WWE Legend Confesses AEW Run Made Him Consider Retiring

WWE legend Matt Hardy’s run in AEW started with high hopes but soon turned out to be underwhelming.

Debuting during the pandemic era, Hardy couldn’t bring the “Broken Matt Hardy” energy that thrived with live crowds, making the character feel forced on All Elite TV. Tony Khan then shifted him through different gimmicks and storylines, including leading a group and mentoring younger talents, but none truly clicked.

A long, drawn-out feud with Sammy Guevara and other storylines lacked satisfying conclusions, adding to more fan disappointment. Jeff Hardy’s legal troubles also stalled the Hardys’ tag team momentum, with AEW sidelining them and not delivering significant wins on TV.

Finally, in April 2024, he left the company after his contract expired and he chose not to renew it. Two months later, his brother, Jeff, followed him out of the company.

WWE Legend Matt Hardy Wanted To Quit Wrestling

Speaking on the latest episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, WWE legend Matt Hardy revealed he contemplated quitting wrestling in his final AEW days. But after spending some time in TNA, he felt his passion for wrestling return again.

“During those times in AEW, there were times where both myself and Jeff, especially me when I was there and I wasn’t really do anything, it just made me question, why am I still doing this? I love this, but it kind of doesn’t feel like something I love right now.”

“Ultimately, what we needed to do was leave and go to TNA, and then we found that again. And I am as much in love with the business as I have ever been this year.” [H/T Wrestling Observer]

Matt and his brother Jeff Hardy continue to be a major attraction in TNA. Plus, the Hardy Boyz made their return to WWE in February earlier this year, while being contracted to TNA. They recently lost the WWE NXT Tag Team Championship to DarkState in a Broken Rules match at Halloween Havoc on October 25, 2025.

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