Matt Hardy Comments on Tommy Dreamer Leaving TNA Wrestling, Thinks Dreamer Was Overworked

As previously reported, Tommy Dreamer announced today that he’s leaving TNA Wrestling, as both parties agreed to mutually part ways. TNA star Matt Hardy commented on the news on today’s Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, with Jon Alba informing him of Tommy Dreamer exiting TNA. Below are some highlights:

Matt Hardy on If He Was Aware of Tommy Dreamer Exiting TNA

“That is significant. And no, I was not aware of that. So that is also breaking news to me.”

On His Reaction to the News

“It’s interesting. It’s intriguing. I certainly enjoyed working with Tommy. I enjoyed working with Tommy all the way back to the uh House of Hardcore days whenever he was doing that show. I always thought he had a good pulse on kind of where pro wrestling where it is and where it’s going, and he stayed pretty current with things, but you know, things change, and I got lots of love for Tommy, man. No doubt about it. And I loved working with Tommy. Really enjoyable working with Tommy and uh very interesting to see what happens next now at TNA.”

On Dreamer’s Creative Philosophy

“As far as a philosophy goes, I mean, I think he was — I think he tried to parallel or mirror as much as he could of kind of like the ECW mindset about like this is what the fans think of these people. So, let’s give them that as much as we can, or let uh let’s make the most out of whoever we can by highlighting their strengths, trying to hide their weaknesses, you know, to make him into a player because nobody did that better than Paul Heyman and still doesn’t. ECW was a masterclass on taking guys that weren’t extremely talented and highlighting their strengths and getting them over, like 911, a great example. I mean, Paul E. positioned people in in positions where they could succeed and because he highlighted their strengths and he tried to cover up and protect their weaknesses as much as possible and use them in a way where they seem like a very, very big deal because so many people got signed out of ECW, and it was one of those places where if the big money of WCW or WWE came a calling, you know, and they couldn’t match it obviously, then the talent had to go on and then he had to make new people. And I still, I’ve said this several times in the past. I feel like that’s kind of where TNA is at right now.”

Matt Hardy on Whether Tommy Dreamer Got an Unfair Reputation for His Work in TNA

“I think so. I think it has been a little unfair. No doubt. I mean, I had said that earlier today. I said, you know, him and Delirious obviously quite overworked. You know, I mean, they’re very busy because there’s only two guys doing that. But I think he has done a lot of good for TNA, and I’m very curious to hear the motivation behind all this, why he is stepping away. So I guess that is truly breaking news, and I’m glad that we’re able to break it here live.”

On Someone He’d Like TNA To Bring In To Write Creatively

“I would bring in and and and you know the individual as well after thinking about it, Nick [Manfredini}, who worked with myself and Bray [Wyatt] back in WWE, uh who was a writer there already because I felt like he was really layered in the way he could do stuff because if he was doing something that was characters that were like novelty characters like myself and Bray were, he knew how to treat us as special or as different, you know, if there’s like something in a supernatural aspect you’re trying to get out of these two characters, he knew how to utilize them, where he also was very good at utilizing characters who were just legit wrestlers who go in the ring and wrestle and do that. He had an understanding, I felt like, of all the different characters and like how to enhance their character to its maximum, and I felt like even if they were a regular, you know, I’d go in the ring, I’m the best wrestler in the world, he can enhance that character still as good as he could. He is the guy I would suggest.”

It was reported by PWInsider that Delirious will be taking point on TNA’s creative direction following Dreamer’s exit. Also, Fightful Select reports that former WWE SmackDown co-lead writer and Hall of Famer, Road Dogg, was discussed as a potential replacement.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.