Jeff Hardy Says Watching Will Ospreay Wrestle Pushed Him Away From AEW and Back to TNA

Jeff Hardy didn’t walk away from AEW because of money, creative issues, or burnout. According to Hardy, the real turning point came while watching someone else wrestle.

While appearing on the I Love Wrestling Podcast alongside his brother Matt Hardy, Hardy opened up about why he recommitted to TNA Wrestling after his AEW contract expired — and it all came down to one moment of clarity.

The conversation took place as the hosts asked the Hardys how it felt being back in Nashville, TNA’s original home, and why the timing felt right to return. Matt explained that the move felt full-circle, especially seeing TNA evolve from fairgrounds shows to national television again.

Jeff echoed that sentiment, saying being back in Nashville in 2026 felt right, calling it a traditional wrestling city and praising TNA’s new home at The Pinnacle. That’s when the discussion shifted to the AEW decision. Matt admitted there was a real internal debate when Jeff’s AEW deal ended — the option to stay was there.

“There was a part of me that said, I wonder if I just take this deal from AEW and try to… build myself up to this amazing superhero wrestler and stay there for a year and see how things go.”

But Jeff revealed that watching Will Ospreay wrestle immediately changed his mindset.

“But then I was watching a Will Ospreay match and I was like, no, I need to go back to TNA. I need to go to TNA. That’s where I need to be, tag with my brother and do the Hardys thing and help them evolve.”

Hardy didn’t criticize Ospreay directly, but the implication was clear. Ospreay is widely known for a punishing, high-risk style — the kind of wrestling many fans consider thrilling, but dangerous. Watching that brand of intensity made Hardy reassess what he wanted at this stage of his career. That context hits even harder now, as Ospreay has been sidelined for months after requiring neck surgery — a real-world reminder of the physical cost that comes with pushing that style to the limit.

Matt closed the discussion by reinforcing that the timing felt deliberate, not rushed or forced.

“So yeah, I think everything worked out exactly the way it was supposed to. We’re exactly where we should be.”

Rather than chasing another reinvention in AEW, Jeff Hardy chose longevity, familiarity, and legacy — and one match was all it took to make that decision clear.

Do you think Jeff Hardy made the right call stepping away after seeing the risks of that style up close, or should veterans still be willing to push their limits late in their careers? Let us know what you think and leave your feedback.

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