On the live broadcast of “SmackDown” on September 13, 2001, Vince McMahon, the Executive Chairman of WWE, delivered a raw and powerful speech about the United States. Hardy spoke about McMahon’s fearlessness during that distressing period.

“Vince is a fearless human being,” Hardy said. “He wasn’t afraid of stuff. There were so many people that were just worried, like, ‘If we’re the first big public gathering, does that make us a target?’ I felt like that. It was very strange. I was very concerned and worried during that day, but Vince had his mind made up. He was like, ‘Nobody stops me, nobody stops World Wrestling Entertainment, and we’re going to do the show, dammit.'”

Hardy said he wasn’t against running the live episode of “SmackDown” so soon after the 9/11 attacks. The 48-year-old pointed out that WWE’s performers were given the option to wrestle on the special broadcast. Hardy felt the locker room was concerned because it was such an uncertain time.

In 2021, WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam, who also remained in Houston for the post-9/11 “SmackDown” show, said he thought the event was a “horrible idea” at the time.

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy” with a H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.