As one of the pioneers of the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match, Matt Hardy’s opinion on the stipulation carries more weight than most. The WWE Hall of Famer was in attendance for the chaotic six-team TLC match at SummerSlam and gave the modern-day spectacle a near-perfect rating, praising all the performers involved for their incredible effort.
Hardy, along with his brother Jeff and their legendary rivals The Dudley Boyz, was shown on camera sitting in the crowd for the match. Their presence added a layer of historical significance to the bout, bridging the gap between the Attitude Era originals and the current generation of tag team stars.
A Special Experience
On his podcast, The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, the TNA World Tag Team Champion discussed the experience of being at the show. He noted that the presence of the “OGs” likely added pressure to the competitors, and he was happy to see them rise to the occasion.
“I was really proud of everybody I got to chat with, I think, everybody that was in the match at some point… and just told them how proud it was. They busted their ass. And, you know, they put on great content, they gave some great callbacks, and then they segued into original spots, which were really cool. And yeah, man, I loved it. What they did… I think even maybe some of the producers, I think we’re talking to, said that because, you know, they want to get to a point where they get a team really, really over… The work and the physicality is there. You know, all those teams are super talented. They’re super good. They just are trying to continue to grow their connection to the audience.”
A Near-Perfect Rating
When it came to his final assessment of the match, Hardy was effusive in his praise. He loved the storytelling, the spectacle, and the way every team was given a moment to shine. He gave the match a star rating that puts it in the upper echelon of classic ladder matches.
“Everybody busted their ass. Everybody worked so hard, and I thought they did a really good job of featuring everyone in a special way and giving them their moment in that match, and it was really strong all the way through. It was, it was a spectacle, you know, from beginning to end. And I love that… The TLC match, I would, I would, I would maybe go four and three quarters. Man.”
The Wyatt Sicks won the chaotic match to retain their SmackDown Tag Team Championships. The bout was one of the most talked-about of the entire SummerSlam weekend, and receiving such high praise from a legend like Matt Hardy is a major validation for all the teams involved.
Matt Hardy’s podcast drops every Friday at ExtremeHardy.com. If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit ExtremeHardy.com with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
