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Professional wrestling is famously built on hierarchy. The concept of locker room leaders and a designated wrestler’s court is well known. So it is only fitting that The Undertaker found himself in these leadership roles behind the curtains.
And of the wrestlers to face The Deadman’s wrath was Matt Hardy. The incident dates back to 2005, the same year Hardy was fired owing to his infamous real-life love triangle with Edge and Lita. With heavy demand from the fans, Hardy was re-signed to the WWE, only to fall into trouble once again.
Matt Hardy Had Backstage Heat With the Undertaker for Quite a While
On a recent episode of ‘Ask Matt Hardy Anything’ podcast, the former WWE tag team champion revealed that the company ‘punished’ him for spoiling an angle at Survivor Series 2005. During the PPV, Randy Orton came out victorious in the traditional 5 vs. 5 Survivor Series Elimination match, with the event marking the return of The Undertaker. As ‘The Phenom’ entered the ring, Hardy was told by Vince McMahon to leave the ring in fear. However, Hardy botched the angle and moved out rather slowly, thus taking away the theatrical feel of the grand return. “I know they were going to make me pay for forcing the fans to bring me back. So I kind of did that. There was the Survivor Series incident where Undertaker was coming out, coming in the ring, and beating up people, and it was right after Eddie died. So, like, things had changed, and I was supposed to be in a different match, and then I was in the ring, and I just thought like, 'Hey, do you really want me in this scenario in the ring?”“And I remember even asking Vince about it and some of the other guys. Vince said, 'Well, I need someone of importance in the ring, so just be in the ring and just, you know, kind of get out of there quickly or whatever”
The Team Xtreme member added, “And then I remember speaking to one of the agents.
They said, 'Okay, well, if that's what Vince told you to do, do it.' And I ended up — I was like leaning on the ropes, and I was probably in the wrong. Undertaker ended up being hot about it, and I had heat with Undertaker for a while."Hardy revealed that the aftermath of the incident was difficult as he was essentially used as a jobber owing to that mistake. “I just went through a period of putting people over, getting beat, getting punished, and it was what it was.
And I just weathered the storm and then got back on track.”In the early 2000s, the WWE locker room was infamous for incidents like this. Another prominent event was how The Miz was kicked out of the locker room when he was new to the WWE. The former world title holder accidentally ate a chicken sandwich over referee Chris Armstrong’s bag. According to Chris Benoit, this act was disrespectful who then banished the future WWE champion and had to change in the bathroom for events.
Also read: WWE Legend Opines on Criticism for Goldberg’s Swansong at Saturday Night’s Main Event