Brace yourselves for a trip down WWE's memory lane as we delve into one of the most sensational and controversial love triangles that shook the professional wrestling world - Edge, Lita, and Matt Hardy!
In this gripping video, we unravel the behind-the-scenes drama that unfolded between these three iconic WWE superstars. From on-screen allies to off-screen adversaries, the love triangle between Edge, Lita, and Matt Hardy took the wrestling universe by storm, creating waves of shock and disbelief among fans worldwide.
Join us as we break down the moments that defined this unforgettable chapter in WWE history. Whether you're a long-time wrestling enthusiast or a newcomer to the world of sports entertainment, this video promises to be a captivating journey through the love triangle that rocked WWE to its core!
Don't forget to hit the like button, subscribe for more wrestling nostalgia, and share your thoughts in the comments below. Relive the drama, the passion, and the chaos - it's time to explore the Edge, Lita, and Matt Hardy love triangle like never before!
You can also visit our site: https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe
#edge #lita #matthardy #wweraw #wwe #wrestling #sportskeedawrestling
In this gripping video, we unravel the behind-the-scenes drama that unfolded between these three iconic WWE superstars. From on-screen allies to off-screen adversaries, the love triangle between Edge, Lita, and Matt Hardy took the wrestling universe by storm, creating waves of shock and disbelief among fans worldwide.
Join us as we break down the moments that defined this unforgettable chapter in WWE history. Whether you're a long-time wrestling enthusiast or a newcomer to the world of sports entertainment, this video promises to be a captivating journey through the love triangle that rocked WWE to its core!
Don't forget to hit the like button, subscribe for more wrestling nostalgia, and share your thoughts in the comments below. Relive the drama, the passion, and the chaos - it's time to explore the Edge, Lita, and Matt Hardy love triangle like never before!
You can also visit our site: https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe
#edge #lita #matthardy #wweraw #wwe #wrestling #sportskeedawrestling
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SportsTranscript
00:00 Jerry Jarrett, the famed wrestling promoter, in-ring performer, and father of WWE Hall
00:06 of Famer Jeff Jarrett, had a sign hanging in his office that said "Personal Issues
00:11 Draw Money" and that couldn't be more true than one of the most controversial storylines
00:17 in WWE history.
00:19 When Matt Hardy kickstarted his feud with Edge in 2005, it wasn't any normal storyline.
00:25 It was based on a very real issue that rocked the wrestling world and turned Edge and Lita
00:32 into two of the most hated figures in all of pro wrestling.
00:37 This is Sportskeeda Wrestling, I'm Kevin, what did you think of this wild story?
00:42 Let us know in the comments below.
00:44 So what exactly happened in this controversial situation involving Matt Hardy, Lita, and
00:50 Edge?
00:51 The end was inspired by real life things and played out into a very crazy storyline, blurring
00:57 the lines between fiction and reality.
01:00 We have to go back 25 years to 1999.
01:03 Oh boy, that makes me feel old.
01:06 Matt Hardy and Edge began wrestling on the main roster in 1998.
01:10 Lita would join the WWE after a short but successful run with Extreme Championship Wrestling.
01:16 She would make her unfortunate debut on Monday Night Raw in an appearance with Godfather's
01:20 Poe Train, but she really got going when she was the valet for SA Rios, appearing regularly
01:25 on episodes of Sunday Night Heat.
01:27 Although Matt Hardy and Lita met on the independent circuit in the 90s, they only began dating
01:33 when they were both in WWE, eventually joining forces together on screen in The Hardy Boys
01:39 formation of Team Extreme.
01:42 They bonded and fell in love, chasing their wrestling dream together, and being a part
01:46 of the iconic Attitude Era in a big way.
01:49 It wasn't until they sat down later that they could really reflect on what happened.
01:53 By all accounts, it seemed to be a good relationship, with little to no arguments between them while
01:57 they went through a life on the road in the biggest pro wrestling company in the world.
02:02 Edge and Christian became fast friends with the Hardy Boys as they were having those phenomenal
02:06 tables, ladders, and chairs matches, meaning Edge and Matt had a close friendship.
02:12 Remember that weird storyline where Kane was pursuing Lita and forced her to marry him?
02:17 A little before that, she was out of action with an injury where she finally got the chance
02:22 to take a break from the insane, very demanding WWE schedule and introspect on her life and
02:28 relationship with Matt Hardy.
02:29 It was during this time that she seemed to discover she couldn't see herself having
02:34 a relationship with Matt Hardy that went beyond the pro wrestling business.
02:44 Depending on Lili and Garcia's Making Their Way to the Ring podcast, Lita shared her mindset
02:49 at the time, saying that there wasn't necessarily huge issues between her and Matt, but that
02:54 there was just a circumstantial disconnection.
02:57 And that's when other things started.
02:59 Somewhat around this time, Matt Hardy would be written off television when he was injured
03:04 by Kane and spent nearly a year on the shelf.
03:07 And this is when everything unraveled and he found out his world was changing.
03:12 Edge, who was in his second marriage, began traveling with Lita on the road and staying
03:17 in the same room.
03:18 With Hardy's absence and increasing doubts over the future of their relationship, Lita
03:22 found a shoulder to cry on and Edge, who was also a good friend of hers.
03:27 We all know what happens next.
03:29 Edge's wife at the time expressed her concerns about the burgeoning bond between Edge and
03:34 Lita while they were on the road.
03:37 Matt Hardy, around Valentine's Day, felt it was getting to him and eventually looked
03:43 at Lita's phone while she was asleep and listened to voicemails that were quite revealing.
03:49 Reportedly around this time, Lita left Matt's home to her mother's home in Atlanta, Georgia.
03:54 Matt Hardy then reached out to Edge and some tense, not-so-nice words were reportedly also
04:00 exchanged.
04:01 The online conversation around all of this played out with the wrestling public not knowing
04:05 the full story just yet as Matt Hardy removed all pictures of Lita from his website.
04:10 Hardy continued to vaguely instigate the issue even further, asking fans to ask Lita at her
04:16 upcoming appearances why her pictures weren't on the website.
04:20 It was understandable to see why he felt betrayed by two people he cared about so much.
04:24 But in retrospect, in the years since, some have questioned how Hardy handled the very
04:29 stressful situation.
04:30 Things got even more complicated as Matt and Lita's scheduled autograph appearances together
04:35 were changed in the North Carolina area.
04:38 Yeah, Hardy country.
04:39 As wrestling websites started to break the story on the personal issues involving all
04:43 three superstars, Lita would post on her site about dealing with personal issues, asking
04:48 fans to respect her privacy.
04:51 Hardy would get even more revealing in another post on his website, stating that he did not
04:55 want to be portrayed as a bad guy and that Adam Copeland, Edge's real name, was feces.
05:02 Hardy would also express that he still cared for Lita, but certainly sustained his detest
05:06 for Edge.
05:07 Matt Hardy was then abruptly removed from WWE live events as he was building up towards
05:12 a big return, conveniently enough, in the North Carolina area, backstage officials fearing
05:18 that there could be a real-life fight breaking out backstage.
05:22 Hardy would still show up to the shows, trying to prove to the locker room that he and Edge
05:26 could still coexist.
05:28 And by all recollections, the fans in North Carolina were not too kind to Edge on that
05:33 event.
05:34 With all of these issues swirling online, and Hardy trying to heal up his knee and make
05:38 a big comeback to the ring, focus back on his career, he got the unfortunate "We wish
05:44 you well in your future endeavors" news.
05:47 Matt Hardy was released by WWE.
05:50 The public outcry from WWE fans at the time was loud, and it sided heavily with Matt Hardy,
05:57 who they felt was wronged for getting fired in this entire situation.
06:01 The guy who got cheated on was the one who got let go.
06:04 Think about that.
06:05 When Paul Heyman uttered the words "Matt freaking Hardy" at the ECW one night stand
06:11 show, yes, this was the one-off ECW show they did around this time, it only added fuel to
06:16 the fire.
06:17 Fans were talking, WWE was listening, but where was this going to go?
06:22 Edge and Lita quickly became public enemy number one in the world of pro wrestling.
06:28 Edge used this opportunity, yes, the ultimate opportunist, to take his character to the
06:33 next sleazy level, yes, the beginning of the Rated R superstar maybe?
06:39 While the chants of "We want Matt" and "You screwed Matt" were the perfect heat
06:43 that Edge needed as the top villain climbing up the card in WWE at the time, it paled in
06:48 comparison to the derogatory slurs that Lita had thrown her way from fans when she appeared
06:54 on screen and was trying to portray a babyface.
06:57 Matt Hardy was hotter than ever, and he wasn't even signed to WWE anymore.
07:03 During the 90-day non-complete clause that we always hear about after a superstar is
07:07 released, he even admitted to verbally agreeing on a very good deal with Jeff Jarrett to sign
07:12 with WWE's then-rival, TNA.
07:15 But in the back of his mind, he knew that the best business decision was to go back
07:19 to WWE, and when they offered him a chance to come back to WWE under all of these wild
07:25 circumstances, he quickly jumped at the chance.
07:29 Meanwhile, WWE decided to ride the wave in the right direction, turning Lita into a heel
07:35 and aligning her with Edge as an on-screen couple who grossly made out with thousands
07:41 of people booing them as they did it.
07:43 They even got to have one of those outlandish wrestling weddings in June with Edge and Lita
07:48 on Monday Night Raw, and you know the whole part with "whoever shall hold their peace
07:52 speak now?
07:53 Oh, here's Matt Hardy's music, he's back!"
07:56 No, it was just a troll job.
07:59 Kane, though, would interrupt the wedding because it is a wrestling wedding.
08:02 In July of that year, it finally happened.
08:06 Edge was set to face Kane on Monday Night Raw, but before that match could happen, it
08:10 was presented as a real-life situation with Matt Hardy attacking Edge on screen.
08:16 He's not supposed to be there before the match even happens, and then another attack
08:21 from Hardy on Edge after the match.
08:24 Matt Hardy was back in WWE, and the response was insane.
08:29 Somehow during this wild scene, while he's trying to be separated from Edge, Matt Hardy
08:33 gets a hold of a microphone, calls Lita some not-very-nice things, calls Edge some very
08:38 not-nice things, also uses his real name, somehow plugs Ring of Honor where he was wrestling
08:43 at the time, and was removed from the arena.
08:47 Even if they felt uncomfortable, Matt Hardy and Edge and Lita decided to be pros and go
08:51 forward with this very, very testy story.
08:55 This set the stage for a big emotional clash at Summerslam that year, but before they could
09:01 tear it up in the ring, Vince McMahon got them both in the office to stamp his authority
09:06 over the entire thing.
09:08 Recalling a rather one-sided conversation with Mr. McMahon, both Matt Hardy and Edge
09:14 had the boss ask them questions like, "You realize that this is my company, right?
09:19 You realize that because I'm renting the arena, the arena is mine?"
09:23 And after both men reaffirmed that they were aware of his position of power, he told them
09:28 that this is the most powerful man in the industry, and he would personally ensure that
09:31 they'd never wrestle the day again if they decided to take liberties and go at it for
09:36 real in the ring.
09:37 Yeah, that is definitely a story to check out on the Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, his
09:42 podcast worth a listen.
09:44 But what fans didn't expect from either man was a match filled with animosity, brimming
09:50 at the point of tension and rage between two foes with a serious personal issue, so intense
09:57 that the match ended in minutes.
10:00 This is the chaotic yet brief brawl that McMahon dictated to his superstars, and unless the
10:06 match was over in 5 minutes, Edge bloodied Matt Hardy and got the first laugh in their
10:11 feud.
10:12 Edge and Matt Hardy would meet in a street fight on Raw just a little over a week later,
10:17 and this was instantly a match that surpassed the pay-per-view battle at Summerslam.
10:22 This was one of the best WWE television matches of the year.
10:26 This rivalry would reach its peak inside the unforgiving steel cage at the Unforgiven pay-per-view,
10:33 with Matt Hardy ascending to the top of the cage, landing a huge flying leg drop on Edge
10:39 to secure that big, long-sought-after victory.
10:44 A month later, at the homecoming three-hour edition of Monday Night Raw, they had a Money
10:49 in the Bank ladder match.
10:51 The winner would get the briefcase, the loser would have to leave Raw.
10:55 Hardy and Edge in a ladder match.
10:57 This makes a lot of sense, they have all that history from the tag team years, right?
11:00 Unfortunate for the faithful people behind Matt Hardy, he would be on the losing end
11:05 and would have to go over to SmackDown.
11:07 On the cutting-edge segment, Edge would label himself the Rated-R Superstar, a nickname
11:12 that weaved in those real-life elements in the over-the-top world of pro wrestling.
11:17 And if you look back at the end of the Matt Hardy-Edge and Lita saga, he's the one who
11:22 was the biggest winner coming out of this.
11:24 Lita had certain things that augmented her character from the entire scenario, and she
11:29 really played a supporting role to Edge throughout it, an effective one.
11:33 Hardy had to go over to SmackDown and basically reinvent himself.
11:36 And if you look back at the storyline, Edge having that momentum is really what kept him
11:41 strong to take on this other big guy in the Ruthless Aggression era, John Cena, and also
11:47 helped him become WWE Champion only a few months later.
11:51 Coming out of that feud, the winning man was the final step in cementing Edge as a main
11:56 event star.
11:57 It's a bit ironic, considering his position in the entire real-life affair situation,
12:03 but that's the way it played out, and hey, WWE needed to push new talent at the time,
12:07 and why pull someone's momentum with all of this?
12:10 As for Matt Hardy, it may have not brought him to that main event level around that time,
12:14 but the story actually turned out to be a new lease on life for his career entirely.
12:20 He wasn't in a very relevant position in 2004 before his injury, and he went on to
12:25 have a fruitful run with WWE and other promotions for nearly two decades since.
12:31 As for Lita, she turned out to be the one who may have, in retrospect, suffered the
12:36 most.
12:37 This isn't taking away from her position in the entire thing, but she played a role
12:41 that was very much secondary to both men, and she did get to elevate herself at some
12:47 point in the women's division, but that women's division isn't what it is now.
12:51 She served a purpose in laying down the foundation for women's wrestling, but maybe didn't
12:56 get to appreciate it while she was doing it, and even her retirement, where she was basically
13:01 shamed by crime time with all these suggestive jokes and personal belongings, it was kind
13:07 of disgraceful in retrospect, depending on who you talk to.
13:11 None of the three had fun maybe taking on the idea, but they embraced it.
13:16 Edge and Lita have gone on the record several times stating how uncomfortable the entire
13:20 situation made them, but at the time, the only thing they could do was make the most
13:25 of it.
13:26 On a personal level, though, it seems like they all did come out of it better people,
13:30 growing from it.
13:31 Obviously, the close friendship they had was different, but Edge and Matt Hardy would go
13:35 on to reconcile and move on, and Lita would move on as well.
13:38 They all entered different relationships in their real life and have grown as professionals
13:43 in the ring.
13:44 Whether you think WWE was in the right or not for wanting to cash in on a real-life
13:49 love triangle, Hardy has gone on to marry wrestling personality Reby Sky.
13:54 Edge would marry fellow WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix.
13:58 Lita has been active with WWE on and off for several years and was inducted in the WWE
14:03 Hall of Fame, rightfully I might add, in 2014.
14:06 One thing is clear, that that three-month long storyline went on to have a massive impact
14:11 on three different careers, and all three of them, in one way or another, benefited
14:16 from it.
14:17 Thanks for watching Sportskeeda Wrestling.
14:18 Let us know what you think of this storyline and what other personal, emotional storylines
14:23 do you remember in pro wrestling.