Jeff Hardy Says He Was “Bigger Than Obama” in 2008 and He’s Not Joking

Jeff Hardy’s 2008 run wasn’t just legendary in WWE — it sparked a movement that fans are still talking about nearly two decades later.

During a new interview on Muscle Memory, Hardy leaned into the viral claim that he was “bigger than Obama” at the time… and says he’s proud of it. Asked directly to reflect on the now-iconic phrase, Jeff didn’t shy away. He embraced the moment and admitted the fan sentiment wasn’t just a meme — it came from somewhere real.

“It felt amazing, man. I didn’t even realize it dur—in ’08 or ’09. But man, when I hear that now, that I think back to that moment in time, that year… I mean, it felt like—I really felt like I was. And I’m so proud to be able to say in ’08, I was bigger than Obama.”

Host Malcolm added a personal touch, telling Jeff that during a mock election as a kid, he actually wrote in Jeff Hardy’s name instead of voting for the presidential candidates.

“Oh my gosh. Thank you so much. You helped—you helped the movement,” Jeff replied, laughing and clearly touched.

Matt Hardy then jumped in to confirm that the phrase “BTO” — short for “Bigger Than Obama” — has taken on a life of its own among die-hard wrestling fans.

“Malcolm, this has become a thing. It really has. It’s just called BTO now. I go, ‘Jeff, 2008 — BTO. You know, Bigger Than Obama.’ It’s a terminology that is used.”

Jeff doubled down on how far the phrase has traveled, sharing a recent interaction with a fan across the world.

“I got this morning from Australia in the airport, and he said, ‘Man, in ’08, man, I just—I looked up to you so much, man.’ I’m just here for whatever it was, but from Australia. And it was such a big moment for me in time in pro wrestling, to be on top of the world. And I’m super proud of that.”

Jeff Hardy’s 2008 WWE run saw him capture the imagination of an entire generation of fans, many of whom saw him as the alternative to the status quo. Now, years later, it’s clear that legacy still holds weight—not just in America, but worldwide.