Matt Hardy Officially Free + Another Former WWE Superstar To AEW?

Matt Hardy Officially Free

After months of speculation, rumor and innuendo, Matt Hardy is officially a free agent. The now-former WWE Superstar announced his status via a video he released to social media. The enigmatic Hardy’s announcement was not necessarily a shock, but it does appear to bring some closure to his most recent chapter.

As recently as last week, there was renewed speculation that WWE was trying hard to retain the services of Matt. One reported offer included some aspect of working with NXT, either as an on-screen talent or behind the scenes. Perhaps both were on the table. At this point, we may never know.

Many outlets are expecting that Matt Hardy will quickly jump to rival All Elite Wrestling. There have still been a few outlets that remain unconvinced that Hardy will actually depart.

In the free agency video, Hardy did cite some differences between he and WWE creatively. Now, here’s one possible curve: what if Matt meant RAW and SmackDown specifically? As we mentioned earlier, NXT was mentioned as a possible option for Hardy. Moving to the newer brand could present him with some unique creative opportunities. It also means a much easier travel schedule, something Hardy may welcome.

So what if Hardy’s announcement video sets up a big debut on NXT? Stranger things have happened. Now that Matt Hardy is officially a free agent, we should not have to wait long in order to find out.

Another Former WWE Superstar To AEW?

As soon as former WWE big man Luke Harper was granted his release, everyone figured it was a matter of time before he signed with AEW. Early on, thanks to his non-compete, Harper worked indy shows under his old name of Brodie Lee. His non-compete seems to be up in a week, which means any major career move could be imminent.

Having the artist formerly known as Luke Harper join the company makes a lot of sense. Lee certainly has the size and athleticism that would help him succeed. He held several titles in WWE, and a major championship run did not seem all that crazy either.

While it’s certainly not proof of an AEW signing, Lee (using his more famous moniker) did spend time with current AEW star Sammy Guevara at a minor league hockey game earlier in the year. It would surprise no one if the two talked about AEW.

That evening may be the most recent (if not the first) time that pair was seen together. If things are lining up as rumored, they will have more photo ops soon.

AEW fans are already salivating at the prospects of landing both Hardy and Harper/Lee.