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THE LATEST VERSION
Nov. 20, 2003

The Sensei of Mattitude, Matt Hardy Version One, has finally returned -- to the Latest Version and to WWE programming. Just in case any of my loyal MFers missed it, V1 returned last Monday on RAW in Beaumont, Texas. Now I know you’re thinking: Hold up -- Matt is on SmackDown!, on Thursdays, on UPN. Not any longer. I left the blue team and joined the red team -- and now Monday nights will never be the same because RAW has been injected with Mattitude.

Several people have asked me how I feel about becoming a member of the RAW brand. Quite frankly, I’m thrilled. To me, nothing compares to the atmosphere of live television. There’s that “no safety net” pressure, which I love -- you know that every move you make will be seen, good or bad. Crowds are typically more excited because with the show being live, they know anything can happen. Whether you like it or not, RAW is THE show -- the most well-known and most successful wrestling show ever. I also think it’s cool that I’ll go down in history books because of the brand jump. Since the birth of the brand extension, Matt Hardy will always be known as the first wrestler ever to go from one brand (RAW), to the other (SmackDown!), and then return (RAW). Although I’ll miss a lot of good friends on the blue team, I’ve been reunited with a lot of great friends on the red side. Lastly, Matt Hardy publicly thanks Vince McMahon and company for taking care of me on a personal level. Contrary to many stories on the ‘net, VKM really took care for me and was happy to do so, and I appreciate it.

On a sad note, I would like to say that my thoughts and prayers are with Mike “Crash Holly” Lockwood and his family. I was shocked when I heard he had passed away. I really couldn’t believe it. His death hit closer to home than anyone else’s. Crash was a friend of mine that I had traveled with, ate with, worked with, laughed with -- and he was so close to me in age. I still talked to him every few days and he had just called me two days before he died. Every time we spoke on the phone, he always greeted me by saying “Hi, Boss” -- from our days of working together as a unit. Crash would leave me the longest and most ridiculously funny voicemails that I’ve ever heard. I can’t believe I won’t ever hear another long message or another “Hi, Boss.” I’ll never forget his big heart and his unique sense of humor -- Crash was truly one of a kind. May God bless him, his daughter and his family.

I really enjoyed my time away from the ring for the last few weeks. It’s the longest break I’ve had in my almost six years with WWE. I did so many things to my house: bought several new household items, cleaned it, put in a drainage system, collected enough fitness equipment that I have a virtual gym at home, and so much more. It’s fun to get to do the things that regular people with regular schedules always have time for. My body feels the best it’s felt in a long time, as the constant stiffness and soreness has subsided. To top all of this, I actually went on a vacation. Amy and I spend four days in Clearwater at the beach with no training, no diet and no wake-up calls. It was awesome.

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While we were there, it happened to be the 30th birthday of none other than the “Edgemeister,” Adam Copeland. Myself, Amy, Edge, Christian and their significant others all went out for Adam’s birthday. We ate at a great Japanese steakhouse and loaded up on sushi and steak, chicken and shrimp. Following that, we went to Busch Gardens’ Hell-O-Scream, a special Halloween event that was going on at the park. We had a blast going in and out of the eight haunted houses and interacting with the ghouls. The first haunted house we went in, the ghoul broke from reciting his scary lines over the mic and said to me, “Dude, you’re Matt Hardy!” Adam replied, “Hey man, don’t break character! Stay in your gimmick man!” Funny stuff. Amy and I rode everything we could, as it was the first time she’s had the opportunity to ride any roller coasters since having her neck surgery. My time off was awesome and well deserved. Although the no-stress, no-responsibility lifestyle was nice, I’ve got millions of MFers that need Mattitude.

Speaking of MFers, that makes me think of the greatest MFer of all time, Shannon Moore. Not getting to work and hang with Shannon is what I’ll miss most about SmackDown! Shannon improved so much over the last year while we were together. He really refined his in-ring work and his character. I’m glad that he can start being his own man, and no longer just Matt Hardy’s second. Shannon did great while he was with me and added a lot of entertainment value to our matches and storylines. I’m glad I was able to help him succeed in becoming a more well-rounded performer (much like Jeff and Lita, but I never get credit for those, LOL), and I think he’ll do just fine on his own.

I think that I have more locker room nicknames that anyone else in WWE. I was thinking about all the different titles that people on both RAW and SmackDown! use to refer to me -- it’s quite a few. Here’s the ones that come to me off the top of my head: Matt, Matthew, Mizatt, Miz, TT, Mattitude, ’Tude, Matty, The Phenomenal MH, V1, V one-uuhhhh, Version, Hardy, Hard, Sensei, Boss (in remembrance of Crash). I always have to keep my ears open because I have a lot of names to listen for.

I really enjoyed my time at SmackDown!, but I am really happy to be on RAW now. RAW is a heavyweight-driven show, and as all of you know, my ultimate goal is to be the World Heavyweight Champion. RAW is also a little heavier on the entertainment aspect -- and in case you haven’t noticed, I’m an entertaining MFer (not Mattitude Follower), so I like that. I’ll never forget my last live event with SmackDown! in White Plains, N.Y. There were two or three MFers there chanting “Save Us Matt” at the top of their lungs -- which obviously made me smile. Thanks for the love. I have my first RAW live event this week in Detroit, and I expect to see everyone throw their V1s up in the air high and proud. Catch the fever known as Mattitude. There’s getting ready to be a worldwide epidemic. Be well my MFers, and until then …

Matt Hardy V1 and only
The Sensei of Mattitude
V Oonnneeee-uuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

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