in a 20 minute match, and while I am working against MVP a lot of people have perceived me as the MVP of Smackdown recently… I’m excited to have that chance and have tried to make the most of it.
I think the people respect us [him and Jeff]. Wrestling fans are really loyal, they remember all the ladder matches, table matches, the TLC matches, and all the things we’ve put our bodies through. We’ve given them everything from our bodies and souls to entertain them and they remember that and respect that.
It’s tough, just because tag team wrestling isn’t something that is a priority in the WWE. One thing that I tell the guys they should do is for each member to find their own identity… They should really try and single out personality traits within the persona and still have something for the team … A lot of the guys are newer and don’t have a lot of experience, so they’re learning on the job and that’s what I think slows a lot of the newer tag teams down.
In other news:
– Matt “Rosey” Anoai, clarifying a recent report that WWE fired him due to his weight, wrote to PWInsider.com to say that while weight didn’t help his career, he’s never complained that’s why WWE released him, and was upset with media reports saying as much. Of course, he also said that losing weight will help him come back more confident, and as we reported yesterday, he wrestled a dark match last night at RAW, and our own Kace Evers says that he looked much thinner.
– WrestlingObserver.com reported that the fake HHH last night was former ECW star Chris Hamrick.
– New WWE developmental signee Lacey Von Erich posted the following today on her MySpace blog:
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Lets bring old scool back to WWE
I was signed by WWE and so far my wrestling experience has been amazing, I really feel like I was born for it…. BUT all they want the girls to do is dress like trashy and pull hair… I would rather wrestle like daddy and do back flips off the ropes! I feel like a lot of the girls have talent but we can’t show it as much… So if I don’t represent the Von Erich family like I should its not my fault…. I will do MY BEST to bring back how it was… Love everyone who supports our family!!!
Fiesty!
– According to PWInsider.com, WWE’s free Venice Beach, CA, event this past weekend attracted an estimated 19-20,000 people for giveaways, autograph signings and outdoor matches (and yes, WWE had cameras there).
– Also from PWInsider, a fund was set up for Brian Adams, to help offset the expenses of his memorial services taking place later this week:
Brian Adams Memorial and Family Fund
Bank of America
4918 Anniston Circle
Tampa, FL 33647
