The fallout from TNA pulling talent from AEW-related matches just took another turn, and now Matt Hardy is weighing in with a blunt take on how things should have been handled from the start.
The controversy initially erupted after MJF blasted Carlos Silva for shutting down planned crossover matches, including a bout with Nic Nemeth and others like Ricochet vs. Leon Slater. Silva then responded on Busted Open Radio, taking full responsibility and framing the decision as a necessary move to protect TNA’s business interests.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Hardy said the real issue isn’t just the cancellations, it’s that those matches were ever approved in the first place, especially given TNA’s working relationship with WWE.
“Well, in my honest opinion, I think if we are partners with WWE and WWE’s laid out how we’re working together with TNA, and AEW is its own entity, we probably from that point on said, ‘Oh, if we need indie bookings, we probably shouldn’t do AEW–TNA bookings.’”
Hardy acknowledged that the matches may have been designed to benefit everyone involved, but made it clear that the bigger-picture business reality should have taken priority from day one.
“I think these finishes had things that were going to work for both parties when it was all said and done. It probably should have never been set, is what I would say, from the beginning, and I think going forward that would be the case now.”
Hardy also pointed out that once those matches were already advertised, letting them play out might have been the cleaner move, but still circled back to the same conclusion.
“Because they were set and things were there—if these things could have happened and all parties would have been happy, it would have been great if it could have continued, just let it go, especially because it was advertised. But what should have happened, most likely, is because we are partners with WWE and AEW is its own entity, these matches probably shouldn’t have ever been cleared in the beginning.”
Bottom line: Hardy isn’t defending the cancellations or attacking them either. He’s saying the situation never should’ve existed in the first place. If TNA is aligned with WWE, then mixing talent with AEW was always going to be messy, and now that it blew up publicly, Hardy’s basically calling it a lesson learned the hard way.
Do you agree with Matt Hardy that these matches should never have been approved, or should TNA have let them play out once they were already announced? Sound off in the comments.
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