February 11, 1999
Hello, everyone! Sorry it has been so long since my last commentary, but our schedule has been particularly grueling for the last month or so. Currently, it's 3:20 a.m. and I am sitting in front of my computer with a huge bag of ice on my shoulder. Last night, in Austin, TX, Jeff and I wrestled Steve Blackman and Al Snow, and once again I suffered a very untimely injury. As Steve Blackman clotheslined me out of Al Snow's arms, I came down with my body's weigh landing on my right shoulder. I immediately heard something pop inside my shoulder and it started tightening up quickly. I was able to finish the match, although you can see me trying to protect my shoulder for the remainder of the contest. As I came back into the locker room, I couldn't move my shoulder at all and I feared it was broken or surely separated. I went to the hospital and had X-rays done, and fortunately there was no breaks or separations within my shoulder. The doctor thinks that I maybe have a torn rotator cuff or torn ligaments. I'm going to be having an MRI within the next couple of days to find out for sure what the problem is. I must say that today it has felt much better--I have had a good range of slow motion, so that is an excellent sign. I guess I just have to continue to believe that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I will be wrestling again hopefully before any of you knew I was even hurt.
Now to move on to some more uplifting topics--so far this has been a tremendous year for Matt Hardy. I was just starting to get back into a regular groove with my training before I got hurt. This injury will hopefully only be a small nuisance to my training, though. I have alot of "busting my ass" to do in the next few months. There hasn't been hardly any free time for myself and Jeff for the last month between house shows, T.V.'s, appearances, autograph signings, and media events. About the only free time I get is if I stay up a little later than usual and just relax and wind down. And believemeyou, it's not going to get any easier, that is why an injury is especially frustrating at this time. Oh well, I refuse to let it affect my mental state--you gotta stay positive. You can't let the little things "put you down". I leave tomorrow morning for Denver, Saturday is in San Diego (an autograph signing and event), Sunday in Davis (an autograph signing and event), and Raw and Smackdown in San Jose and Fresno. I'll be home late Wed. night to leave first thing Friday morning for an appearance at a hockey game in West Virginia, and then wrestle until that following Thursday. My career is going better than I could have ever imagined this EARLY in it. I can't wait for Wrestlemania-- it will be the Hardy Boyz first ever, and I'm sure it will be special as we are going to play a big role in it.
I wanted to talk for a moment about the relationship between wrestlers and the public. There should be a reciprocated respect between both parties. You know, I have now accepted the fact that wrestling is MY life at this point in my life. It is hard to do that. It still drives Jeff crazy sometimes that we are always on the go because of wrestling, and our actual moments of free time are very few. We are at the point where if we're out in public we're usually recognized, so basically we have to always be on guard and on duty. I can't stand it when some of the other guys (wrestlers) complain about being bothered in public. I guarantee you if they could go back to NOT being recognized, and NOT being on T.V., and NOT making money, they wouldn't mind it so much. I am always approachable and try to be friendly if someone speaks to me, even if I'm not feeling well or am in a good mood. The point I'm attempting to make is that we are under the microscope all day except for those few hours in our hotel rooms, and when we're at home. But don't get me wrong--I wouldn't trade it for anything--I love it. I feel like being in my position gives me a great opportunity to spread what I feel is the positive message of being a good, inspirational person. I want people to talk to me and leave thinking, "Hey, you don't have to be a jackass just because you're on T.V. weekly", or "Hey, that guy seems just like me--down to earth--and happy to be doing what he's doing". I've already seen so many people in this business start to believe their own hype and forget about where they come from. I hate that. There IS a ton of pressure on all of the WWF wrestlers day in and day out to perform and put out-whether your happy or sad, sick or injured. It is quite an accomplishment to do something special in this business--but DON'T forget about the person you are--and were--and will be again, when the wrestling days are over. Fortunately, their are alot of level-headed guys in the WWF right now. With all that said, I think it is very important for the fan to treat the wrestler with the same respect. Don't forget, we're just people, too. Almost every night, someone sits down uninvited at our table at a restaurant and ask for an autograph. Alot of times this occurs while we're eating or ordering, or on the phone. I'm definitely not saying this is the scenario with everyone, I'm just saying there's alot of time when people treat us disrespectfully by interrupting us while we're in the middle of doing something. I have NO problem signing anything or taking pictures or talking--I just wish people would try to be as polite and considerate as possible. I know sometimes people get excited, but sometimes they forget that we normal people as well with feelings, moods, and fuses--we just wrestle for a living.
I want to thank everyone who bought the original Hardy Boyz "2Xtreme" shirt. We have a new shirt coming out that has a silhouette of the senton bomb in mid-air with motion rotation surrounding it reading "Hardy Boyz" on front. On the back, it says, "Fear is only a four-letter word". It should be cool.
Our feud with the Dudleyz has been really taking it's toll on all the participates involved. I was extremely happy with our performance at the Royal Rumble in the first ever tag team table match. I hope you guys enjoyed it as well. Jeff and I were really honored they featured a killer video piece on "Halftime Heat" during the Superbowl.
I'm really proud of Shannon Moore and Shane Helms, two of the OMEGApowers, who are busting their ass to get a good spot on the WCW rooster. It's amazing that Shannon is on national T.V. now. I have footage of me beating him so unmercifully on our trampoline back in 1990 (he was only 9 or 10 at that time), it is hilarious.
As close as Matt and Jeff Hardy and Christian and Edge are in front of and behind the camera, it should be very interesting to see where are on air relationship goes next. As much as I think it would be cool to form a unit with these guys, I think it might be cooler to go back head-to-head again. Who knows?
I heard Chris Jericho stated that "if that nosy Matt Hardy wants to know the contents of the documents, he'll have to take them from me" or something similar to that. Well Chris, I KNOW exactly what the documents are--and that's quite an embarrassing name for what's inside your briefcase, poser. Besides, it's not like taking ANYTHING from you would be difficult, or even a challenge.
I noticed a few people have made some comments on my favorite Pearl Jam song "Corduroy". The reason it is one of my all-time favorite songs is because it describes my life so well. I can almost relate every line of that song to an experience in my life or the premises of how my life has progressed. I would love for some of you guys to attempt to relate the lyrics of "Corduroy" to my life on the message board.
Speaking of the message board, that is one of my favorite things to look at when I get a free chance at night in my hotel room. When ever I have time, I will try to respond to post. I want to thank Katya and Memery and Tiffani for keeping the ship at sea so to say.
Everyone--do yourself right--and don't be afraid to believe in a longshot every now and then. Be well, and until then......
Email: alluringeyez@webtv.net
