Matt Hardy has shared a lot more details about the special episode of TNA iMPACT that he and Jeff Hardy will be booking later this month, and it sounds like they’re planning to put their own stamp on the entire show.
Speaking on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, Matt confirmed that the rumors are true. The Hardys will be in charge of booking the October 13 television taping in Dothan, Alabama, which will air on October 15 and mark the beginning of their 35th year in professional wrestling.
“Yeah. No, I mean, it’s not rumor and innuendo. It is a Matt Fact. They are handing over the reins to us. But let’s be honest, everybody knows it is to me when it comes to putting together the show that is happening on the 13th. Yes, it’s going to be the 13th, on Tuesday, in Dothan, Alabama. The very first episode, which is going to air on October 15th, which will be our first day of our 35th year, which is pretty amazing. You know, it’s pretty cool. So, we are getting—it’s not like they’re just saying it. I sat down and talked with everybody, like, ‘This is kind of what I think the Hardys would do for a show.’”
Matt revealed that Jeff has been throwing out ideas as well, and it didn’t take long for the conversation to turn toward the kinds of matches fans would expect from the Hardys.
“One of the funniest things, John, I just got to share with you. Jeff just said, ‘Yeah, man.’ Jeff threw out some ideas, and they were some good [ones]. He said, ‘Well, you know, we’ve got to have some sort of ladder match. You know, we’ve got to figure that out.’ Of course. I said, ‘I think we’re going to need a table, too.’ I mean, that’s kind of like two of our big M.O.s.”
According to Matt, the two brothers spent plenty of time bouncing ideas off one another before he got on the creative call with TNA. He feels good about what they’ve come up with and thinks fans will enjoy seeing what a Hardys-produced wrestling show actually looks like.
“We had a lot of conversations. I said, ‘Dude, I’m going to do a creative call with the team coming up.’ I said, ‘So, talk to me. What are you thinking? What would you like to do?’ So, we’ve got some real good creative ideas, and I think people are going to greatly enjoy the show.”
The Hardys also won’t just be working behind the scenes. Matt said they’ll appear throughout the episode as on-screen authority figures, essentially acting as the creative bosses for the night.
“And one thing I love is that we’re going to have a representation on the show. Like, we truly are, you know, the creative GMs. We’re going to kind of be, you know, bossing everybody around, much like Daria does every week, you know, or Santino would. So, it’s going to be a lot of fun to do for that week.”
As for the in-ring action, Matt teased that fans can expect several standout matches. While joking that there would only be two “bangers,” he quickly corrected himself and said the current plan is for three.
“Well, we’re going to have two. That’s what I’m shooting for. And actually, you know, without giving away any spoilers, I think there’ll be three matches that will be what the kids would call ‘bangers.’”
He also revealed there will be one heavily gimmicked match that he believes fans will love, along with another contest that will come together unexpectedly and leave viewers with a huge reaction.
“I think there’s going to be one match that is going to be very much a gimmick, but it’s going to entertain the shit out of people, and they’re going to be glad it’s happening. And then there’s going to be, like, a spontaneous match which people are going to go—they’re going to go bananas for.”
Matt made it clear the show won’t be built around matches alone. He wants plenty of backstage segments and vignettes throughout the episode because he sees it as an opportunity to show fans what his creative vision for a wrestling show looks like.
“There’s going to be a lot of vignettes in the show, but I’m telling you, October 15th, you don’t want to miss it. And it gives you a little glimpse of maybe, you know, what I do.”
The biggest surprise came after Matt finished pitching the episode. He revealed that the people in the room were so impressed by what they heard that they jokingly asked if he was ready to become TNA’s full-time head booker.
“Like, after we talked about the show, they said, ‘Jesus, Matt, you just—you ready to come in and just be the head booker now?’”
Whether that ever happens remains to be seen, but fans won’t have to wait long to see what a Hardys-produced episode of TNA iMPACT looks like. Based on Matt’s preview, they’re aiming for a mix of big matches, character-driven segments and a few surprises along the way.
What would your ideal episode of TNA iMPACT look like? Let us know in the comments below.
