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With WWE rumored to have sent out feelers to Matt Hardy, we look at why they shouldn’t sign him.
Matt Hardy has been one of wrestling’s top stars of 2016. At age 41 (he turns 42-years-old on Friday), Hardy has reinvented himself from your basic wrestler to someone with a gimmick unimaginable.
The former TNA World Heavyweight Champion has taken on a “broken” persona. It’s one of the most bizarre things in wrestling, as he’s enigmatic, uncontrollable, and bites fans. This has been one of the most entertaining parts of Impact Wrestling, as viewers may tune in to see what off-the-wall move he does next.
Hardy also got notoriety for the “Final Deletion” match he did with Jeff “Brother Nero” Hardy in July. This took their feud to the Hardy property, where a ring got set up and fireworks went off. It may have been the spectacle of the wrestling year.
Before Matt went to TNA, he rose to fame with WWE across two stints from the late 1990’s to 2010. This saw him and Jeff become one of the company’s greatest tag teams, before going their separate ways.
Well, six years later, WWE is interested in Hardy returning. This is according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Triple H sent out “feelers” to the TNA star, whose contract expires in the spring.
Whether this actually happens won’t be known for months. However, the case could be made that this would be wrong for both WWE and this charismatic wrestler. Why would that be the case?
Here are three reasons why WWE shouldn’t sign Matt Hardy.
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3. The Dudley Boyz Should Be an Example
If Matt Hardy returns to WWE, six-plus years would have passed. Given his former popularity on programming, and how he could be considered one of the best tag team wrestlers, there would be excitement for a comeback. Even more so if the “broken” persona appears.
There is a recent example of this happening, though. One that didn’t work out well.
When The Dudley Boyz returned to WWE in August 2015, it may have been the surprise of the year. This tag team hadn’t been seen the company’s programming in over one decade, and seemed primed to work at the top of their respective division. They worked a feud with New Day for the WWE Tag Team Championships, and could have had one last reign.
However, the opposite would happen.
Bubba Ray and D-Von would lose multiple title matches to New Day, and proceed as enhancement talents. The Wyatt Family and Usos were helped by this, but it only lowered both the nostalgia and credibility of The Dudley Boyz within months. They went from getting roaring pops, to sleeping sirens.
Would bringing back Hardy be worth it to have him just put over everyone? It would leave him directionless, and someone who fans may not want to see appear on TV. Would both WWE and Hardy really want to see that happen?
WWE.com
2. Matt Hardy Wouldn’t Be Positioned as a Top Star
Matt Hardy’s career has taken off, despite being about to turn 42-years-old. He’s had a career renaissance in TNA, something that hadn’t been expected for someone who was a struggling babyface for months.
This wouldn’t be the case in WWE. Probably not even close.
If he goes back to the Leader in Sports Entertainment, Hardy would probably have a different position on the card than TNA. He wouldn’t be headlining pay-per-views often, which is controlled by Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, Dean Ambrose, John Cena, and AJ Styles, among others. It’s suddenly a packed main event scene in WWE, one that may be difficult to breach.
That may leave Hardy in the mid-card scene, going after the United States or Intercontinental Championship. He would float around, doing feuds that may leave him from working with the top stars, who he’s been paired with in TNA throughout 2016.
Given that Hardy is nearly 42 and won’t be getting any younger, he may be best served as a star on TNA, and the independent shows he works. Otherwise, even with the potential money involved, would it be worth it being a middle man?
WWE.com
1. WWE Doesn’t Need Him
WWE has plucked a few stars from their past to return like Curt Hawkins, Jinder Mahal, Rhyno, and Shelton Benjamin (whenever he gets healed). A handful of NXT talents also got plucked to be part of the Brand Extension in July. All these moves filled out necessary depth, including the cruiserweights filling out a spot on WWE Raw every week.
For other potential returns, though, would there even be a fit for Matt Hardy? Probably not.
As noted, he’s not going to be in the packed main event scene. There’s the mid-card group, which is filled up with interchangeable wrestlers throughout WWE. The company has a handful of them on both brands, some of which don’t even get used. Tag teams potentially breaking up may fill spots too. They’ll contend for the Intercontinental and United States Championships, but there’s only so many feuds that can be done with these belts every year.
The case could be made that Hardy would jump to the top of the mid-card division, given his past with WWE and the notoriety he’s received outside. Would a soon-to-be 42-year-old be needed to take away a spot from someone else, though? Raw is plentiful with young talent, and SmackDown has two hours to work with, which has seemed like the proper amount of time to work all the storylines. Throwing in another veteran, who will need air time, may shorten everything. for other programs.
WWE wouldn’t really need Hardy, and are better off with their current situation.
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