Matt Hardy provided a detailed breakdown of The Hardy Boyz’s final match against The Dudley Boyz at TNA’s Bound For Glory pay-per-view. On his podcast, The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, he discussed the emotion surrounding the match, the importance of Devon Dudley getting to end his career on his own terms, and the “ultimate show of respect” that occurred after the match was over.
The End of an Era
Hardy described the match as the definitive end of one of the most storied rivalries in wrestling history. He shared that the finality of the moment was emotional for everyone involved. “It was, it was something that was epic, because it truly was the end of an era,” Hardy said. “It was the last time we would do this with these guys, that you know, that the match has been taken off the table because, because they’re done.”
He explained that the reaction from the fans after the show, many of whom were crying, underscored the impact their rivalry had over the decades. “I can’t tell you how many real-life testimonials I heard being there, sending autographs till 4 am. ‘Thank you for giving me my childhood one last time,'” Hardy recalled fans telling him.
Going Out on His Own Terms
A major focus for Hardy was ensuring that Devon Dudley, who had only wrestled one match in the previous four years due to health issues, was able to have a proper final match. He praised Devon for his dedication in preparing for the bout and emphasized how important it is for any long-time performer to be able to choose how their career ends. “I think everybody wants to go out on their own terms. Nobody wants to have a health condition and then just not be able to wrestle and not close, not close your career with the finale, you know, with finality that you want,” Hardy stated. “And I think Devon got the opportunity to do that. Hey, let me have a match with two of my best friends, with Matt and Jeff, and let me, let me go out there and have one last battle.”
The Ultimate Show of Respect
After The Hardys won the match, The Dudley Boyz took off their boots and handed them to their longtime rivals, a moment Hardy called an “ultimate show of respect.” “It does. It does mean something to me,” Hardy said of the gesture. “I mean, it is the old it. I said this in that post-show promo, and they were to sit down, and it’s like the ultimate show of respect. And I feel like, you know, now part of our job is the Dudleys are finished. It is. It’s almost as if we have to bereave the Dudleys like they have they have moved on, they have passed on, but we have to keep them with us. Now it is our job to keep the Dudleys alive in whatever way it may be, you know.”
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.
