Broken Matt Hardy: Better Than Ever in AEW

Matt Hardy has found new life in AEW. The former WWE Superstar joined Tony Khan’s company in March of 2020 and since that time, he has more than embraced his new home. He’s also risen to the occasion every time he’s had the opportunity. 

But Hardy is a pro, so fans expected nothing less from him. They knew that the Broken character, though it’s very complex, is just fun to watch. The WWE version of the gimmick was adequate at the time, but it  was a shadow of what Matt did in Impact Wrestling. But now, Hardy is completely immersed in his character, his past and more importantly, his future. It appears as though Matt Hardy is only just getting started.

After a 28-year career that saw him rise to the top of the industry, Hardy has once again discovered a new path with new challenges. It’s happened for him before, thanks in large part to his own efforts. 

Matt was never content to just accept his place in the business. He was always looking to evolve, to try new things and to contribute as much as he could to the sport that he loves. He knows that the only way to keep himself in the game is to keep pushing himself to new heights and that’s exactly what he’s doing in AEW.

Hardy’s AEW run comes as no surprise to longtime fans, who realize that the company is the perfect fit for him. His schedule is much lighter than it was in WWE, which means he’s saving wear and tear on his body. He can explore his creativity on different level than he was allowed to do before and that’s been obvious from the start.

Relive Matt Hardy’s first AEW confrontation with Chris Jericho!

But he’s also in a unique position to give back to the business. Matt Hardy has a great pro wrestling mind and he knows how the game is played. He can spread his knowledge to the AEW locker room and help the company’s younger stars to grow as time goes on.

Considering the fact that many of today’s talents were directly influenced by The Hardy Boyz, it’s only natural that Matt now becomes a coach for those talents behind the scenes. But Matt is not yet ready to hang up his boots, as he’s definitely become a relevant force in All Elite Wrestling.

Matt’s war with Chris Jericho and The Inner Circle is perfect casting. Hardy is the eccentric and  supernatural hero, who fans love to watch. He’s in the bed shape of his career and he’s found a new energy in his ring work. Matt is a new man, with a new purpose and his purpose is to delete Chris Jericho.

Matt challenges Jericho and The inner Circle!

Over the past year, Jericho has become nothing short of a maniacal supervillain. His character is highly entertaining and fun, but in the end, he is a dangerous man who will do whatever it takes to win. He has no honor and when it comes to The Inner Circle, there is no honor among thieves. Chris Jericho’s group is bent on domination and now Matt Hardy is standing in their way. But Hardy is not alone.

Matt has aligned himself with The Elite, which is yet another perfect move on AEW’s part. The Elite is AEW’s top babyface faction and Matt fits right in. He has the top spotlight and he’s among the best of the best in the company. When these two forces collide, fireworks will ensue.

The Blood & Guts special on TNT would have featured a WarGames match for this battle, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that event is not happening yet. So in the meantime, the company is keeping the heat simmering between the two factions and at the top of it all are Hardy and Jericho.

Watch Hardy and Kenny Omega versus The Inner Circle on Dynamite!

But what is to come for Broken Matt Hardy? Many believe that he will overcome Jericho and eventually find his way to the AEW World Championship. Jon Moxley is the champion right now of course and it’s clear that the company is fully behind him as the top titleholder. But the time may come when Mox either drops the title to Hardy, or drops the title to the man that Hardy defeats.

However, there’s no guarantee that Matt is even interested in winning the championship at this point. He seems perfectly happy with his current run and it’s apparent that he’s enjoying himself in his new surroundings. 

Of course if he’s given the opportunity and if the story is good, then Matt may step forward and step up. He’s done it before. Fans who sleep on Matt in 2020 have perhaps learned nothing bout him over the past 28 years. Matt Hardy is not content with being content and he’s always ready for the next challenge. He’s excelling in AEW and chances are, there’s much more to come.

 

Tom Clark is a Senior Pro Wrestling Analyst and Featured Columnist for Wrestling Rumors. His podcast, Tom Clark’s Main Event, is available on iTunes,YouTube, iHeart Radio and live every Friday at 12pm EST on Wrestling Rumors Facebook Live