“It was a good decision. He is a good wrestler, a good performer and really seems like a good human being on top of it. I really look forward to working with Ring of Honor going forward. There are couple of other things I have cooking and happening. So you just have to stay tuned to see those.”

Above everything else Hardy is focused on living a healthy life and being happy. He is looking to make the right decisions when it comes to his life inside and outside the ring.

“It happens to everybody, where it’s real easy to make a wrong decision in whatever it might be,” Hardy said. “I just want to think things through and make the right decisions. Even with the way I’m booking matches, I’ve had a couple of times when I’m in New York one day and Chicago the next. I’m trying to change that and work for different companies, but not go through a tough schedule.”

For Hardy, this chapter of his career revolves around practicing his passion and giving back to the business that has given him so much. He also doesn’t want to overwork himself. Today stress isn’t in Hardy’s vocabulary.

“I’m really looking to try to be in good shape and athletic as possible,” Hardy said. “I’m not working about being bigger or having huge muscles. I just want to be athletic. I’m Matt Hardy. I’m the guy who helped create the TLC (Tables, Ladders & Chairs match). I’m established. I just want to be healthy and for [wrestler and girlfriend] Reby [Sky] to continue to improve wherever we wrestle. That’s been a blast for me.

“Extreme Rising has been a blast. I’ve really been enjoying them. When I was working with WWE, it was just the WWE style. Now I get to do a Ring of Honor style or a Ring of Honor match. Then I might have 2CW [Squared Circle Wrestling] or NEW [Northeast Wrestling], two of the top independents in the Northeast. They have a more regular style or WWE style with a smarter audience.

“Then there is Extreme Rising, where I get to do the extreme side of wrestling. Then there is Crossfire in Nashville, which is starting TV and work a more Southern style. It’s fun for me to be able to do different things. It helps break the monotony of just being a wrestler and doing the same thing over and over again.”

With so many growing companies in different parts of the United States, Hardy sees an almost throwback to the territory days.

“I think it’s coming back around, and there is going to be a market for that,” Hardy said. “It’s going to be good because there are so many talented guys out there. Guys I’ve wrestled who haven’t had a break or not a specific body shape or size WWE is looking for, but are really good and talented. They deserve a chance to practice their craft and make money. I see a lot of places coming up. I think social media helps. These Internet pay-per-views or on-demand shows are out there. There are a lot of different ways to promote your events compared to back in the day, where it was just TV and radio.

“Social media and the worldwide web provide help in the success of these independent events. I see some places that are rising up in different areas as almost a throwback to the territory days in a modern fashion.”

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