“He Thrived on Making People ‘Uncomfortable’”—Matt Hardy Drops Bombshell on Vince McMahon’s Backstage Behavior
Even years after stepping away from power, Vince McMahon’s shadow still looms large over WWE — and the stories about his backstage behavior just won’t stop coming.
On a recent episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, former WWE star and current TNA standout Matt Hardy opened up about what he described as McMahon’s disturbing and abusive tendencies behind the scenes. According to Hardy, legendary commentator Jim Ross was often caught in the crosshairs.
Hardy didn’t mince words while recalling McMahon’s leadership style. He explained that Vince seemed to enjoy putting people in uncomfortable situations — especially those who showed any hesitation or vulnerability.
“Vince had a thing for putting people in positions that made them uncomfortable,” Hardy said. “And honestly, it felt like he got off on that. That was just one of his things.”
Hardy noted that Jim Ross appeared to be a frequent target, describing a tense and ongoing dynamic between the two that became almost routine backstage.
“If you ever showed signs of weakness, or if you said, ‘I don’t want to do that,’ he’d push even harder,” Hardy continued. “I think it crossed into abuse. And JR was one of the guys who got it the worst.”
Despite enduring that treatment, Hardy made it clear that Jim Ross played a massive — and often overlooked — role in shaping wrestling history.
According to Hardy, Ross was the executive who believed in The Hardys when it mattered most.
“JR is the one who made the call to hire me and Jeff,” Hardy said. “He also hired Edge and Christian. That entire era — The Hardys, Edge & Christian, those legendary rivalries — that was all because of JR.”
That revelation adds another layer to Ross’ legacy, highlighting how instrumental he was in creating one of WWE’s most iconic tag team eras, even while dealing with what Hardy describes as persistent mistreatment.
As more former stars continue to speak out, the stories surrounding Vince McMahon are starting to paint a clearer — and darker — picture of life behind the curtain in WWE.
So what do you think? Are Matt Hardy’s comments shocking, or do they simply confirm what fans have suspected for years? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion.
