Matt Hardy’s look back at WWE Unforgiven 2005 became more than a reflection on one of the defining victories of his own career. While revisiting the event on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, Hardy also paused to remember Rosey and Lance Cade, two performers from that night’s card who have since passed away.
Unforgiven 2005 is most closely associated with Hardy’s intensely personal Steel Cage Match against Edge. The bout was a major moment in the real-life rivals’ long and complicated history, with Hardy defeating Edge in a hard-fought confrontation that remains among the most memorable matches of Hardy’s WWE singles run. But the card also included a World Tag Team Championship change involving Cade, Trevor Murdoch, Rosey, and The Hurricane.
On that show, Cade and Murdoch defeated Rosey and The Hurricane to win the World Tag Team Championships. Looking back on the match and the wrestlers involved, Hardy spoke warmly about Rosey’s personality, his role alongside The Hurricane, and the contrast between Rosey and his late brother, Umaga.
“Rosey was a real sweet guy... We liked him a whole lot... very, very nice guy. I dug him. Very soft-spoken,” Hardy said on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy.
For more background on this topic, read Perry Saturn Recalls Terri Runnels WWE Pairing and the Missed Macho Man-Elizabeth Concept.
Hardy described Rosey as more reserved than Umaga, who was known outside the ring as Eddie Fatu. Rosey, whose real name was Matt Anoa’i, was the older brother of current World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns. Hardy recalled that Rosey’s personality was laid-back, while also stressing that the performer enjoyed the superhero-themed act that paired him with The Hurricane.
“Umaga was much more... he’s loud, much more flamboyant, you know, when it comes to that. Zilla’s dad, he was just such a character. Rosey was a lot more laid-back, but he really enjoyed doing the bit with Hurricane,” Hardy said.
Rosey’s WWE run included a memorable partnership with The Hurricane
Rosey entered WWE with a significant wrestling family background and had already worked in the company as part of the 3-Minute Warning team with Jamal, later known as Umaga. That pairing was presented with an intimidating edge, and Rosey’s WWE trajectory took a dramatically different turn after he aligned with The Hurricane.
The Hurricane and Rosey became one of WWE’s more distinctive tag acts of the mid-2000s. Rosey was recast as The Hurricane’s “Super Hero in Training,” giving the team a lighthearted identity that stood apart from the more conventional rivalries around it. The presentation allowed Rosey to show a different side of himself, and the tandem ultimately reached the top of the Raw tag division when they captured the World Tag Team Championships.
Their reign ended at Unforgiven 2005, where Cade and Murdoch established themselves as champions. The match now carries an added poignancy because Rosey and Cade both died years after appearing on the same championship contest. Hardy’s recollections centered not on storyline roles or title changes, but on the people behind those roles.
Rosey died on April 17, 2017, 10 days after his 47th birthday. His death was attributed to complications related to congestive heart failure. His passing was felt throughout the wrestling world, particularly among those familiar with the Anoa’i family’s vast legacy in the industry. That legacy has continued to grow through Roman Reigns, whose modern WWE career has made him one of the most prominent figures in the company.
Hardy’s comments offer another personal view of Rosey: a performer who could successfully inhabit a colorful television character, but who was known by colleagues as soft-spoken and kind. In an industry where the loudest personalities can often dominate recollections, Hardy’s emphasis on Rosey’s quieter demeanor is notable.
Hardy praises Lance Cade’s ability and old-school instincts
Hardy also reflected on Lance Cade, who teamed with Trevor Murdoch in the Unforgiven championship victory. Cade and Murdoch were an effective pairing in WWE’s tag team scene, blending Cade’s athleticism with Murdoch’s rugged, old-school style. Their championship win over Rosey and The Hurricane gave the team a major platform on Raw.
Cade had a natural presence and physical gifts that were evident in his in-ring work. He was viewed as a performer with a strong foundation, capable of working the more traditional tag formula while still moving with the fluidity expected of a modern WWE athlete. Hardy’s assessment highlighted both sides of that skill set.
“Lance Cade was a very nice guy, very hard worker, obviously,” Hardy said. “You know, he had issues that he had dealt with off and on, but... he was a very good dude. And I think an extremely talented wrestler, too... He was just a very solid worker. He was a great athlete. He was very smooth. He was also very smart with how he would do things. And he was very much like a throwback to old-school wrestling.”
The description reflects why Cade was able to fit so well in a traditional tag team setting. Hardy specifically praised Cade’s intelligence and approach to structuring his work, not simply his athletic traits. That combination of smooth execution, sound judgment, and an appreciation for classic wrestling fundamentals made Cade stand out to a veteran such as Hardy.
Cade died in 2010 from heart failure at the age of 29. His death came at a tragically young age and remains one of the more sobering losses associated with the WWE generation of the 2000s. Hardy acknowledged that Cade had dealt with personal issues, but his central message was one of respect for Cade as a person and recognition of the ability he brought to the ring.
Unforgiven 2005 remains a significant snapshot of WWE’s era
WWE pay-per-views often serve as time capsules, particularly when wrestlers revisit them years later. A single card can bring together performers from different generations, careers at entirely different stages, and stories that take on new meanings with time. Unforgiven 2005 is especially important in Hardy’s career because of the Edge match, but it also captured an active tag division featuring several wrestlers who made lasting impressions in very different ways.
For Hardy, revisiting the event meant returning to a pivotal chapter of his own story. The Steel Cage Match with Edge remains inseparable from the personal tension and audience investment surrounding their rivalry. Yet Hardy’s discussion of Rosey and Cade showed how a retrospective can expand beyond the night’s headline attraction.
Rosey’s partnership with The Hurricane remains fondly remembered for its charm and personality, while Cade’s work with Murdoch stands as an example of a more traditional WWE tag team presentation. Their match at Unforgiven changed the championship landscape, but Hardy’s memories focused on their character away from the cameras and their respective strengths as performers.
Those recollections also underline a truth familiar to wrestling audiences: cards are remembered for results and marquee matches, but the wrestlers involved leave their deepest mark through the relationships they build and the professionalism they display over time. Hardy knew both men as co-workers, and his tribute was rooted in that experience.
Rosey was remembered as a sweet, understated presence who embraced an unusual and entertaining role alongside The Hurricane. Cade was remembered as a hardworking, talented athlete with a thoughtful, throwback approach to professional wrestling. In looking back at Unforgiven 2005, Hardy ensured that both men were recognized for much more than a single tag team title match.
In pictures
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.