Former WWE/TNA wrestler Matt Hardy talked exclusively to PWTorch editor Wade Keller on Friday's PWTorch Livecast about changes to the wrestling industry that he has been part of over the past 15 years. Specifically, changes to the type of wrestler positioned as a top act on national TV.

"I just read an interview Hulk Hogan did," Hardy said, responding to Hogan's interview with The Daily Star in the U.K. "He said the wrestling landscape has changed. He said, 'Back in my day, these guys who would have been bagging groceries,' the guys who are the main-players on the show now. That's how wrestling has changed a lot."

Hardy continued, "But, the thing is, too, is the older guys who say, 'Oh, the big guys, monster guys made wrestling so great in the '80s.' I would dare them to go out and have a match - even in their youth or their prime - in front of the wrestling audience today and see how they react. The audience has changed a lot."

Hardy noted that he and his brother, current TNA World Hvt. champion Jeff Hardy, saw the change before their eyes.

"It's funny you were talking about how we kind of helped usher in the era of smaller, more athletic guys. This is something Jeff and I joke about all the time is that when we used to walk into a dressing room, especially WWE and even when we did independent shows like in the early '90s, we were always the smallest guys," Hardy said.

"We would go to the WWE locker room and everyone was 6'6" and 350 pounds, and now I walk around the Ring of Honor locker room and I'm the biggest guy in there. 'What is going on here?' (laughs)."

Hardy said one of the potential hold-ups for someone like the very talented ROH TV champion Adam Cole is that he is undersized, but Hardy said it might not matter anymore.

"The biggest thing going against Adam Cole is his size. But, wrestling has changed so much," Hardy said. "The way the scale has changed - it went from big, monstrous men who were lumbering around the ring. Those guys faded away and the wrestling fans got smarter. Fans wanted a more sophisticated, more athletic product and more entertaining matches. Over time, the size has changed. You can see that a lot in WWE currently."

Keller's Reax: We're even seeing that with video clips from Bruno Sammartino as WWWF champion. Different wrestlers are main-eventers in their era for a reason and it doesn't necessarily translate 10 or 20 years later. For instance, C.M. Punk might not be a main-eventer in 20 years. Or, The Rock. Wrestling changes enough for that to be a possibility. The next big-thing rarely resembles the last big-thing.

[ HEAR MORE: Hardy's entire Livecast interview with live callers can be heard here at BLOGTALKRADIO.COM. VIP members get access to another 40 minutes with Hardy talking even more in-depth about wrestling topics such as changes to the industry. NOT VIP? Find out how to sign up here at PWTORCH.COM ]

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