10 Things You Only Learn Attending AEW LIVE

6. Why The Hardyz Will Get Chance After Chance After Chance

House Of Black
AEW

If like me you aren't bound to Hardyz nostalgia, and prefer to rate an act on what they do now as opposed to what they did several years ago, you might watch on in bemusement as pro wrestling insists that they continue to be a "thing".

On an ethical level, Jeff Hardy probably doesn’t deserve the benefit of the doubt. Jeff is also thrashed and can't seem to go a single match without hurting himself and disrupting the flow. Matt Hardy's AEW run peaked with Stadium Stampede (and the overlooked, almost as brilliant Falls Count Anywhere tag that functioned to set it up). Beyond that, his years-long association with Private Party has accomplished nothing. AEW has thrown Orange Cassidy and Darby Allin together odd times in recent months, and they are a far more over tag team with minimal storyline progression. Years have been wasted. Matt's matches aren't dynamic in any way, either.

So you might ask why, with this terrible contract ownership gimmick that seemingly won't go away ever, the Hardyz always get these chances.

The answer is that they are beloved by AEW live crowds (so much so that the announcement of Jeff Vs. Darby Allin last year sparked one of AEW's biggest walk-up crowds ever).

People in the building adore the Hardyz and do not care one bit about their physical limitations. They are received as living wrestling legends and were amongst the top five most popular acts on the show.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!