Matt Hardy Reveals Why Vince McMahon Possibly Cheered The Rock's WWE Exit

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In 2003, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) navigated through a pivotal transitional period, grappling with seismic shifts in its landscape. Steve Austin bid adieu to in-ring competition, while Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson pivoted towards the luminescent allure of Hollywood.

Their departures, which might seem like a catastrophic blow to many, inadvertently provided Vince McMahon, the venerable CEO of WWE, a ripe opportunity to scaffold new stars and steer the enterprise into a novel era. During this evolution, Matt Hardy, a consequential member of the WWE roster, proffered some insightful reflections on these notable departures, mainly focusing on The Rock's transition to Hollywood.

Hardy articulated his perspective on "The Extreme Life" podcast, proposing that a facet of McMahon's emotions might have been silently contented to witness The Rock's departure, a surprising revelation to some.

McMahon's Strategic Reluctance

The rationale Hardy provides plumbs the strategic depths of McMahon's leadership philosophy: "I think Vince didn't want to consciously try and allow anyone to become bigger than the WWE," Hardy articulated, shedding light on the mogul's potential reluctance to place the entirety of the brand's weight on a singular star, especially one whose star power was beginning to eclipse the entity that had launched him to stratospheric heights.

"He [McMahon] wanted the paramount entity to be the WWE brand itself," Hardy continued. Yet, there's an undeniable awe in Hardy's tone as he reminisces about The Rock's tangible charisma and unforgettable moments inside the ring, particularly emphasizing the electric, palpable energy during WrestleMania X8.

"The Rock was genuinely special," Hardy conceded, reminiscing one of the most iconic moments in wrestling history at WrestleMania X8. He vividly recalled, "When Rock and Hogan squared off in the ring, the audience erupted, creating a simply transcendent experience. It was mesmerizing to witness Hogan being showered with that undulated appreciation."