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#2. Matt Hardy's AEW persona has not resonated with the fans
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Matt Hardy's run in AEW has been a peculiar one. He debuted in the company during the height of the pandemic in an empty arena. Initially positioning himself as the "Broken" Matt Hardy character, he would then transition into a manager role in the Hardy Family Office as "Big Money" Matt.
While the 47-year-old veteran still enjoys considerable screentime and gets to help mentor young talents such as Private Party, it doesn't seem to help connect him with the audience. It's clear that he was much more popular in WWE and even IMPACT wrestling.
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Fans hope Matt Hardy turns his career around soon and perhaps the imminent arrival of his brother Jeff could help him gain mainstream relevance once more in 2022.
#1. Jake Hager debuted on the first AEW Dynamite as a big deal but now barely appears on television
When Jake Hager debuted on the very first episode of Dynamite, he was immediately positioned as a top star. Aligning himself with Chris Jericho and The Inner Circle, he was the stable's bodyguard and featured in top storylines. Tony Khan made it a point to highlight his real-life MMA credentials and hype up his undefeated streak.
But taking away his Inner Circle involvement, what exactly has Hager done for the company, three years on? In WWE, he was at least an ECW and World Heavyweight Champion. Not only has Hager now won any titles in Tony Khan's promotions, he comes across as very bland and had no interesting or significant feuds to speak of.
Perhaps the over-saturation of stables and talent in AEW might be a reason for overshadowing the veteran. Furthermore, new major signings like CM Punk and Bryan Danielson have also impacted his relevance in AEW. With The Inner Circle seemingly reaching the end of their run, it would be interesting to see where this leaves Hager and whether he can stand out alone in a stacked division.
