By Dawne Massey * The wholesome Hardy Boyz project a positive image -- and they insist it's
not choreographed. Back to Featured
Articles Main
Special To The St. Louis Post-Dispatch This
story was published in Get Out on Thursday, April 18, 2002.
Attention all "serious" news reporters and sports purists: Wrestling
is fake.
Twenty years ago, a statement like that could get you smacked in the head --
just ask ABC-TV reporter John Stossel.
In 1984, Stossel, reporting for the newsmagazine "20/20," posed a
question about the legitimacy of the sport to professional wrestler Dr. D.
The grappler answered by boxing Stossel's ears, which led to a hearing loss and
a lawsuit that brought the reporter a $425,000 settlement.
Today, performers in the World Wrestling Federation define themselves as
entertainers who appear in what Matt Hardy calls "an athletic soap
opera."
"It's the perfect combination of athleticism, drama, entertainment, emotion
-- it's got the whole package," says Matt Hardy, half of the Hardy Boyz tag
team.
Matt and brother Jeff, reigning tag team champions of World Championship
Wrestling, are two of the most popular superstars in the WWF stable. In last
month's Wrestlemania X8, they finished second to Billy and Chuck.
"It's like reading a novel -- something that you know is fiction -- but
you're still entertained and you enjoy it," Matt Hardy continues. "It
is so great because these are actual living, breathing characters that play the
wrestlers each and every week, and there are always interesting storylines and
intriguing possibilities. There's always stuff that keeps you on the edge of
your seat."
The Hardy Boyz are cast as "good guys," roles that the brothers seem
to fall into rather easily. They still live in their hometown -- tiny Cameron,
N.C. -- and still remain close with their father, who lives nearby.
The boys' mother died of cancer when they were young. Matt credits his parents'
influence as the reason the brothers are so readily accepted as positive role
models.
"I was raised in a real strong family -- they brought us up right. I think
Jeff and I are both really good human beings, and it translates. I think we're
definitely good role models, and we really send out a good message."
Still, critics of the WWF's brand of sport as entertainment chide the WWF for
its choreographed routines masquerading as athletic skill. According to Matt
Hardy, you can't fake athleticism at this level -- and it's a lot harder than it
looks.
"There's not as much choreography going on as a lot of people think. A lot
of times, we don't have a set plan of what we're going to do in the ring,
because what we do is determined on how the crowd reacts, and you've got to play
to their reaction," he said.
Those reactions can often lead to real injuries. In his brief career, Matt has
suffered enough injuries to keep a team of chiropractors in business for life.
In addition to an assortment of bumps, bruises and cuts, he has endured a
fractured shoulder, broken fingers, torn ankle ligaments and hyperextended
joints all over his body. Matt also has suffered several concussions, had
countless stitches and staples in his head, and took one shot to the face that
resulted in a broken oracle bone, a broken nose and a broken cheekbone.
If this stuff is choreographed, somebody sure missed their mark.