Matt Riddle, a professional wrestler, recently shared the behind-the-scenes story of how his ambitious plan to team up with Jeff Hardy fell apart on the podcast Signed by Superstars. The idea was conceptualized in late 2020, with the two frequenting against top competitors, but ultimately, the partnership was short-lived.
The reason for the abandoned plans, according to Riddle, was Jeff Hardy’s discomfort with the moniker “The Hardy Bros”, which was too reminiscent of the well-known team “The Hardy Boys”. Riddle empathized with Hardy’s concerns, acknowledging that altering the name by replacing two letters would not have been a significant departure. Despite their limited time together, Riddle and Hardy did participate in a few matches, including a victory over John Morrison and The Miz on WWE SmackDown in October 2020.
However, their run together quickly hit a snag due to their inconsistent performance. They suffered a loss to The Hurt Business on the December 21, 2020, episode of WWE RAW, only to team up with The New Day, resulting in another defeat on the December 28th episode of RAW. Riddle attributed their short-lived partnership to WWE’s plan to disband their team, which he believes is likely given the current storyline.
In contrast, Jeff Hardy has found a new partner in AEW, teaming up with his brother Matt Hardy. Considering the circumstances, it is possible that the team’s dissolution was the correct decision. Despite his initial disappointment, Riddle expressed enthusiasm for his current partnership with Randy Orton, which has been a significant success.
The prospect of a potential reunion with Jeff Hardy remains uncertain, as time will only tell whether their partnership will be rekindled or not. Riddle’s account of their unfulfilled tag team aspirations and his subsequent shift to a new partnership with Randy Orton highlights the ever-changing terrain of professional wrestling.
As Riddle navigates his current endeavour, it is evident that his stint with Jeff Hardy, although brief, was an opportunity to explore new possibilities and test his skills in a team environment. The experience, although unsuccessful, allowed him to grow and adapt, ultimately leading him to his current successful partnership with Orton.