Jeff Hardy Talks His Music, Retirement, The Best In The World, WWE Return & More

TNA superstar Jeff Hardy was recently interviewed by Chris Van Vliet of Cleveland's CBS-19. During the interview, Jeff discussed; his face paint, his music, TNA being live, pros and cons of the Impact Zone, taking risks, retirement, suspensions, who the "Best In The World" is, returning to WWE and more. Here are some of the highlights:

On the music that Jeff Hardy makes: "Music is just therapy for me. I've wrote so many songs in the last year, it's just crazy. So, I'm just excited to get something out there. I've got five never-before-heard songs that myself and Darryl Oliver from TNA. We're going to have an EP out, hopefully by Bound For Glory. I'm really excited for the fans to here something produced that's mine."

On Impact Wrestling going live: "I love it. You know, when you're live every week and you make a mistake, it's going to be seen. It adds more pressure and I think pressure makes me better. There are things that happen out there that people are going to see. But, overall, I love it. It's a huge step for us. I hope it continues longer than August, I just got my fingers crossed. You know what I mean?

"[Being pre-taped] doesn't ruin it, but it doesn't make it as special, I don't think. I'm not an internet guy but I just hate when people are able to read what happens and know what's coming up. They just wait to see the visual. So, yeah, if we could always be live, I'm all for that."

On where Jeff feels TNA currently stands as compared to a year ago: "It's a slow process and I think right now we are on a slow incline. In the next ten years, I can't even imagine how big Impact Wrestling will be. It don't happen over night. But, by the year, we are improving strongly and I think we're just going to continue to get better."

On the pros and cons of working primarily out of the Impact Zone: "It's cool. When ECW — the original ECW — was on fire, (their home arena) was so special. It reminds me of that because we do have our home. The fans down at Universal, they know what they're seeing. They know how to cheer and get crazy. During the summer, for example, this summer has been off the charts. They have been on fire. In the winter, the season's not exactly right and it gets a little boring. Hopefully, we're on our way to getting out of there or not being there so much.

"For example, when we did TV in Fayetteville, it looked like a huge show. I mean, it was packed and it had a different setting and a different feel. So, hopefully, we're getting there, nothing happens over night. But, I love Universal Studios and the Impact Zone. It will always be a part of wrestling's history."

On taking risk during his career: "No, because knock on whatever, I've been crazy lucky. I push the envelope a little bit. But, no, I don't look back. I'm proud of everything I've done and I have no regrets. Especially now, where I'm at in life. I still challenge myself, There are things that I have [in my head] that I think are possible and I'll probably try to pull them off before I'm done. Hopefully, I'll continue the lucky streak of not getting seriously hurt."

On whether his style of wrestling ever makes him consider retirement any tie soon: "Yeah, all the time. With my style, once I get out there — it's just in my blood to perform the way I perform. Yeah, I don't see myself wrestling until I'm 60-years-old or anything like that. But, if I'm 55, 56,57 and I feel pretty good — you know, I can't put a number on it. It's always going to be a love of mine and I hate it just enough, I think. So, I'm at that perfect level. Yeah, I don't put a number on it. I don't know how long I'll continue to do what I do."

On how he feels about issues and suspensions being used in story lines: "I think that in the long run and just being who I am, I think people respect that more. Especially with my suspensions [in WWE]. I think I'm the only guys that's ever talked about it and made it into a story line. Even what happened at Victory Road two years ago, when I came back to TNA last August, that was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. But, after it was over, I felt good.

"This is my clean slate, I get one more chance. I wrote a song called Resurrection. I am excited to do this right this time and be extremely successful. So, I think it's all been right and in the long run, I think it's going to all be memorable and respected."

On his custom TNA Heavyweight championship belt: "I drew it up one night. I think it came across on television that Hogan designed it for me. I was like, 'Man, no one's going to believe that Hogan designed that.' But, it all worked out. It was just cool and fresh and new. That's another thing: If I ever do — hopefully — become world champion again, I have another one that's waiting to be debuted. We just got to throw a TNA/Impact Wrestling logo on there. If they let me do it, I think it'll be way bigger than the last one."

On which wrestler he feels is truly the "Best In The World": "If I had to say anybody right now that's still performing, I want to say Kurt Angle. But as far as anybody that deserves to wear a shirt that says 'Best In The World', it's Kurt Angle/Shawn Michaels. It's right there.

"Shawn Michaels, I'm so proud that I was able to say got in the ring with him one time. Overall, he is it. When it comes to professional wrestling, he knows it all. Pound-for-pound, phenomenal."

On whether or not he would ever return to WWE for a match: "I don't know. It depends on what's right at that point in life. But, right now, TNA is my home and the way it feels right now, it's going to be my home. But, if I'm 40 and I still feel like wrestling and, again, I'm not saying when I'm going to stop or retire, because I don't know. I just kind of take it day by day. If it feels right, I'll do it."

You can check out the entire interview below.