TNA World Tag Team Champion Matt Hardy discussed various topics, including Josh Alexander’s AEW debut, during an episode of his podcast “Extreme Life of Matt Hardy.”
Hardy said, “I was very happy for Josh Alexander to get that opportunity to go to AEW. I got to work with him. I got to know him a little bit. I’d never met him, I’d never been around him previously. So being able to get to know him a little bit, and his wife and his kids. And his kids actually like my kids. We were all in Winston-Salem more time and their kids, our kids were all playing together and going nuts for the whole show. But it was very cool that he did debut at AEW. I know he lost on his initial outing, and I haven’t seen it. I heard it was a great match, and you said it was a great match, and he still looks strong in losing. So I really can’t judge on how that was for him, because I haven’t seen it or had a chance to review any of that, besides that one clip you sent me. But I am very happy for him on a personal level and a professional level, and I’m glad he’s getting the opportunity to be on a bigger platform on AEW, and I’m glad for the opportunity to make money as well.”
On reports that Mariah May will leave AEW for WWE:
“I just think this whole thing —- I know there was a big deal when Stephanie [Vaquer] went to NXT eventually in WWE, because I know AEW was hoping to get their hands on her. And I think it’s going to be like an undeniable reality. There are a lot of people now that are in the business that grew up and they watched WWE. And that was kind of their initial love, and they’ve always had a dream and an aspiration of going to WWE and being a star there. So I understand it. And I can’t be critical of it, it is what it is. I’m sure there are some people that will want to come to AEW to work and gain notoriety and gain enough overness and fame that they could do that. So I don’t know, is that something Mariah does? I guess we’ll see. I have no idea what the actual facts of the matter are, but I do understand why there are so many people that do want to do that. And I don’t even think that’s a knock on AEW. I think that’s just there are so many people that have had these dreams of being at WWE and they really want to do it when it’s all said and done. And one thing that I’ve even said, and I said this about the Bucks at one point, I almost wish the Bucks would get an opportunity to do that at some point and be in WWE because I feel like WWE is a place you almost have to go to be considered, like in the realm of one of the greatest of all time. And that isn’t necessarily as a performer in the ring, just talking about your coverage of the promotions you’ve been in because WWE is the oldest and longest and biggest promotion that there is. And I just feel like at the end of the day, WWE is the benchmark of pro wrestling. And that doesn’t mean if you spend your entire career in Ring of Honor or AEW or TNA or whatever else, that you’re not one of the best wrestlers, that you’re not one of the greatest acts to ever do it. It just meant that you didn’t go to all the big promotions, and that’s the only reason I say that.”
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(H/T to 411Mania.com for transcribing the above quotes)
