Jeff Hardy shows respect to "The Deadman".
Tonight at SummerSlam, Jeff Hardy will look to become a two-time WWE United States Champion when he challenges the current champion Shinsuke Nakamura for the strap. While in the New York area over the weekend doing PR for WWE to promote SummerSlam, Jeff Hardy spoke with a great deal of media outlets and publications. One of the outlets that Hardy spoke with was 'The Kingston Whig Standard' and during that interview Hardy named wrestlers who had influences on his career and a few of the names listed by Hardy was Kurt Angle, Shawn Michaels, Rey Mysterio Jr. and The Undertaker.
Hardy went on to speak in-depth about "The Deadman" as the two men have clashed throughout their respective years in WWE over storyline grudges and world championships.
“[The Undertaker was] a huge influence,” Hardy said. “I mean he is the living legend of WWE … he is the man. To be a young, up-and-coming Jeff Hardy in the ring with The Undertaker, having that underdog-versus-the-main-eventer match was just great storytelling as far as me almost becoming [a singles] champion for the first time in my career. … Every time I got in the ring with him, it was a learning experience, and every time I watched him, I learned something." He continued, "I’ve kind of molded myself by watching guys like The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle,” he said, adding, “and kind of taking a little bit from each of them and creating myself.”
Jeff Hardy is locked in heading into his United States Championship tonight and he stated just that during his interview with WWE before entering the Barclays Center.
