Controversial WWE Name Allegedly ‘Got Enjoyment’ Out Of Firing AEW Star

WWE

An AEW star has opened up about their changing relationship with a controversial WWE name during their time together in the company.

Matt Hardy has had three runs in WWE and referred specifically to his time in the company that saw him briefly released in 2005 only to return in the same year followed by his second return in 2017.

Speaking on the Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, Hardy addressed his changing relationship with John Laurinaitis, saying:

“John Laurinaitis and I, we had a lot of issues. I felt like whenever he called to release me in 2005, I felt like he was getting a little bit of enjoyment out of it because he’s like, ‘this guy clashed with me and he questioned my judgment.”

He would suggest that the issues came from his early heel work in WWE, with Laurinaitis wanting him to be a more “straightforwardly” heel-type character which apparently clashed with what Hardy wanted to achieve going into a feud with “a beast in Jeff Hardy.”

Hardy would then turn to his return to the company in 2017 and how he viewed Laurinaitis at the time, stating:

“He was ultimately the bad guy for Vince McMahon. Vince McMahon doesn’t need to give people the bad news. […] That’s John Laurinaitis’ job.

“So that’s a tough job. It’s a very thankless job in many ways, too.

“So at the end of the day, I’ve had my issues with John Laurinaitis, but I’m okay with John Lauriniatis now, and I’m fine with him. I have respect for him.”

In August 2022, it was reported that John Laurinaitis left his role in WWE following allegations raised against him and Vince McMahon.

Transcript from Wrestling Inc.

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• john laurinaitis
• Matt Hardy
• Vince McMahon
• wwe

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