WWE legend and TNA Star Matt Hardy has shared a shocking story from his pre-WWE career when an independent wrestling match in 1997 nearly erupted into a legitimate fight after an opponent deliberately endangered his brother Jeff Hardy.
On the latest episode of his “Extreme Life of Matt Hardy” podcast, Hardy recounted the dangerous incident that occurred while performing at a motorcycle rally on unpadded clay ground shortly before The Hardy Boyz signed with WWE. Matt set the scene for what would become one of the most volatile situations of his early career.
We were wrestling at a motorbike rally on hard clay ground with no padding.
The trouble began when one of their opponents insisted on catching Jeff Hardy during a planned dive over the top rope, despite Matt’s reservations.
I remember telling Jeff, ‘Well, we have some pretty big things coming up. Maybe we could do something different there. We want to make sure that he’s safe.’ And he [the opponent] said, ‘Look at me. I’m big. Of course, I’ll catch you.’
What happened next nearly sparked a dangerous confrontation.
He ran and dove out. And this guy completely sidestepped him overhand, I don’t think he did anything. And Jeff just smacked [the clay]. I mean, it almost felt like that [purposeful] in some ways… I don’t know. He either did it purposely or he was an idiot, one or the other.
According to Matt Hardy, Jeff immediately retaliated and the situation escalated quickly when their opponent challenged them to a legitimate fight.
Jeff went and punted this guy in the ribs the hardest I’ve ever seen him punt anybody. I mean, he lifted him off the ground. And Jeff kicked him again twice, because Jeff was hot. That guy came over yelling, ‘Motherf***er, you trying to shoot? Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go… You want to fight? Let’s f***ing fight.’
Matt Hardy described how the confrontation reached its breaking point.
Jeff dropkicks him in the side of the head, like right in the temple as hard as he could, a thrust kick. And that guy gets knocked out and down.
The Hardys abruptly ended the match and evacuated the venue with Shane Helms standing guard with an improvised weapon to ensure their safety.
Matt Hardy Shares His Bar Fight Dream Team
TNA Star Matt Hardy has named the wrestlers he’d want by his side in a bar fight, and it’s a formidable line up including current WWE stars Jacob Fatu and Bron Breakker and legends such as Haku.
H/t to 411mania.com