Matt Hardy reacts to The Elite potentially returning to AEW television.
On the October 26 episode of AEW Dynamite, a vignette aired with the Elite (Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks) being "erased" from AEW television. The Elite haven't been on AEW TV since AEW All Out when they won the AEW Trios Championships, but had to relinquish the belts due to an altercation with CM Punk and Ace Steel after AEW All Out.
Speaking on his Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast with Jon Alba, Matt commented on the potential return of The Elite.
"It's going to be very interesting to see The Elite back, the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega. I'm very happy they are back. I will say this right here and right now, those guys didn't do anything wrong in this situation. If anything, they were the victims. I'm telling you that from a first person perspective. I was there, I witnessed it all. I love all three of those guys. I've known Matt and Nick forever. I've just gotten to know Kenny while working with AEW. I'm very happy they are returning to TV and they are back in the mix. They deserve to be in the mix," he said.
Matt took to social media to clarify that he did not witness the brawl, just the fallout.
My comments from this week’s @matthardypod have been misconstrued. I WAS NOT at All Out 2022. I DID NOT say I witnessed the events at All Out. I witnessed the entire process in real time over the months & stand by my comment that the Elite were not in the wrong.
— MATT HARDY (@MATTHARDYBRAND) November 4, 2022
The altercation between The Elite, Punk, and Steel stemmed from comments made by Punk during his media scrum after the event. All parties were suspended after the incident. Steel was eventually fired for his involvement, which allegedly included biting and throwing a chair, while the future of Punk isn't currently unknown.
"When I saw them yesterday, I said, 'It's so good to see you guys. You guys are the heart and soul of AEW.' The Elite, in many ways, are the identity of AEW. Without those guys, you don't have AEW as it is right now. Things are very different. Tony Khan may have started wrestling in some capacity, but All Elite Wrestling, those guys are the identity of AEW. It's very important to have them back," said Hardy.
Along with the impending return of The Elite, Colt Cabana returned to AEW television on Wednesday, challenging Chris Jericho for the ROH Championship. Cabana had been off AEW TV for months with reports that Punk joining the company was the reason for his absence. Tony Khan previously said Punk had nothing to do with Cabana moving to ROH.
Speaking about Cabana's return, Hardy said, "I was excited for it. It was great. Colt Cabana has been away from AEW for a very long time. It is what it is, I don't have to sit here and go into things, but we're in a position right now where he can be back at AEW TV and I'm glad to have him back."
Hardy closed by saying, "I feel the investigation has happened and I'm glad their names have been cleared and they are coming back to TV and I'm happy to see Colt Cabana, who I think is a great human being and performer, I'm happy to see back on AEW programming."
It is unknown when The Elite will officially return to AEW television. Death Triangle (PAC, Rey Fenix, and Penta El Zero Miedo) are the reigning AEW Trios Champions.
Fans can find results from Wednesday's AEW Dynamite by clicking here.
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