What were the best moment of the Broken Matt Hardy Era in TNA?
Broken Matt Hardy and his Broken Era has taken the world by storm and brought more eyes to Impact Wrestling. It was a gimmick that was never supposed to get over but the Delete chant has turned into a new Yes chant. Although many fans doubted its durability, it has truly changed wrestling for the better by opening up a new door in the sport. There was criticism early on about its likeness to Lucha Underground but it is hard to deny the impact of the Broken Brilliance.
Matt Hardy turned heel in one of the best heel turns in quite some time against EC3 in early 2016. He began to call himself iconic but what would happen next, no one could predict. It was the beginning of the Broken Era and has now caught everyone’s attention. Whether you love it or you hate it, you definitely noticed it as a fan.
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As a creation by Matt Hardy himself, Impact Wrestling allowed the new gimmick to shine. The company took a leap of faith on the back of who was seen as the other Hardy. Matt Hardy never received the credit that his brother Jeff got from his high-flying antics but the Broken Era has changed wrestling. It caught the eyes of every fan and made you wonder what could happen next. To narrow it down to five moments is difficult but regardless, this slideshow will be delightful.
5. The Beginning
One of the biggest keys to an amazing result in wrestling is the build. The creation of Broken Matt Hardy began in more humble roots to his popularity. He was hitting his stride as a baby face that finally achieved his dream. This was after being ridiculed over his entire career because he wasn’t as athletic or flashy as Jeff Hardy. Matt finally fulfilled his destiny as the World Champion at Bound for Glory in his hometown of Cameron, North Carolina. His family filled the ring and it was truly a deserving moment.
Ethan Carter III filed an injunction in his power struggle to get the championship back. This set up the World Title Series, an exclusive tournament to crown a new champion, which led to these two meeting in the finals once again. The path couldn’t be any more different for both superstars but EC3 regains the World Championship. Matt Hardy would request one more match and beat EC3 in one of the best heel turns in recent history.
After becoming iconic, Matt Hardy would be questioned by his brother Jeff. The two would battle in a series of matches but their Last Man Standing Match would end in epic fashion. Jeff Hardy would hit a Swanton Bomb on his brother Matt from the rafters and this would render him broken. Throughout the next few weeks, Hardy’s accent would change and he would talk unconventionally but Jeff Hardy’s involvement with the Broken Brilliance would the be last family member.
4. The Whole Family Was Involved
The rivalry would Jeff Hardy would ignite Matt as Broken and it would continue for the next few months. This would bring up the first segment at the Hardy Compound that would change it all. It was by far the most criticized segment but set the scene for Broken Matt Hardy’s entire mystique.
Matt Hardy was set to do battle with Jeff Hardy at Slammiversary in 2016 and they set up a contract signing. Jeff was invited to the Hardy compound to sign a contract for their upcoming bout at the pay-per-view. He arrived and Matt Hardy said, “Brother Nero, I knew you’d come” which also became a staple of the broken gimmick. There was a story told even in this contract signing and it summed up exactly what the Hardys would impress people with over the next few months.
After Jeff Hardy was put through a table that you would see at a hardware store, the backlash began but it was this moment that put eyes on Matt Hardy. Jeff Hardy would eventually accept his roles as Brother Nero, the obsolete mule. Obsolete even received huge pops from the crowd and Jeff would fade away and classify himself as obsolete. The build was gradual and even Reby couldn’t deny what her husband had created.
There were even alternative characters that found a way to get over as well like Vanguard One, King Maxel, and Senor Benjamin. Not to mention the dilapidated boat, the lake of reincarnation, and Itchweeed. The involvement during the Broken Era was simply marvelous and it continued to amaze the fans with every step of the way.
3. Total Nonstop Deletion
Fans have been saying for years that TNA has nothing to lose and should take some chances which is just what they did with TND. Total Nonstop Deletion was an entire wrestling show prerecorded from the Hardy Compound. The most intriguing concept about this show to me was how it was going to play out on television.
This show had King Maxel’s debut against Spud where Spud was embarrassed by the heir to the throne. There was a World Championship that never ended and trickled into the main event. Finally, Total Nonstop Deletion had the Hardys attempt to become the greatest tag team in all of space and time with Apocalypto.
From debuts like Swoggle and one time only appearances like the future WWE Hall of Famers the Rock N Roll Express, there was everything that a fan could ask for. It also encompassed all that the Final Deletion included with fireworks and crazy shenanigans. I was amazed that TNA would take this big of a chance as we were going into the new year but it shows how popular the Broken Brilliance had become.
2. The Great War
This match still goes down as my match of the year for 2016. The Decay were the TNA Tag Team Champions at the time and challenged to match unlike any other. As the Hardys had both fully accepted the extent of their broken personas, they were ready for one last run with the Tag Team Championships.
I loved that this match was both live and prerecorded at the same time. Being an editing nerd, the Great War played right into my interests. Also, the build of the rivalry pinned two unique teams together in the same ring for the biggest prize in their respective divisions.
For fans who have been looking for backstage brawling and outside fight, this was the match for you. Matt Hardy and Abyss fought in front of the Universal Studios sign while Jeff and Steve battled backstage. Willow made an appearance in the match and Jeff’s other alter ego, Itchweeed. It had a feeling that it could go either way but the hope that the Hardys would continue on this broken ride. The build-up was tremendous and to have the Hardys win at TNA’s biggest pay-per-view of the year sent it over the top.
1. The Final Deletion
Although, he contract signing brought everyone’s attention on the Hardys, fans would debate that it was actually the Final Deletion. TNA sent the match to certain wrestlers and personnel before it aired on television to get the word delivered. Even Vince Russo gave credit to his former workplace for their work on the Final Deletion.
It was the most unique climax a rivalry in wrestling history. There was fireworks, Jeff Hardy missing a Swanton Bomb off of a tree, and the introduction of the Lake of Reincarnation. The match had many different parts that had to be seen to believed.
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The Final Deletion was one of the most difficult matches to review because there was so much going on in the match. It set the standard to what the popular version of the Broken Brilliance would be. The match was the precursor to what fans would see in all the other matches as concepts became tradition. The Hardy have kept fans on the edge of their seats through the Broken Era and if it is time for it to end, it will never be forgotten.