Impressed with Matt Hardy?

[wwenba]

I was wondering out of those who watch TNA on a regular basis how many of you are impressed with Matt Hardy. I was sure him coming in would be a mistake and really just a waste of space. I didn’t see him as a detriment as much as seeing him as just a complete non-factor.

However, if any of you have seen the last two ppv’s Matt Hardy has had arguably the best match on both cards.
Sure, he didn’t have that much competition from the other matches on the card but even without comparing it to the rest of the card he had two impressive matches with both RVD and AJ Styles.

From a singles standpoint, it was some of the best matches I’ve seen from Hardy.

Normally, I would chalk up his great match with AJ Styles as just giving credit to Styles because he can make his opponents look good but considering he had one of, if not the best match, on the previous PPV also, I figure I’ll give him the credit for putting on two great show stealing matches in a row.

Not to mention, I set the bar pretty low with him coming in so I can’t help but be impressed with what I perceive to be his overachievements the past two PPV’s.

Anyone else impressed with Matt Hardy, specifically from an in-ring standpoint?

Also, TNA has also seemed to take notice by deciding to actually package him with a gimmick of the whole “Cold Blooded” Matt Hardy. He has been living off the Hardy Boyz name way to long and even WWE hadn’t packaged him with any particular gimmick in a really long time since way back in the Mattitude days.

 

[iwinulose]

there are many who are hating on matt hardy, but he is doing preh good in tna so far. he has had some good matches. tna is actually doing something with matt hardy which is more then wwe did, so for matt hardy fans (like myself) im glad to see him doing well finally. he could use some more matches of course, just stealing the show at main events doesnt entirely cut it, but still, he is doing well for himself now. maybe now that jeff is "on the shelf" matt hardy will get some more air-time and more of a push.

 

[deforty]

I've always thought Matt was the better wrestler of the two which he has been showing he just doesn't have that good of an on air persona, the best one he had was his feud with MVP. He does decent in the ring all the time and I am glad TNA is actually allowing him to have his own gimmick, I just hope they don't put him in the spot his brother had and I hope they allow him to stay where he is and not be punished for what his brother has done. I like it, he does look weird though sometimes with his legs, but that can be attributed to the abuse put on his body for all those years in WWE, but who knows.

 

[Big Nick Dudley]

I'm a huge Matt Hardy hater, not going to lie about it. I've always found him worthless, and nothing more than a sidekick. For the last several years, he's been a crybaby, and he's never in decent shape.

Since coming to TNA, he's really gotten himself into better physical condition, no question. His gut is still there, but he has a lot more definition now, and looks stronger/faster.

HOWEVER, his matches have been overrated by just about everyone. He's had one solid match, and that was at VR against A.J. Come on people, AJ can get a solid match out of a broom handle. It wasn't that great, and neither was Matt. If you compare that match to the rest of that shit card, than yes, it was amazing.

His character hasn't been anything worth talking about. This Cold Blooded thing has gone nowhere, it hasn't been given any time to develop, so how could I possibly think it's any good? All I have to go on is Matt's history with characters, and it's not a good one.

So a 1/3 of me says yes, he's in much better shape. However, 2/3 of me says I'm not impressed, at all. Matches against anyone other than AJ haven't been great, and his character sucks. Whatever, it's Matt Hardy. He's going to piss and moan through his last breath, so it doesn't really matter what I think.

 

[Nate DaMac]

Yeah impressed isn't the word I would use. I think the term "moderately amused" would better suit my feelings on the situation. Yes he has gotten in better shape(amazing what you can do when there's no Wellness Policy in effect) but his ring work has only improved marginally. I'll admit it's better than it was the last 6 months or so he spent in the WWE, but that's not saying much.

His mic work hasn't improved in the slightest. I just don't understand how anyone could let this dude in front of a camera. He just rambles and rambles incoherently with absolutely no direction whatsoever. The worst part is his promos are usually filmed backstage and still, someone watches this and thinks, "Yeah this is ok to put on the air."

He had one good match with AJ at Victory Road but let's face it, if it wasn't for the rest of that PPV being a complete abortion, no one would remember this match. Besides, AJ has good matches with everyone.

So no, I'm not that impressed.

 

[Papa Pillman]

I'm impressed by how serious Matt seems to be taking this "second life" for his career. The youtube videos have allowed him to come up with a character that TNA has let him use, and it seems to be working for him.

It is obvious that he has made a commitment from a physical standpoint to get into better shape. This has helped lead to an improvement in the ring that has also coincided with him getting more comfortable moving further away from the "WWE-style". He seems to look better every set of tapings. He is transforming into more of a powerful technician in the ring, to hide the fact that he is no longer(if he ever was) a "high-flyer". Also as an aside to all the people who love to label Matt the "second-rope superstar", he has also been performing top-rope moonsaults in most matches(and even bit it a couple times), dispelling the rumor that he is now scared/unwilling to take bumps from the top.

I hope the Jeff situation doesn't hinder Matt in any way, because he seems to be improving and doing well so far.

 

[aphazel1]

I've been impressed by Matt's performace since "crossing the line," I had high hopes & he hasn't dropped the ball. He's always been a solid in-ring talent & I'm looking forward to TNA utilizing those skills. My problem is that I think TNA has minimized his entrance into the company....he's faded into the background of Immortal & the over 50 crowd does not seem too eager to share the spotlight.

 

[Calderownz]

Honestly, I've felt that Matt was the better wrestler of the two. However, I also thought he was awful as of late. His hair also set a tone about as pleasant as an American Idol audition.

That being said, he has impressed me as of late. His promo alongside Flair wasn't bad. It wasn't laughable, at least. It was decent. Room to improve, but decent. And his match with AJ Styles at Victory Road was actually the match of the night, in my opinion.

If he keeps that up and keeps working at his speaking skills, he could actually be a decent add to the TNA roster. I could actually see something cool happening with Matt.

Maybe he takes the spot of Jeff Hardy and people forget about Jeff, thus allowing him to get clean. When Jeff finally comes back, he can get cheered (which is more natural for him, anyway) and you have an instant feud. Decent enough idea, anyway.

Regardless, he also impressed me on Impact a few times. Not too shabby. Flabby, but not shabby.

 

[Guyzwitgunz]

Damn, haven't posted on here in a while, will need to whip my good grammar out. Anyway,

For the last few months, or ever since Jeff hardy was arrested I have lost basically all the admiration I had for the Hardy's. I didn't like what they were doing in the buisness and out of it, basically I think right now they are both just lowlife junkies who don't deserve support from anyone. But I have looked at some of the stuff Matt Hardy has done and have to agree he is better now, he has lost some of the weight he had in WWE, hasn't looked out of it or any of that stuff he does in his personal life has not really crossed over into his in ring career in TNA.

So for Matt, I have a little more respect for him now for his in ring performance (can't say the same about outside wrestling though) and I really hope he can pull himself together and get out of this junkie lifestyle that has really affected him and his brother.

Can't say the same for the other one though. Fire him and until he sorts his (expletive deleted) out I don't want to see him in the wrestling biz anymore.

 

[UltimateHitman]

I'm going to give my kudos to Matt Hardy here. I've done it a couple of times already, but I'm not afraid to do it again.

I've never been much of a Hardy fan. Not the Hardy Boyz, not the singles careers, etc. I always thought Matt was the more solid of the two (no fat jokes, please...) but I've never been excited over them. Have I enjoyed matches of theirs? Of course. Have I sat and watched their matches and not been bored? Yes, again. I just didn't search out their stuff. Just one of those weird things where I don't think they're bad, just not "pumped" about them.

I was skeptical about him coming in, I'll admit that. I thought "Good God, man. That'd be a waste of money. TNA, don't even think about bringing him in". Watching a couple of his Youtube videos made me shake my head and think "What the hell is he doing? He looks like a jackass", and when he debuted I wasn't impressed w/the unnatural feel of his persona/gimmick. He does seem to be getting more comfortable w/the role, though, and working on making it feel a little more believable and credible.

Matt Hardy has definitely impressed me in his TNA run so far. He's lost a good deal of the weight he put on. People seem to forget that he's had digestive problems and has had to re-arrange his entire diet. I dare anybody that loves a greasy burger or a sloppy pizza or has enjoyed the same diet for years to switch it around to greens, vegetables, and a substitute or two. Speaking from a guy that's been dieting for a short time now, that shit ain't easy. It's damn hard to resist the urge to grab something I know is crap for me, because it tastes so damn good (which I still do from time to time, hence the need for a lengthier diet). Nobody knows the extent that he's had to change it around but I know from experience it can be frustrating.

Another thing is his ring work. He's adjusted it to a more paced, methodical approach with a spot here and there, and I think it's working. Sure, it's not going to get any match of the year awards or Michaels/Taker type reviews, but it's not horrible and it's definitely watchable and enjoyable for what it is. And you never know, as his body adjusts more and he works more, it may just even get better. Can't ask for too much more than that.

Last thing I want to point out is his attitude (mattitude?). He legitimately seems to be putting forth a huge effort and seems honestly passionate about his job. If you watch him out there w/Immortal, even if he's not talking and/or in the background, he's usually doing something and seems excited to be out there. He's not just standing there staring or looking static or even out of place, he's using body language, facial expressions, etc. I honestly believe he's giving a crap about his career, his position, and doing a good job. And that earns him respect more than his brother who's pissing it all away w/the drugs, and even that over the top freak attitude he kept evolving more and more w/the damn day glo face paint and wanna be Raven appearance.

So, to answer the question, I have been impressed w/Matt since his debut in TNA and actually do not mind seeing him on my tv. I actually enjoy it. I like watching him much more than his last few years in WWE, and I even contemplated the possibility of owning a Matt Hardy TNA shirt in the future (probably not, though. With the exception of a Kurt Angle and a Boogeyman shirt, I don't usually like shirts that have the actual wrestler on it somewhere. I think it's hokey. But you never know, if I see it at Gabe's for a dollar like I found Kurt's, or see it in a yard sale or on ebay for a buck or two, I may just sport one some day...)

 

[classicviolence]

As a big Matt Hardy fan (in the beginning) I was mortified by his debut match in TNA. It was far from a terrible match, but it was not good either.

Now Matt Hardy "Cold Blood", I do like. The gimmick is kinda silly, and his "serious" promos are funny to listen to. The gimmick change is impressive but his ring work is still lacking since he left the E' and the fact that he let his little brother do something so stupid recently made me not like him as much anymore.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

Yeah, he has impressed me. He has a long way to go but so far Hardy seems to be re-energised and actually enjoying his in-ring work again.

He was never shit in the ring, but he was never amazing. I do not expect that to change but the updated look and new "Cold Blooded" character have made me interested in Matt Hardy again.

He seems to have gotten into better shape and has had good matches on the last 2 PPVs so well done to him. I hope to see the improvement continue and hope that Matt can become the main eventer he has always claimed he should be. With his brother out of the picture now Matt has a chance to move up the ranks in Immortal and impress enough to convince management that he is worthy of a main event spot in TNA.

I hope he gets it. I used to be a massive Hardyz fan and I hope at least one of them can get his head right and go on to make the most of the 2nd chance TNA have given him. If either of the brothers will turn it around, it will be Matt.

 

[Brettman3]

Im not a huge TNA fan but i was watching the other day when Matt Hardy was in a Handicap match with Flair. Unfotunatly I was not very impressed with Matt, I felt that he was completely over shadowed on the mic by The Nature Boy and did'nt look any better in the ring than when he was mid-carding in WWE.

I think Matt is always going to be a Mid-Card wrestler and he gets the job done at that level. He can't compete in the ring or on the mic with the likes of Mr Kenne...erm...Anderson and AJ etc.

I still Think Matt's big chance was his return to WWE with the whole lita-edge-hardy business and while Matt blew his big chance Edge continued to rise. Also Matt probably wont be helped by the Jeff stuff which is a shame.

To sum up Matt Hardy= Decent Mid-Carder Forever!

 

[RD_21]

Yeah impressed isn't the word I would use. I think the term "moderately amused" would better suit my feelings on the situation. Yes he has gotten in better shape(amazing what you can do when there's no Wellness Policy in effect) but his ring work has only improved marginally.QUOTE]

THAT, is getting really annoying. People think he is starting to work more or take it seriously now, but Matt said it time and time again and now he is proving is haters wrong. Matt said for a year that since his surgery he had trouble getting his weight under control even if he was trainning at the gym an hour a day.

He couldn't digest red meat anymore and his doctor found it a couple of months ago (3-4), he is now on a new diet with no red meat and started losing weight ever since. To suggest that he is on steroid or that he was lazy on WWE is plain stupid when you consider that he was used as a stepping stone in WWE because they knew they could rely on him.

Maybe you hate him because of his youtube vids, but that was a work to get out of his contract and get people to hate him, so I think he is good after all.

As for myself I have been really impress with him so far and I think his promo against AJ at the impact outside of the impact zone was quite good and I can't believe people still say he can't cut a promo to save his life.

Anyway haters gonna hate.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Impressed? No. Not by a long shot.

I will give Matt Hardy credit in getting himself into better shape and that he does seem to be taking his job in TNA seriously. Any sort of improvement is a good thing.

However, Matt Hardy is still the same average guy in the ring and below average guy on the mic in TNA as he was in WWE. Hardy has done nothing whatsoever since coming to TNA to alter my overall perception of him. He's had a couple of good matches in TNA but that's hardly reason to be impressed. He had some good matches in WWE every so often as well.

Matt Hardy is extremely overrated and, aside from the improvement of his physical conditioning, there's just really nothing to be overly impressed about. At his best, he's still average inside the ring and he's still quite bad on the mic.

 

[MancMark]

Have I been impressed with him? Not especially.

His match with AJ on the PPV was a good match, but then I could probably put on a decent enough match with AJ. If AJ had carried Matt any longer he would have put his back out. But in seriousness, it was a good match. As it should have been.

I'll give him credit for getting in better shape than he was. He still has the gut, but he clearly looks a bit bigger. Whether or not he's been roiding isn't for me to say.

However, what's worse than his ring work and even worse than his physical condition ever was, is his mic skills (or lack thereof) and his stupid new gimmick. He's trying so hard to force this cold blood thing over, but it's getting nowhere and receiving no reaction whatsoever. I don't even understand why he needs a gimmick. Just be Matt Hardy, one half of a really popular tag team. If he has even a shred of charisma, that should be enough. The serious promos really make me laugh, and they shouldn't. If this gimmick gets over then I'll eat half a ton of elephant shit.

 

[achromat666]

If I had a term I would like to see eliminated from slang in general it's haters. Haters gonna hate as an expression is meaningless and generally excuses awful behavior. Being used in terms outside of it's slang roots is just silly, not that it isn't silly otherwise.

People will like or hate who they will, especially in this business. Opinions about performers or companies polarize quicly and are hard to change. This is also very true of the Hardy's.

I will clarify that I'm not a regular TNA viewer, but wanted to speak about Matt Hardy if I may.

This team, when they were a team, eventually suffered the fate that most teams do. They split and Jeff got the bulk of the attention and most of the main event rub.

I always thought Matt had to work harder to get attention and I think. Minus the time he spent out after the Lita/ Edge thing he stayed there the whole of his career until a few months ago, never rising much above the mid card. Jeff has gone in and out of the WWE and manages to get a world title in both it and TNA. Matt never got there and I'm still convinced he's the better of the 2.

He hasn't always risen to the task as much as I'd hoped, but he's maintained a much better work ethic than Jeff and do hope he can make something of himself in TNA.

 

[motis6955]

I'm a huge Matt Hardy hater, not going to lie about it. I've always found him worthless, and nothing more than a sidekick. For the last several years, he's been a crybaby, and he's never in decent shape.

Since coming to TNA, he's really gotten himself into better physical condition, no question. His gut is still there, but he has a lot more definition now, and looks stronger/faster.

HOWEVER, his matches have been overrated by just about everyone. He's had one solid match, and that was at VR against A.J. Come on people, AJ can get a solid match out of a broom handle. It wasn't that great, and neither was Matt. If you compare that match to the rest of that shit card, than yes, it was amazing.

His character hasn't been anything worth talking about. This Cold Blooded thing has gone nowhere, it hasn't been given any time to develop, so how could I possibly think it's any good? All I have to go on is Matt's history with characters, and it's not a good one.

So a 1/3 of me says yes, he's in much better shape. However, 2/3 of me says I'm not impressed, at all. Matches against anyone other than AJ haven't been great, and his character sucks. Whatever, it's Matt Hardy. He's going to piss and moan through his last breath, so it doesn't really matter what I think.

i agree matt hardy is still a bum he is terrible on the mic and doesnt sell good whenever it is his time to carry a match he always seems to disappoint

 

[DethMetal]

I will not lie. I've lost respect for both Hardy brothers. When I met him in 2006, he seemed like a nice guy. Matt has had an inflated ego as of late, and has done nothing but bitch. Kinda sad. They were my heroes once upon a time. However, he's doing OK in TNA. I thought it would go way worse. However I enjoy both Hardy brothers' characters. They may be utterly disappointing in reality, but as far as TNA goes, I really hope Jeff doesn't make Matt pay for his screwups. If he's really dedicated and sticks to his character, Matthew could be a world champ by the end of 2011. Also, am I the only one who thought it was a complete mistake to pair Matt and Jeff as soon as Matt got there?

 

[AntiChristDeicide]

Well, i'm impressed by Matt Hardy because his match with A.J was good. You could attribute this fact to A.J being in the match but still M.Hardy seems to care about his character in TNA and thats a good thing.

 

[RD_21]

If I had a term I would like to see eliminated from slang in general it's haters. Haters gonna hate as an expression is meaningless and generally excuses awful behavior. Being used in terms outside of it's slang roots is just silly, not that it isn't silly otherwise.

Yeah but it sometime applys to the current situation. When Matt came in TNA he clearly had lost weight I showed side by side picture of him in TNA and in WWE and people still said he was fat.

I told them Samoa Joe was fat and lazy and they got defensive saying Joe was a big man, I then showed them picture of early Joe vs current Joe and they stop replying at last.

Just like in The Miz topic some guys are saying he can't wrestle and he can't speak. Sorry but he is very good on the mic whether you like him or not and while not a Bryan Danielson he is stil quite okay in the ring.

Sometimes it's pure haters. I HATE Kofi Kingston with a passion. I just hate the guy, but even I can admit he is gifted and athletic and that's the problem I have. When someone is blinded by his hate for an individual he is an hater.

People who gives 0 credit to Matt are haters, just like people who think he is the best in the world are fanboy. Somewhere in the middle there's people who like or don't like an individual.

 

[CaptainZaltan]

Matt Hardy has not impressed me in the least since his arrival in TNA. Really, what has he done that's interesting? He went online and basically said "I'm going to be a heel now." He then showed up in TNA looking and acting exactly like the same old Matt Hardy, but with braids. Is that his gimmick? Braids? He would have been better off growing a twirly moustache. In any case, Matt has a new nickname, and a slightly new look. But where's the rest of his gimmick? What is it about his heel persona that's unique, or interesting? So far, nothing. His Matt Hardy, V 2.0 gimmick was actually superior in every way imaginable.

His matches have been standard Matt Hardy. I didn't catch his match with AJ, although anyone who can't have a 4 star match against AJ Styles is technically dead. His promo the other week with AJ and Flair was one of the worst I've seen in all of my years watching pro wrestling. How a man can be paired with Ric Flair and still deliver a stinker of a promo is beyond me, but he managed to pull it off.

Don't get me wrong, I think that Matt has (and has always had) the potential to do something with himself as a serious singles competitor. It's never too late to reinvent yourself, or to strike out on your own; Scott Steiner did it, Bully Ray is doing it right now. At the moment, however, I find it difficult to believe that anyone can think that Matt is even trying, let alone succeeding to do so. He's in a role as generic heel filler; a hired goon and sidekick to his (less talented) brother, and he doesn't seem to be particularly interested in portraying himself in any other way.

 

[midgensa]

I think for the most part Hardy has been solid in TNA. I have never been a big Matt Hardy lover. I liked the 2.0 gimmick for a bit with WWE and thought he was very solid in the feud with MVP, but MVP clearly came out on top in that. Other than that I never thought Matt was half as good as many in the IWC thought.
When he went to TNA I thought I was not going to enjoy him at all, but he is perfect in the kind of "enforcer" role with midcard matches. He still puts on a decent show in the ring.
Kudos to Matt for being a solid addition to TNA ... and for working hard throughout his brother's debacle.

 

[Fargo]

Matt Hardy is the the kind of wrestler that appeals to people that like to watch paint peeling. He is a lackluster follower of his brother Junky Jeff, all you have to do is watch the Hardy Boyz videos on Youtube to see that. If he actually grew a pair and went out on his own he would shock himself.....

 

[THEpapachamp]

Matt Hardy hasn't impressed me since his "I Will Never Die" gimmick..

He should of been given a WWE Championship title shot then! but never again.. never anywhere..