Matt Hardy has outlined a specific vision for TNA Wrestling’s future on AMC, emphasizing character work over high workrate. Speaking on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, the legendary tag team champion argued that the industry’s obsession with “five-star matches” has become excessive and that TNA should pivot in a different direction to stand out.
Hardy Says Five-Star Matches Are ‘Way Too Overdone’
Hardy stated that for TNA to succeed in its new era, it needs to distinguish itself from competitors like AEW. He expressed a desire to prioritize narrative depth, suggesting that the “five-star” style typically associated with modern wrestling is saturated.
“I want us to focus on story more than f**king five-star matches, because that’s f**king way too overdone now. I mean, in AEW, they can have all those,” Hardy said. “But like, the type of audience we’re looking for are people that are getting compelled by the storytelling in the characters. That is something I want to focus on. I’ll say that blatantly right out front.”
Building A Unique Identity
Hardy believes that trying to deliver a “match of the year” contender every single night is unsustainable and ultimately devalues the product. He argued that TNA needs to find its own identity rather than trying to replicate the in-ring style of other promotions.
“There’ll be good wrestling on it, but we’re not going to be obsessed over that,” Hardy explained. “I think at the end of the day, pro wrestling is the most important things. Are moments… AEW, that’s their thing. They stand out. They have their wrestling like that. I don’t think that’s the direction we’re gonna go. We need to find our own identity and go in a different direction.”
Prioritizing Moments Over Moves
Hardy doubled down on his philosophy that “moments” resonate more with the casual audience than athletic sequences. He stated that filling a television show with five-star matches can be counterproductive to long-term memory.
“You can’t go out there and have match of the year every single night, in every single match on every single show, it f**king doesn’t work. It’s unsustainable, and you kill what, whatever you mean to make special,” Hardy said. “If you try and do that every single time, Nothing ends up being special.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription. New episodes of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy are available every Friday.
