Matt Hardy’s Negan-inspired moment at TNA iMPACT! wasn’t just a fun parody—it reportedly featured the real thing, and it may only be the beginning of TNA’s partnership with AMC.
During the Righteous Deletion match at the Hardy Compound, Matt stormed into battle carrying what appeared to be Negan’s iconic barbed-wire baseball bat, Lucille, while recreating several of the villain’s most memorable moments from The Walking Dead. According to Fightful Select, that wasn’t just a lookalike prop.
Fightful reports that the weapon used during the match was an actual replica of Lucille from The Walking Dead, giving more authenticity to the tribute that immediately grabbed eyeballs. The report also notes that the crossover may not be a one-off.
It was added that more AMC-themed crossovers are expected in TNA in the near future, suggesting the company’s relationship with the network could extend well beyond the Hardy Compound.
“The Lucille Walking Dead bat used on the Righteous Deletion was an actual replica Walking Dead bat. We’re told that there will likely be more AMC crossovers soon in TNA.”
This adds more context to one of the most talked-about moments from Thursday night’s episode. During the chaotic match, Matt didn’t just carry Lucille—he fully embraced Negan’s persona. He delivered his own version of the villain’s famous “pee pee pants city” line before launching into “Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe” and striking Dutch with the bat, recreating one of the most unforgettable scenes from The Walking Dead.
The tribute already felt fitting because TNA now airs on AMC, the network that turned The Walking Dead into a global phenomenon. If the report is accurate, however, the Lucille spot may have been the first look at a much larger crossover strategy between the two brands.
What AMC property would you like to see TNA crossover with next? Let us know in the comments below.
