Jeff Hardy On If TNA Is Filled With Washed Up WWE Wresters, Hulk Hogan's Influence, More

MLive.com has an interview with TNA World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Hardy, who was promoting the upcoming TNA live event in Detroit on Friday, February 22nd. Here are just a few highlights from the interview:

Critics who say that TNA is filled with washed up former WWE wrestlers trying to collect a paycheck: "You know, I'm not sure. We're way different than WWE. We may never be as big as WWE, but the cool thing about TNA is that we are the alternative. So people who get tired and bored with the WWE – I've been there, I understand – there's an alternative and something else to watch. For special wrestlers, there's somewhere else to go – as long as you're not brainwashed by that WWE mentality. There's other worlds out there; it's OK to switch around."

How Hulk Hogan has helped TNA: "Just being Hulk Hogan and here in TNA is huge; Sting is here, too. They're big-time involved with the younger guys whether its advice their style, compliments on a good job or giving some kind of direction. They are big-time involved and I think it definitely helps to have them and their knowledge here to help these guys that (previously) didn't get it that much. It helps slow them down and work smarter. Even just character-wise, they help all talent here."

The future of TNA: "The sky is the limit. There's so many talent guys here. I've worked with Austin Aries several times, Bobby Roode; those guys are phenomenal. There's guys like A.J. Styles; he's unbelievable. These kinds of guys are just getting it done, man. And when they do get the chances, they take full advantage. It just takes time, the product is going to get better and better. I don't know what the next five or 10 years will bring, but I definitely think TNA will continue to grow. I'm not sure where exactly it's going or how it's going to be but it's definitely going to be changing the game."

Much more is contained in the interview, including Hardy discussing Sting and The Ultimate Warrior influencing his career, doing yoga, the rise of the UFC, the ups and downs in his career and more. You can check out the full interview by clicking here.

Source: MLive.com