Matt and Jeff Hardy Are Leaving TNA (Updated)

The Hardy Boys’ TNA contracts will be expiring in two days and as of now, they will be leaving the company, according to Mike Johnson of PWInsider.

Similar to Drew Galloway’s contract situation, a new contract offer for the Hardys was apparently sent late, just a few weeks ago, despite them coming to a verbal agreement in December, and the Hardys were not happy with the last minute rushed situation and some of the stipulations in the contract, and as of now, they will be parting ways.

Word is that with Jeff Jarrett being brought in and installing his own creative team, plus rumors of Jarrett looking to go back to an “old school” route with TNA, the “creative control” of the Hardys and their “Broken Hardys” gimmick was in jeopardy. There were rumors that Matt Hardy would eventually be brought on to the TNA creative team and help with storylines for other talents, but that was obviously before Jarrett took over with his own creative team.

There are also unconfirmed rumors that new TNA contract offers have been including a clause that all outside appearances would need to be approved by the company and would require 10% of the earnings to be paid to TNA, which would have likely been a turnoff for the Hardys because of the money they’ve been able to make by taking indie bookings.

The TNA contract was apparently a “big money offer,” though, according to PWInsider, which would have made the Hardys among the top paid wrestlers in the company, if not the top paid.

However, TNA was apparently content with letting them go if they didn’t want to sign, because they see themselves in a “rebuilding phase” and the money spent on the Hardys could be used elsewhere.

The Hardys have easily been the most talked-about act in the company over the past year or so. They’re currently the Tag Team champions and have told TNA that they’d be willing to come back and drop the titles at the next tapings, which are from March 2-5. There is no word if that will actually happen though.

As for WWE, rumors are that they are “clearly interested” in the Hardys, but the two sides haven’t had any talks yet since the Hardys have been under contract with TNA. That will change in the next couple of days so we’ll see what happens. You have to expect that the Hardys would most likely be a lot shittier and more watered down in WWE, if WWE even allows them to go with their “Broken Hardys” gimmick. Dave Meltzer mentioned on Wrestling Observer Radio that the Hardys ending up in WWE is “likely.”

Reby Sky, who is married to Matt Hardy, would also most likely leave along with the Hardys. She posted this on Twitter:

I've said it many times:
TNA was the perfect situation for our family & how grateful I was for professionalism/open communication/respect…

— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) February 27, 2017

…Now think about what kinda negative changes & straight fuckery would have to go down for us to leave 🤔

— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) February 27, 2017

Matt Hardy posted this:

It shall be an INTRIGUING week for the professional wrestling industry. pic.twitter.com/8pDkzwJu3y

— #BROKEN Matt Hardy (@MATTHARDYBRAND) February 27, 2017

Update:

As mentioned above, the Hardys verbally agreed to a new deal with TNA back in December. However, according to Pro Wrestling Sheet, the Hardys did not receive a written contract for weeks and were “consistently given the run around” when they tried to check on the status. They eventually had their lawyers contact TNA with a clause that included creative control, but that was shot down immediately.

The Hardys lawyer told Ed Nordholm of Anthem Sports (new owners of TNA) that the Hardys had other offers and Nordholm reportedly replied with, “Well, tell them to go to WWE then.”

This apparently convinced Jeff Hardy to not sign with TNA, but Matt Hardy was on the fence. However, TNA then sent along a contract for two years instead of the previously agreed one year, plus a clause that TNA would take 10% of Hardy’s outside booking profits. Matt’s lawyer said he would be a “fool” to agree, and that was it.

The Hardys apparently also offered to come on TV to drop the Tag Team titles, but TNA told them they were “crazy” if they thought they’d be able to come back on TV without a contract.

Updates:

– Who Owns the “Broken Hardy” Characters? Both Sides Claim They Do

– Matt Hardy Comments About Leaving TNA on Twitter