Matt Hardy holds 45-year-old WWE legend responsible for Jeff Hardy joining TNA

Matt Hardy has claimed that a 45-year-old WWE veteran played a role behind Jeff Hardy joining TNA. The legend in question is CM Punk.

The Best in the World was paired against The Charismatic Enigma in a highly acclaimed feud mid-2009 over the World Heavyweight Championship. The rivalry ended with Punk defeating Jeff Hardy in a steel cage match on Smackdown, which led to the latter leaving the Stamford-based promotion in storyline. However, after his deal with the company ran out, Hardy signed with TNA, arriving on Impact! in 2010.

Speaking on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, the veteran revealed that Jeff had been considering returning to WWE after his contract with the promotion expired in 2009.

“And I remember after Jeff had left his [WWE] contract, they had asked him about coming to TNA. And he’s like, ‘Eh, I don’t think so. I don’t think so. I’m gonna go back... you know, I’ll probably just do WWE whenever I go back.’ He left real nice, or whatever."

However, after CM Punk alluded to Jeff's arrest that year in a promo after his exit, The Rainbow-Haired Warrior decided to move forward with his TNA comeback in 2010.

"And whenever they did that deal where, after he got in trouble and got arrested and [CM] Punk referenced it in a promo saying that he was right all along when he was talking about Jeff Hardy — or whatever the comment was, he referenced him in a promo. Jeff actually called them and said, ‘You know what, man? F**k that.’ He said, ‘I’ll show up. I’ll be there.’ And that’s — Punk saying that in that promo is what made Jeff decide to go to that debut show of TNA.” [H/T EWrestlingNews]

Matt Hardy spoke on his alleged heat with WWE superstar CM Punk

Tony Khan fired CM Punk from AEW after his backstage brawl with Jack Perry at All In 2023. The 45-year-old had been involved in a scuffle with The Elite a year before in the infamous Brawl Out. Although now signed with WWE, the Chicago native continues to be a polarizing figure in wrestling.

Matt Hardy, who left AEW last month, recently addressed his alleged heat with Punk on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy. He denied having issues with the former WWE Champion, although he also voiced his support for The Elite and The Young Bucks.

"At the end of the day, I don't have a problem with [CM] Punk. I don't agree with how all that went down. But if I'm standing by one party, it would be The [Young] Bucks and The Elite. But at the end of the day, I don't care. I actually saw Ace Steel on TV, and said, 'Hello, yeah, we're all good!' Whatever!'' said Hardy.

Matt Hardy's All Elite contract expired last month. He is currently appearing on TNA, returning to the promotion at Rebellion 2024.

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