Professional wrestling legend and TNA World Tag Team Champion Matt Hardy recently appeared on an episode of his podcast, “The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy.”
During the episode, he discussed a variety of topics, including whether WWE legend Brock Lesnar’s retirement is genuine this time.
Hardy said, “The fact that he went on Pat McAfee and made a big deal out of it and said that specifically — and it seemed like he was. Especially the way he really went out of his way to put over Oba, and at the end he said, ‘I’m the past, this is the future,’ and he busted his ass to give him the best match he possibly could. So yeah, it seems like it’s pretty legit. But I mean, who knows, man? Never say never in pro wrestling, where money does talk at the end of the day.”
On Lesnar’s legacy:
“He’s an anomaly, someone who is not normal. Like I said, he’s the most athletic, most dangerous combat fighter I’ve ever been in the ring with. Very, very, very special. Nobody picked up pro wrestling and became such a big draw — like a big money event — like Brock did in so many ways. And it’s so crazy that he was able to make the transition over to UFC. He was the UFC champ and did all that. He will go down and be remembered as a big star. The Undertaker ‘Ending the Streak’ moment is going to be a big thing for him, which he’ll be remembered for. Just his devastation, his athleticism, and hopefully him putting over Oba Femi is going to be a big moment that people will remember in both Brock and Oba Femi’s career going forward.”
On if ending The Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak elevated Lesnar:
“It did. Yeah, anybody who was going to take that away from Undertaker, it was going to elevate him. Even though he was still a made man and a top guy at that time, it took him to another level. And it made him such a threat and such a killer, and just something that no one else had ever done. It put him on another level.”
On who should induct Lesnar into the WWE Hall of Fame:
“Taker or Heyman, no doubt. Those are probably two of the most importantly linked guys to Brock and his career overall. Could be Kurt Angle too. I could see Kurt Angle doing it.”
On Paul Heyman’s role in building Lesnar:
“Critically is correct, because Paul Heyman was on top of everything. He had such a thumb and such a say in everything Brock was doing at that time. You know — ‘Move this way, Paul’s here, give this look here.’ He was so instrumental in making Brock into the monster he became.”
You can check out the complete podcast below.
(H/T to 411Mania.com for transcribing the above quotes)
