Matt Hardy Shuts Down Accusations He Leaked AEW Brawl Out Information to Dirt Sheets

Matt Hardy is shutting down the idea that he leaked backstage information during AEW’s infamous Brawl Out drama

The backstage fight involving CM Punk and members of The Elite after AEW All Out 2022 became one of the company’s most controversial moments, and the drama kept AEW under negative attention for a long time. Now, Hardy is making it clear he had nothing to do with leaking information about what happened behind the scenes.

While speaking to The Mack Down Report, Hardy addressed claims that he fed information to wrestling media during the fallout. He said the accusation never made sense because he has always believed in protecting the wrestling business rather than exposing things that could hurt the product.

“I think this is a misconception that people online seem to have—especially from that time when AEW and the CM Punk situation and the whole ‘Brawl Out’ deal happened with him and The Young Bucks.

I’ve always been great buddies with the Bucks, and I’ve always liked them a lot. But when all that happened, people were like, ‘Well, Matt Hardy’s the one leaking all this. He’s leaking it to the dirt sheets.’

And it’s funny, because I’m actually an advocate for not doing that. I’m an advocate for protecting everything in the business. I’ll give my opinions when there’s something I can talk about, but when people leak stuff to the dirt sheets that hurts or damages the product—I don’t believe in that at all.”

Hardy then explained that his mindset comes from an older-school view of the wrestling industry. While he understands that online coverage and backstage news are now a major part of modern wrestling, he said that does not mean he personally supports leaking damaging information.

“I think we have to protect our industry. That’s kind of the old-school side of me. I understand that all this stuff is relevant now—the internet, coverage, everything—it’s a constantly evolving world. But as far as me trying to bury someone or leak something—I don’t do that. I’m not that guy. But that’s what a lot of the sickos said, because they weren’t fans of me.”

The Brawl Out incident remains one of AEW’s most talked-about controversies, especially because of how much it affected CM Punk, The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and the company’s public image. Hardy’s comments show he wants no part of being tied to the leaks and gossip that surrounded the situation. For Matt Hardy, the message is simple: he may speak his mind when appropriate, but he insists he was not the person feeding Brawl Out drama to wrestling media.