"Going to force them" - Matt Hardy comments on how AEW will push WWE to bring significant change
Matt Hardy shocked the wrestling world when he left WWE and signed with AEW in 2020. The veteran has been featured in the latter promotion ever since, but he remains connected to WWE, given his lengthy run there. Given the competition between the two companies, Hardy has a unique perspective on their differences.
While speaking on the most recent The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, the star opened up about the comparisons between AEW and WWE. According to the 47-year-old, AEW has a long way to go before it'll be able to catch up to WWE.
"They’re huge. They just made their biggest profit ever, over one billion dollars. So I think AEW is just offering an alternative and we’re taking a different approach," Hardy said. " The way we present wrestling and how it really has a diehard audience, that’s something that is going to be good for WWE. It’s going to force them to freshen up their product and do new things as well." (H/T: Wrestling Inc.)
Comparisons between AEW and WWE once again surged when Cody Rhodes officially left the latter promotion. Given Hardy's status as an ex-WWE star, he was asked the above via a Q&A session on his podcast.
Matt Hardy feels that WWE wants to tell every single part of the stories
: linktr.ee/matthardypodSometimes...families get broken.
Please, join us this week as @MATTHARDYBRAND cordially asks for your attendance... @JonAlba @IsiahKassidy @Marq_Quen @PodHeat #DawsonsCreek
📺🎧: linktr.ee/matthardypod https://t.co/Y4iTtR3uqk
During the same podcast, Hardy went on to criticize WWE's extensive involvement in storylines. The veteran went on to compare his creative freedom in TNA and ROH to the way AEW books its programming. The Broken One also highlighted how WWE forces its athletes to play characters in storylines that are not relatable to them in real life.
"I feel like WWE has gone a little too specific, where they want to tell every single part of this story but sometimes the person is performing a persona and it’s not really true to them," said Hardy. "They don’t feel comfortable doing it, sometimes it shows." (H/T: Wrestling Inc.)
Matt Hardy has thrived at the highest level in multiple promotions, so he has valuable insight into the wrestling industry.
Do you agree with Hardy's comments? Sound off below.