Real Extreme

In the ring, they have captured the imagination of a new generation of sports-entertainment fans. Through their unique style, daring acrobatics and overall sense of self, they have become three of the most appealing Superstars the World Wrestling Federation has ever produced. Yet for all Matt, Jeff and Lita have accomplished inside the ring, their real-life story may be even more inspirational. For in following their dreams, they've remained true to themselves, never forgetting who they really are.

It's very easy to think you know someone when you see them on television. This is especially true of the Hardyz and Lita, since their in-ring personae closely reflects their real-world personalities. But as much as this is so, there are aspects of their being that lay deep beneath the characters that everyone has become familiar with from WWF television.

Most Hardy Boyz fans are familiar with their story: the tragic loss of their mother during their childhood; their long odyssey from Cameron, North Carolina, to the World Wresting Federation; and their penchant for creativity and originality. Lita's story has also been well-documented: her nomadic childhood; her search to find a career in which she felt comfortable; and her struggle to be respected for her ability and will-gender not withstanding.

Behind these stories, though, lie three different and complex people. Each their own person, yet inextricably linked to the other. A team, to be sure, but not one in which their individuality is lost.

Matt Hardy

The Engineer-Creativity With a Purpose

"If I hadn't gotten into this business, I'd probably be an engineer," says Matt. "I'm sure I wouldn't have been as happy as I am now, but that's probably what I would have done."

Spend some time with Matt Hardy, and it's impossible not to come away impressed with his maturity and focus. He is a thinker, a consummate professional, always aware of his surroundings and never losing sight of his goals. Like the engineers who build our world, Matt has creativity, will and thoughtfulness to make things work.

Many dream of making it to the World Wrestling Federation, but few succeed. Matt did, and it wasn't by accident. From an early age, he realized what it would take to make it in his chosen profession. He studied the genre. He promoted local events. He wrestled for pennies, dreamed up angles and even taught himself to sew so that he and others could wear the costumes and gear they needed to perform. He learned responsibility early and took the important things seriously. More significantly, he paid attention to details and learned every step along the way.

Speak to him today about his career, and not much has changed. He may not need to sew his clothes any longer, but his desire to succeed and willingness to learn are still there, stronger than ever. Ask Matt what he does in his free time, and more than likely, he'll say that he's working on his skills, concocting something new for his character, or discussing the business with Amy or other Superstars.

It is said that we are shaped as much by our environment as we are by our genes. Matt's environment taught him responsibility. His mother passed away before he and Jeff had reached their teens. At an age when most boys' biggest worries are asking a girl to go steady, Matt was assuming the role of a pseudo-parent.

"I was 12 and Jeff was 9 when our mom passed away," recalls Matt. "We never really got to that age where we rightfully knew each other. But I just knew that she was a really great person. It definitely got stuck in our heads to be good people. There comes a time when you become your own self and make your own decisions. There's no one to say 'do this' or 'do that'."

After Matt finished his first year of college, his father became ill. Instead of going back to school and enjoying campus life, Matt stayed home to take care of the house and look after Jeff, who was still in high school. He took his responsibilities seriously.

Meanwhile, he continued to pursue his dream. He didn't let life's circumstances deter him. Instead, he buckled down, paid attention to details, and found a way to make things work.

Matt likes to call himself a dreamer, and those who know him probably concur with his assessment. Now, Matt dreams of becoming the World Wrestling Champion. Some may scoff at the notion of his holding sports-entertainment's ultimate prize, but the doubters won't deter him. He's faced adversity and long odds before, and is not the type of person to let other's beliefs stop him from pursuing his goals. Matt's dream may or may not happen, but there's one thing of which you can be certain: He will do everything in his power to make sure that his dream has the best possible chance to come true.

Matt Hardy

Dare to Dream

People constantly ask me if growing up I could have ever imagined in my wildest dreams being a WWF Superstar. To most people's surprise, I always answer with a confident "Yes." Were there times when I doubted myself and got discouraged? Sure there were, but I never lost my focus on my dreams.

While Jeff, Amy and I were in the process of helping to create this magazine, I was asked to describe myself. I answered that I was a hard-working, good, determined person. I also believe what goes around comes around, that you create your own destiny, and that you get back what you put in. I also feel there are magical and mystical/special moments in my life that are signs that everything happens for a reason-such as a dream coming true. To sum things up, I would describe myself as a dreamer, a dream-chaser, and a dream-catcher.

When Jeff and I first discovered our passion for professional wrestling, my dream was to wrestle at my school, Cameron Elementary. Just as kids do, Jeff and I would draw sketches of how the set up should look in the gymnasium. Years later, when I was running our own small promotion, we achieved that goal.

I remember that after I first wrestled before a live crowd on October 15, 1992, my goal in life became to wrestle at least one match with the WWF. Less than two years later, in May 1994, I was able to fulfill that dream. I wrestled Nikolai Volkoff on live WWF television in Youngstown, Ohio. I told my friends if I never went any further in the wrestling business, I had a least achieved my goal. Now, it was time to reach higher. I decided I was going to dedicate my life to wrestling so that I could get a full-time job with the WWF. I worked as hard as I could to gain size. I drove all over the East Coast to work shows for nothing, continued promoting local shows, and even decided not to finished college because of a conflicting wrestling schedule. I recall someone telling me, "They don't get any country boys from a little town in North Carolina to be big-time rasslers." I replied, "The WWF doesn't build wrestlers in a factory. They have to come from somewhere." I think the city of Cameron has done all right for itself when it comes to putting out wrestlers.

I'll never forget how my insides felt like they were going to explode when Bruce Prichard told Jeff and me that the WWF would like to put us under contract. That moment alone made my life worth living. I have a copy of the first WWF paycheck I ever received framed in my room.

Once Jeff and I we part of the WWF, we set our sights higher again. It had always been our dream to be the World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions. We worked hard, we learned, we improved, we got an opportunity and we succeeded. We won the WWF tag Team titles in Fayetteville, North Carolina, 30 minutes from our house. I wore the belt around my waist for two straight days, taking it with me everywhere. Jeff and I have been lucky enough to hold the WWF Tag Team titles four times. It's not a big deal to some in the wrestling industry to hold a championship title, but for me it was a dream come true, something I had visions of when I slept, a real dream that became reality.

If I was forced to quit wrestling tomorrow, I would be happy with everything I have accomplished. But I wouldn't be satisfied. I don't think I will ever be. I think that's what makes me tick and always push forward. There are many things I want to accomplish in the WWF. I want to develop a strong character and personality. I want to be the WWF Champion. I want to be a locker-room leader like the ones we have now, and I want to pass on the knowledge I've been given and have learned to others who are young and hungry.

When I first fell in love with the wrestling business and dreamed of becoming a WWF superstar, a lot of people laughed and thought I was silly; that just made me try harder. I've always been good at taking the negatives in my life and turning them into positives. If someone tells me I can't or I won't, it makes me work harder than if someone says that I can. I'm very driven to defy the odds and make people eat their words. I never let anyone tell me what I can and can't achieve. I think that anything is possible as long as it is realistic and humanly feasible. I had a dream and busted my @$# to make it reality, and I look forward to ever day of my life because of that.

I've been very fortunate to be able to do what I love, but I definitely feel like I've earned it. I want people to hear my story, feel my passion and be inspired. I want people to realize that it's not ridiculous to have a dream and try to obtain it. Go for it. The future holds nothing but opportunity, but it's up to you to make it happen.

Opportunity won't come to you, or just happen. You have to dedicate yourself and create it. I did. And you can, too. In the great words of Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, "I have wished for so long, now I wish for you today."

Jeff Hardy

The Artist-Proving the Impossible Wrong

He draws, sculpts, writes poetry and plays in a band. His favorite television show is The Crocodile Hunter, and he watches documentaries on the Discovery Channel for hours. Ask him what he's most interested in, and he's liable to say, "Finding out where the soul goes after you die." Did we mention he rides dirt bikes, drives a Corvette and thrives off jumping from tall ladders?

Jeff Hardy is truly a one-of-a-kind original. If you still have doubts, look at some of the pictures in this magazine. See the ones with the yard on fire and the man-made volcanoes? That's Jeff's front lawn.

Of the three young extremists, Jeff is the most difficult to classify. His laid-back demeanor gives the impression that he doesn't care about things. But one look at his past and all the effort he has put into his various endeavors proves otherwise. His gentle nature and friendly manner gives the impression that he's soft. But take a look at any of his wrestling matches and you'll quickly see that he's one of the toughest guys around. His quietness could easily be mistaken for flakiness, but engage him in a conversation, and he comes off focused and well-informed.

"I realize that I'm a bit different," says Jeff, "But that's just me. I feel like a loner in the WWF. I get along with everybody, and I have some good friends, but it's not like I have really close friendships. I know a lot of people still say, 'He's weird. He's a strange one. He's crazy.' Even in school, I never really hung out with the main cliques. I would always go up to the nerdy or outcast guys in the corner and speak to them at lunch."

Before shows, Jeff is more likely to be sitting in the stands by himself than ganging out in the locker room with the guys. He's also more likely to appear cool, calm and collect before a big match, rather than hyped up and anxious. His relaxed attitude sets him apart from his fellow Superstars and contributes to his 'different' label.

"You could ask anybody in the WWF about me, and they'll say, 'That dude, he's cool. He don't give a damn. He's laid-back.' Laid-back is the perfect description of me. I'm a laid-back person but that doesn't mean I don't get nervous, or I'm not interested in stuff. I don't let people know that I'm really nervous. Or at least I do my best not to let them know. So, a lot of people just jump on that, but they don't really know what's going on inside of me as far as being all torn up."

In the ring, Jeff has his own way of doing things as well. His high-risk maneuvers have thrilled countless WWF fans and secured his place as one of the Federation's biggest attractions. Because he is so fearless and takes so many risks in the ring, Jeff is often asked why he does what he does? His answer is quintessential Jeff.

"I do it because I love it. I'm 23 years old and can't complain about the money I make and the smiles I can create on people's faces. It's what I really thrive off of-climbing up a big ladder and jumping off. It's that extreme attitude I've always had. Doing all the extreme things, extreme sports, I love it. I started racing motorcycles when I was 12. I think that's what really ruined me as far as getting a little nutty. It takes its toll with all the injuries and soreness, but those are things you learn to put up with, I love what I do, and I want to do it for a long time."

There is no doubt that Jeff is dedicated to the business that he has put so much time and effort into, but unlike his older brother, the business doesn't consume him. He recently turned an old trailer into a music studio and plays there with his band, Pure Oxygen. He readily admits that his guitar skills aren't quite up to his wrestling skills, but his fascination with music and how it moves people burns brighter than ever.

Writing, too, is one of Jeff's favorite pastimes. He became interested in writing after reading the lyrics to a Stone Temple Pilots song when he was in 11th grade.

"I bought the Purple album by Stone Temple Pilots. I was reading the lyrics to one particular song ["Still Remains"], and there is a part of the chorus, "If you should die before me ask if you can bring a friend." After reading that, I went straight to Matt's room and said, "I wish I could write something that makes you feel so strong. I'm gonna see if I can try to write some stuff."

These days, Jeff writes on the road when he has time. Sometimes, stories or thoughts will pop into his head, and he'll scramble for a pen and paper to jot the down. Because he's so fatigued while traveling, he doesn't write quite as much as he used to, but his passion for writing remains strong and he's still searching for the perfect story.

Matt Hardy dreams of becoming the WWF world Champion. Jeff, too, would love to win the biggest prize in the business, but he also has other dreams of becoming a rock star, of writing the perfect poem, of understanding the incomprehensible, of proving the impossible wrong.

The Rock Star-Searching for that Place Called Home

While Matt and Jeff were growing up in Cameron, North Carolina, Amy Dumas was bouncing all over the Southeast. Rarely staying in one place long enough to establish roots, Amy settled into a nomadic lifestyle that would characterize the first quarter-century of her life.

Just a few years ago, Amy fell in love with sports-entertainment and decided that she wanted to become a WWF Superstar. Though her new career choice would keep her traveling, that place called home would soon appear over the horizon.

Amy's search for home is a remarkable story. Her journeys have strengthened her, and trough it all, she has been able to maintain her individuality. Like most treat stories, her tale is best told in first person.

Amy on Amy

I am very much a spontaneous person. I don't plan things out. I believe life flows better if you roll with it. Many situations are far beyond our control and a waste of positive energy to fight. However, I am willing to pour all of my energy and focus to work on situations and outcomes that I can have a hand in. Like the path I take to get from point A to point B., the type of people I surround myself with, and the life experiences I have.

For example, growing up, I moved around a lot. Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando, back to Fort Lauderdale and on to Atlanta, all before I was 12 years old. Being that young, I had little control over this. But my nomadic childhood would help prepare me not to be afraid of change and also to adapt quickly to different situations. I have always had an easy time making friends, but keeping close friends was difficult due to moving around. I spent six years in Atlanta, which is the longest I have lived somewhere to date.

I graduated high school early and moved out when I was 17. My parents had divorced a few years prior. I moved into a little studio apartment in midtown Atlanta and adopted my dog Cody. He has been stuck with me ever since. I began to feel as though I was treading water and didn't wake up mornings with a whole lot of passion. I knew that meant it was time to move on. My funds were limited, so upon exploring my options, Cody and I decided to pack up and move into a group house outside of Washington, DC.

A friend of a friend was visiting Atlanta, when I told him about wanting to move. Half-jokingly, he said they were looking for another roommate. So two weeks later, I headed up to DC. It was me and seven guys living in a house that was also home to a band, recording studio and tattoo shop. I lived in the laundry room for $80 a month.

Needless to say, that got old quick. I saved up a little money and headed to Europe for a month, again searching for something, I just didn't know what. Europe was a great experience and allowed me to stay put for a little while upon my return. I then shared an apartment in Washington, DC for about a year.

After that, I moved an hour and a half south to Richmond, Virginia. I knew some people there and rent was cheap, which meant I could save more money and keep searching.

While in DC, I had taken up playing the bass guitar and tried being in a few bands. Nothing ever really panned out. I traveled with some bands helping them out by moving equipment or selling merchandise. I had fun doing that and being on the road was always a special time to me. Not knowing where your day would take you, who you would meet, and then giving an audience part of your soul every night. I knew I wanted that to be a part of my life in some form.

I have always believed that life is about finding your own personal niche, what makes you tick. You may be influenced by your upbringing, your family's business, a teacher's suggestion, friends or your surroundings. You may have had a gut feeling from a young age about what you want to do, while others search over half their life looking for "it". In my opinion, searching itself is half the fun. Because once you realize what you want to do, it's time to get serous and go for it.

It was around the summer of '97 that I knew I wanted to be a part of the WWF. At the time, I didn't know exactly what that meant or how I was going to get there. I did know that the world of sports-entertainment encompassed everything I'd been searching for. The WWF had a lot of the same qualities that traveling band had, and you definitely get to give your soul to the audience every night, but you also get to be extremely physical and athletic as well.

At first I didn't' know how to start training for wrestling, so I began training at a judo club. There I learned to have competitive nature and feel contact while remaining focused. I took a three-day crash course in Mexico, in a makeshift wrestling ring made of amateur wrestling mats and garden hoses. I had never been in so much pain, but the feeling I had was complete euphoria. From that point on, anything that cold get me a step closer to the WWF was on my list. I didn't care how long it took-inch by inch, mule by mile-I would be in the WWF one day.

I signed a developmental contract on November 1, 1999, and debuted in February 2000. After a year and a half of walking down the ramp, I still wake up some mornings not believing I am here. Everything feels so new to me, but in a real good way. For the first time in my life, I can begin to think long-term and have a sense of what having a constant is like. I am just starting to plant roots regarding my career in the WWF, my first long-term friends, and my new home in North Carolina. It is a very comfortable feeling knowing this is where I belong.