Matt Hardy Reflects on Wrestling Career After AEW Departure

Matt Hardy has opened up about his recent struggles in professional wrestling, revealing that his tenure with AEW (All Elite Wrestling) led him to question his passion for the sport. In a recent episode of his podcast, The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, he discussed how a challenging period in AEW prompted him to consider whether he still wanted to continue wrestling.

During his final months with AEW, Hardy faced a creative lull, which contributed to feelings of uncertainty. “There were times where both myself and Jeff, especially me, when I was there and I wasn’t really doing anything, it just made me question, why am I still doing this?” Hardy shared. “I love this, but it kind of doesn’t feel like something I love right now.” These sentiments were compounded by his brother Jeff Hardy’s personal struggles, particularly following his DUI arrest in 2022, which led to a decrease in their appearances on AEW programming.

Jeff Hardy also grappled with guilt stemming from his legal issues, which further impacted their ability to perform. This culminated in their departure from AEW in April 2024, after which the Hardy brothers returned to TNA Wrestling. Since rejoining TNA, both Matt and Jeff have reignited their passion for wrestling. “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,” Matt stated.

The Hardys have expressed interest in being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame while continuing their careers in TNA. Matt articulated their desire for a fitting conclusion to their wrestling journey. “I think we would like to do something proper to wind things down. We’ve said this a couple of times in WWE, and then maybe off into the sunset and do the Hall of Fame. I would want to do the TNA and the WWE Hall of Fame and I think Jeff would as well,” he said.

On October 30, 2025, TNA Impact featured a special segment showcasing the Broken Hardys universe, revisiting four of their cinematic matches from 2016. This nostalgic look back highlights the brothers’ creative contributions to wrestling over the years. Additionally, the Hardys recently lost the NXT Tag Team titles at Halloween Havoc, marking another chapter in their storied career.

The latest episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy is available now, where he reflects on an incredibly successful year. “We’ve had five different tag title reigns this year, including WWE NXT, TNA, 4th Rope & HOG,” he noted. Hardy encouraged fans to guess which four years he ranks among the best in his career.

As the Hardys continue their journey in TNA, their passion for wrestling seems to have returned, signaling an exciting phase for both wrestlers and their fans.