Matt Hardy has shared his thoughts on WWE’s recent use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in a segment featuring The Hardy Boyz on NXT.
Speaking on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, Hardy addressed the AI-generated visual used during a transformation sequence, stating he was generally accepting of its application in that specific context, despite his personal reservations about technology.
“It was interesting. It was cool how they were able to do that and give a look of how the transformation happens underneath the water, where that’s always been left up to the imagination before,” he said. “I was okay with it. If you’re going to use that, it was a decent time to use it.”
However, he contrasted his view with his wife’s interest in technology and expressed his broader concerns, adding, “My wife is current with that stuff, but I have no interest in any of it. Technology has already dumbed us down way too much as it is.”
WWE Staff Anxiety about push into AI use
Hardy’s comments come amidst a larger discussion within WWE regarding the integration of AI into creative processes. The company recently hired Cyrus Kowsari as the new Senior Director of Creative Strategy, reportedly to spearhead this transition. During a production meeting, Paul Levesque (Triple H) discussed the inevitable use of AI in areas like creative, video, graphics, and storytelling. While Levesque assured the writing staff that “nobody in the (writers) room will be replaced,” nervousness among employees reportedly persists.
This anxiety was apparently exacerbated when another executive made a poorly received joke, naming a specific individual whose job might be threatened by AI, which further unsettled staff. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, a significant factor contributing to the unease is a perceived lack of trust within the company.
This mistrust reportedly stems from past incidents, including how the company handled communication regarding an earlier injury storyline involving Seth Rollins. The report states, “People are still worried about it because the trust level has been down since they lied to everyone on the first Rollins injury, so now nobody trusts anything about injuries and most believe TKO has no loyalty at all to anyone”.
Beyond immediate job security, concerns also exist about the long-term impact of AI, even if widespread replacements don’t happen initially. As Dave Meltzer noted, “One person noted that even if it just eliminates some entry-level positions, that would mean fewer new writers being trained”.
While Matt Hardy found the specific use of AI in his NXT segment acceptable, his remarks add a wrestler’s perspective to the ongoing internal debate about AI’s expanding role in WWE creative.
