According to Matt Hardy, Shane Helms' AEW appearance set up his return to WWE.
Helms, also known as Hurricane Helms, worked for WWE as a producer until he was furloughed by the company in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, he was available to make appearances elsewhere, so AEW brought him in for the Elite Deletion match between Hardy and Sammmy Guevara at AEW Full Gear 2020. There, he appeared as both The Hurricane and as his reporter Shane Helms persona. A few weeks later, WWE brought him back.
On the latest episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, Matt Hardy explained how Helms' work with AEW prompted WWE to hire him back.
"After [Shane Helms] showed up on AEW, when he was at Elite Deletion, they automatically called him to come back and I know he had spoke to them a little bit. But like that was the best move you could possibly do. Just getting booked on AEW is your best shot at getting hired back at WWE. If they think you might be going there. So I know a couple days after the Elite Deletion aired, they were back on the phone with him and they were getting ready to hire him back. So I'm glad all that worked out," Matt said.
AS The Hurricane, Helms competed in the 2021 Men's Royal Rumble Match. In March 2022, he announced that he signed a new Legends Contract with WWE.
During the same podcast, Hardy discussed potentially teaming up with Wardlow. His comments are available here.
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