AEW: William Regal Posts Farewell Message to AEW, Jeff Hardy Career Future in Doubt, CM Punk Update

AEW

Jan 1, 2023

William Regal Issues Farewell Message to AEW

As noted before, William Regal will be leaving AEW and returning to WWE starting this January for a backstage executive role in the company.

Regal recently issued an official statement on Twitter confirming that this past Friday was his last official day in AEW and thanked everyone he worked with during his time in the company.

“Yesterday was my last official day with @AEW. I’d like to thank @TonyKhan, Mega, and all the hard working crew. Contrary to people who’ve never spoken to me or have their information from people who don’t know me or are trying to make themselves noticed, I had a lovely time working there and had a great time. Lots of talented Wrestlers, and lovely people to work for. To my fellow BCC members, it was a special, albeit brief few months but it cemented our already strong friendship. To everyone there, thank you for welcoming me. Best wishes.”

Yesterday was my last official day with @AEW. I’d like to thank @TonyKhan, Megha and all the hard working crew. Contrary to people who’ve never spoken to me or have their information from people who don’t know me or are trying to make themselves noticed,I had a lovely time..(1/2)
— William Regal (@RealKingRegal) December 30, 2022

.(2/2) ….working there and had a great time. Lots of talented Wrestlers, and lovely people to work for. To my fellow BCC members, it was a special, albeit brief few months but it cemented our already strong friendship. To everyone there, thank you for welcoming me. Best wishes.
— William Regal (@RealKingRegal) December 30, 2022

Matt Hardy Comments on Jeff Hardy’s Wrestling Career Might Be Finished

As noted before, Jeff Hardy was arrested this past June in Volusia County, Florida following a drunk driving incident. Hardy has been out of action for AEW since that time due to his current suspension over his DUI arrest.

A recent episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast featured co-host Matt Hardy revealing that he is currently doubtful that his brother Jeff will return to wrestling following his DUI arrest and suspension from AEW.

“It’s just very unfortunate, the things that happened with Jeff. Hopefully it’s something that he is going to make into a positive and he’s going to turn everything around in his life, and he can come back and be better. We’ll see, I don’t know, I don’t know.
Maybe he comes back, maybe he doesn’t, but we were scheduled to do all kinds of things during the summer and it really sent me down a big path of detour following that, but it is what it is. It’s pro wrestling where you have to adapt and change on the fly, and I’ve made the most of it and tried to do what I can.”

Hardy also gave his thoughts on if the reports about AEW was planning on them becoming Tag Team Champions was true prior to his brother’s DUI arrest.

“Yeah, I think we were going to see the Hardys as the AEW World Tag Team Champions if Jeff didn’t suffer that very unfortunate twist of fate.”

Transcript h/t: PostWrestling.com

Chris Jericho & Others Reportedly Against Idea of CM Punk Returning to AEW

As noted before, CM Punk was involved in a backstage fight incident following AEW’s All Out 2022 event this past September and was among those suspended by AEW over this incident. Punk is currently not expected to return to AEW following the company’s recently completed investigation into the incident. Punk recently responded to a plea from Dax Harwood during his debut podcast show hoping that Punk and The Elite will be able to resolve their issues and work together again in the future in AEW.

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources stated that Chris Jericho and other top stars in AEW’s locker room are currently very against the idea of Punk ever returning back to AEW. Jericho and others recently had a talk with the rest of AEW’s locker room stating that they would do everything in their power to make sure Punk would not return to the company.

Meltzer reported that despite Jericho and others still having a lot ill will towards Punk over his backstage actions and issues, the final decision would still be left up to AEW CEO Tony Khan. Meltzer speculated that Punk’s future in AEW likely would be made by the middle of this year and be entirely dependent on the state of AEW’s business by then. Meltzer speculated that if AEW is still struggling by that point, Khan likely would be more interested in bringing back Punk and using his star power to help improve AEW’s fortunes but if AEW is doing really well, then the chances of Punk being brought back and his value to the company would decrease by a lot.

Meltzer also reported that the timing of Punk’s current injury ended up being a blessing in disguise for AEW since it gives the company plenty of time to make an official decision on Punk’s future in the company and the possibility of Punk’s current serious backstage heat cooling off. Meltzer also speculated that any potential return by Punk would very likely revolve around Punk needing to apologize to AEW’s locker room and his level of interest in doing so.