Matt Hardy Explains Mentality Behind Creating the ‘Broken’ Gimmick
One of the most innovative characters in TNA Wrestling history came from the creative mind of Matt Hardy, who introduced the world to “Broken” Matt Hardy. This persona was packed with catchphrases, unique lore, outlandish characters, and even the famous “Lake of Reincarnation.” While Hardy tried to bring the “Broken” character to WWE, alongside the late Bray Wyatt, and later to AEW, it truly thrived during his time with the Hardy Family in TNA.
In a recent appearance on “Busted Open Radio,” Hardy opened up about the inspiration behind the “Broken” character. He explained that the idea was partly inspired by the show True Blood and its portrayal of vampires living through different time periods. Hardy also drew from other popular shows like Dexter while acknowledging his desire to shift his wrestling style as he aged.
“The guys now are so athletic and talented, and they’re smaller. I can’t wrestle like I did 20 or 25 years ago,” Hardy shared. “So I thought, ‘What if I become more theatrical and performative?'” He compared his idea to early supernatural characters like Papa Shango and The Undertaker. “I figured either people would believe I’ve become this supernatural being because something’s changed in my mind, or they’d think I’m crazy. Either way, I could make it work.”
Matt and his brother Jeff made their return to TNA on June 17 after concluding their time with AEW. Although still active with the promotion, the Hardy brothers reportedly met with WWE officials before SummerSlam in August.
