Matt Hardy is a true veteran in the pro wrestling business, having constantly reinvented himself over the years. Due to his extensive knowledge of the pro wrestling world, his opinion is taken seriously all the time. That said, Matt Hardy recently claimed that someone changed his AEW Collision booking for Hamilton, adding that it wasn’t Tony Khan.

CM Punk previously made headlines once again after reports suggested that Punk might have been responsible for sending non-contracted AEW talent home after last month’s episode of AEW Collision.

Reports of Ryan Nemeth getting sent home as soon as he arrived that week also broke out. Nemeth was not the only AEW talent who was sent home with believed connection with CM Punk. His dispute with Nemeth stemmed from very ordinary things as well. Even the likes of AEW Head of Talent Relations Christopher Daniels, and Matt Hardy were also not allowed to attend the tapings.

While speaking on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, co-host Jon Alba noted that he was glad Hardy was “allowed through the doors” at the September 16 episode of AEW Collision. Matt Hardy then revealed how plans for him to appear in Hamilton for AEW Collision were suddenly changed, adding that Tony Khan was not responsible for that change.

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“I’m actually gonna go into that a little bit because people ask about what happened. So whenever we were in Hamilton, we were there on Wednesday live for Dynamite and Rampage taping for Friday, and then there was a Collision the next night. So I had been asked a few days before I would be willing and free to stay for Collision because Ethan Page was officially turning babyface on that Wednesday night on Rampage. We were gonna be together in solidarity. We were gonna be buddies and have each other’s back. He was gonna protect me in the match we had there. Then that evening, about six p.m., it was clear.

They said, ‘Oh, it’s gonna be good.’ From Tony, he says, ‘Oh, that’s great. Thank you so much for doing this, I appreciate it.’ MJF, ‘Thank you so much for doing this, it’s gonna be great. It’s gonna add so much to do it.’ Ethan Page, ‘Thank you so much for doing this. It’s gonna add so much to it.’ Then we do our bit on Rampage. We get out of there, we leave. I drive back to my hotel in Toronto, and it’s almost midnight. Then I get a message from someone in the creative process, and they said, ‘Just so you know, you and Isiah aren’t needed tomorrow.’ I already changed my flight to Friday with the travel prior and everything else, and it was already confirmed by Tony Khan that I was gonna be there. Then we found out that night that I wasn’t gonna be there.

Then the next day, I couldn’t fly out until four p.m. that day, and then I got to Charlotte. Then my flight to Raleigh kept getting delayed, and eventually It was canceled, so then I had to get a car and rent it and drive home and go to Raleigh the next day and get my car. It ended up being a travel nightmare. I was flying home that morning at 8:30 or 9 a.m to get home and spend the day with my family, but then it cost me a total day and then half the other day because I had to go back to Raleigh and get my car and whatever else. So someone changed that during the day, and it wasn’t Tony Khan. So I don’t know. I can’t point the fingers at any names.

But I’ll let people come to their own conclusion. You can make your own deductions out of this. That’s what ended up happening, and that’s why myself and Isiah, we weren’t needed at Collision when everyone had asked us to do it for days on end, and then I said I would, and Tony Khan approved it. Five to six hours later, it was not happening. Which was very strange. So you can make your own deductions on what happened.”

CM Punk was fired by AEW earlier this month and since then, fans have been wondering what Punk will end up doing next. Regardless, only time will tell whether CM Punk will ever return to a pro wrestling ring again.

What’s your opinion on what Matt Hardy said? Do you believe CM Punk was responsible for all the backstage issues in AEW? Sound off in the comments!

Subhojeet Mukherjee

Subhojeet, a professional wrestling fan for over 20+ years, found his passion during the Monday Night Wars. With expertise honed over decades and a broad spectrum of interests including TV, movies, anime, novels, and music, he offers insightful analysis and coverage. Respected in the industry, Subhojeet keeps fans informed and engaged with his knowledge and perspective.

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