Matt Hardy for over two decades now has been one of the most innovative minds in the business of sports entertainment. Only a few have constantly re-invented themselves and have managed to capture the attention of the audience as good as the ‘Woken One’.
Starting out as a tag-team specialist along with his younger brother Jeff as a part of the Hardy Boyz, Matt and his brother have already cemented their legacies as arguably the greatest tag-team in the history of the business. But that never was enough for the highly creative Matt, whose constant starving for change saw him metamorph into various different characters, whether as a heel or as a face.
He has travelled all around the globe and wrestled for various different promotions. Just when people thought that Matt would soon be riding into the sunset in the final years of his career, Matt created one of the most intriguing and innovative gimmicks over the past decade in TNA, creating the ‘Broken Universe’. The gimmick caught on like a house on fire and Matt soon became the hottest act in the industry again.
Matt Hardy’s Broken/Woken character has been widely lauded as one of the most innovative gimmicks in the business. (Source: YouTube)
With a meteoric rise in popularity, it was inevitable that Matt would make a return to the WWE where he was eventually able to introduce the new gimmick renaming himself ‘Woken’ Matt Hardy.
In an exclusive interview with Sportswallah, Matt talks about his longevity in the business, the fitness and diet routine which has acted as a fuel for his sustenance and what lies in the future for him after he hangs up his boots.
Q. Matt, you’ve had a career for over 2 decades in the pro-wrestling business? How have you kept yourself fit and what has been the success of your longevity?
Matt: I have just kept myself fit by trying to be true to my body and try and train in a way that keeps me in proper condition. And now more than ever, I really train for maintenance. I don’t train to gain size or shrink. I just try to be athletic and gain maintenance. It seems to have worked really well for me because it is very important in what we do as far as being sports entertainers because of the beating that our body takes.
You have to specifically be there for maintenance so that your body can maintain. And from a character perspective, the success of my longevity has been constant evolution and change and not being afraid to step out of my comfort zone and grow and do different things as a performer.
Matt pictured with his son Maxel revealed that he tried to eat as healthy as possible. (Source: Pinterest)
Q. The life of a WWE superstar is very hectic on the road. What kinds of nutrition and food constitutes your intake in order to keep you healthy and ready for the matches?
Matt: The nutrition and food that I rely on more than anything else is protein. Typically chicken, fish, beef. I eat all those things. I try and eat as healthy as I possibly can. I try and eat a low amount of carbohydrates, a low amount of fat intake. I try to stay away from bread which is really hard because I love bread.
I just try and do the things that I can. I try and put things inside my body that can give me the fuel that I need to help my training be as intense as it needs to be and also help me maximize my look from an athletic standpoint, not only from a training aspect but from the way I look from a physical view.
Matt also revealed that he has gotten heavily involved in production backstage, something which gives him immense joy. (Source: SESScoop)
Q. There have been rumours that you have gotten involved heavily into the production elements backstage. Is it true and are you enjoying it and what lies in the future for Matt Hardy?
Matt: I have. And especially before my return to the WWE, I was very involved in the production elements backstage and I am very intrigued to know that. I am sure that whenever I do stop wrestling and hang up my boots for good, I will be involved in the production elements going on backstage because I also see that as another way of channelling your creativity and also, being able to contribute when you physically can’t anymore.
It’s a great way to still be a part of the show and be creative and help the younger guys. I feel like there is a lot of rewards and almost cathartic for you to see the young guys that you have given the advice to or the strategy to go out there and hit a grand slam and knock it out of the park.
