Matt Hardy discusses The Elite re-signing with AEW.
On August 2, AEW confirmed that The Elite (Kenny Omega, Hangman Page, and the Young Bucks) have signed multi-year deals with the company. Omega and the Young Bucks, who helped found AEW, will remain Executive Vice Presidents of AEW.
Speaking on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, the AEW star was asked to share his reaction to the news that The Elite re-signed. Hardy stated that he was happy to see it, and he noted that he feels like The Elite are the heart and soul of AEW.
“I’m happy to see it. I feel like The Elite, in so many ways, they’re the heart and soul of AEW. Obviously, the company is named after them, All Elite Wrestling. So yes, they were a big deal to this company. They were one of the most important reasons this company was started in the first place. These guys had a vision, along with Cody, and they made it come to reality when they hooked up with Tony Khan, and AEW came j to existence. On top of that, Matt and Nick Jackson, two of my best friends on the planet, as have said many times. Yes, I do go hard for them because I do stand up for my friends whenever my friends are in issues. Kenny Omega is someone I’ve got to know over the last couple years. I like him a whole lot. Hangman Adam Page, obviously I knew him when he was a young up-and-comer coming up through the indies in North Carolina, and I’m very proud of all the success he’s been able to obtain for himself over these last few years at AEW. I think having The Elite in your promotion is one of the biggest positive things you can possibly have," Hardy said.
After sharing his belief that having The Elite in your company is a major positive, Hardy was asked to elaborate. He highlighted the way they think outside of the box, and they do things their own way. Hardy noted that it's important to have people like that in the company.
“They’re talented, they’re creative, they think outside the box, they do things that no one else does. They really are people that have really blazed their own trail, they have done things their own way, and they have made themselves into huge stars, and I think it’s very important to have that in a company, people who are willing to think outside the box, think outside the given parameters of professional wrestling and do things differently," he said.
When asked to discuss what the Young Bucks have offered to the company from a backstage standpoint, Hardy detailed how they have challenged people to try things differently from a creative standpoint. He pointed to Being The Elite and the way the show adds a lot to AEW programming. Hardy also highlighted the way they talk to talent as EVPs.
“I think from a backstage standpoint, they have really challenged people to try things differently creatively. I think one of the greatest examples of that is Being The Elite, their YouTube show, which they use to add nuance, and they use to add detail info angles that are happening on television. I think it adds a lot to the program. I think it adds a lot to the branding. I think it adds a lot to specific characters that come onto that show, that do things like that. I really think the way they tell a story is different than traditional pro wrestling, and that’s something I’m a big fan of. I also think when it comes to them being EVPs, when they speak with talents, it’s much more a person talking to you than a boss, it feels like. I think that’s a good thing. I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all because they talk to you from a very real standpoint, and they also talk to you, not talking down, but they talk to you at the same level, as people who are just trying to work together to get to a greater good," Hardy said.
WWE's potential interest in The Elite also came up in the conversation. When asked to share his thoughts, Hardy noted that WWE likely would have had massive interest in the members of the group. He emphasized that their equity has increased since AEW launched, and they are all extremely valuable commodities.
"Massive interest. They would have had massive interest. On top of just being huge stars, especially their equity has only got higher since they’ve been doing AEW Dynamite and been the EVPs of AEW. Kenny, Matt, Nick, and Hangman, all those guys are extremely valuable commodities, and on top of that, if the WWE would have somehow landed them, then you kind of take the heart and soul out of All Elite Wrestling. Part of the name of the company is Elite, so you would be losing the heart and soul, part of the true identity of All Elite Wrestling, and that would be a big blow to AEW," he said.
Barry Bloom reportedly told the Young Bucks their new contracts were the highest guarantee ever for a tag team. More information is available here.
Check out the card for the August 4 episode of AEW Rampage here. Fightful will have live coverage of the show as it airs.
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