Matt Hardy denies Perry Saturn’s claims about Vince McMahon

Hardy Fires Back at Saturn’s WWE Claims

Professional wrestler Matt Hardy has addressed and denied allegations made by Perry Saturn regarding a past backstage confrontation involving Vince McMahon.

Speaking on the September 25 episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, Hardy responded to video clips of Saturn discussing him that have circulated online. Saturn claimed in a recent interview that McMahon reprimanded him for working too stiff in the ring with Hardy and alleged that Hardy was the source who complained to McMahon.

Friction Rooted in the WCW-WWE Transition

Saturn originally brought up the story in a video posted to Maven’s YouTube channel earlier this month and made similar remarks on Wrestling Shoot Interviews in 2024.

According to Saturn, he and fellow Radicalz member Dean Malenko experienced friction with Hardy over match layouts and physicality during their time in WWE. When Saturn discussed the incident in February 2025, Hardy took to X to clarify that they had worked together a couple dozen times, primarily in tag team matches featuring The Radicalz after they arrived from WCW in 2000.

Setting the Record Straight on Management

Addressing the specific accusation of complaining to management, Hardy stated that the narrative contradicts his actual memory of events.

I saw a couple clips he did. He said that I was telling Vince he was hurting me or beating me up, which I’ve never told Vince someone’s hurting me or beating me up. And he said, ‘Well, get used to it. You’re working with him. You’re in a program,’ Hardy said on his podcast.

He added that he was never in a program with Saturn, noting their primary intersection involved an angle with Dean Malenko and Amy Dumas, who wrestled as Lita.

Creative Clashes and Personal Respect

Hardy pointed to creative differences over match structure as the likely source of any professional friction during that era.

He explained that while he respected the background of the former WCW talent, he and his brother Jeff were already established acts in WWE who needed to incorporate their own style into matches. Despite past disagreements, Hardy emphasized that he holds no personal animosity toward Saturn, acknowledging the difficult personal challenges Saturn has faced.

Proving His In-Ring Longevity at 52

During the discussion with co-host Jon Alba, Hardy also answered broader questions concerning online criticism and his standing in the wrestling industry at age 52. He pointed to his recent in-ring work, including a No Disqualification match against Nic Nemeth for the TNA World Championship on the September 10 episode of TNA Impact, which ended in a loss after Nemeth struck him with a wrench.

Because I know what the f*** I’m doing. I’m a professional wrestler who knows what’s up. I understand what’s going on, Hardy said regarding his ability to filter out online noise. If I need to go out there and go 20 minutes, I can do it.

Hardy also addressed recurring claims that his career success depends entirely on his brother, Jeff Hardy. While acknowledging that Jeff operates on a different level as a performer, Hardy noted that he thrived more than he ever did when he was doing the Matt Hardy Version 1 thing in WWE after Jeff was released. He concluded that maintaining a clear sense of identity and connecting with audiences provides a sense of achievement despite inevitable outside criticism.