Making A Case: “Broken” Matt Hardy Should Save The Dark Order

The memory of Brodie Lee lives on strong in the group that he once led represented by his young son. However, his group looks to be barely hanging on these days and could use an official new leader.

Since the inception of All Elite Wrestling, The Dark Order has been a part of the company in some form. The group has grown in the past few years to become a staple of All Elite Wrestling. The stable initially arrived with Evil Uno and Stu Grayson as the sole members leading a group of masked unknowns. It was months until The Dark order gained the tag team of John Silver and Alex Reynolds. The group really started to gain momentum when Mr. Brodie Lee was revealed as “The Exalted One” of The Dark Order.

Between the antics of The Dark Order on camera on both AEW programming and the Being The Elite YouTube channel, Dark Order started to become a favorite of AEW. 2020 was a monumental year in transforming the stable. They brought in 5 (Alan Angels), 10 (Preston Vance), Colt Cabana, and Anna Jay. With Brodie Lee leading the stable and feuding with Cody Rhodes over the AEW TNT Championship, the group was becoming a powerful force.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck in the worse possible way when Brodie Lee suddenly passed away in December. The worse possible turn of the year that had been so good to the group. Since Brodie’s tragic passing, the group hasn’t had an official leader but has been represented by Brodie’s son, Brodie Lee Jr. Although, the group has never found the same wind they had with Brodie in charge. Not even “Hangman” Adam Page could make things sway back their way during his “tenure” with the group.

As much as 2020 was the year that saw The Dark Order rise and grows as a group, 2022 saw them lose a majority of their members. In the early part of the year, Colt Cabana was the first out of the group and then Stu Grayson left when his AEW contract was up. 5 left the group as well due to contract disputes but has found a new group or “cult,” as The Dark Order called them, to call home with The Design in Impact Wrestling. The only woman in the group Anna Jay made her departure for another group as well.

When her friendship with Tay Conti was tested, Anna joined the Jericho Appreciation Society. The most recent and shocking departure came when 10 betrayed the group. The man known as Preston Vance became the only member to physically turn when he left the group attacking his former friends and aligning with La Faccion Ingobernable. He removed his mask and left his biggest fan Brodie Lee Jr traumatized as his favorite had betrayed the group and the memory of his father.

Sadly for the group’s fans, The Dark Order is down to Evil Uno, John Silver, and Alex Reynolds and the group is arguably in trouble. With 2022 behind them, they have started out 2023 in a state of recovery and could be due for a “reboot” in the near future. In recent Being The Elite episodes, we have seen the remaining members of the group try to recruit new members. In a surprising turn of events, Reynolds and Silver almost convinced Adam Cole bay-bay before Uno messed things up by simply showing up.

While Adam Cole would be fun, let’s be honest… it’s not happening. However, the group is due to have a major alliance in the near future. While Hangman nearly officially joined, the incoming member needs to become the new leader. While there are many potential choices, the most obvious is right in front of them looking for his own reboot. “Broken” Matt Hardy would be the perfect man to step up and lead the group. Many even speculated before Brodie’s reveal that Matt could have possibly been “The Exalted One.”

While it is impossible to imagine anyone besides Brodie Lee now, Matt could have most likely become a believable exalted one. A few years later, it would not be unbelievable for Matt to find himself as a member of The Dark Order. While they are out recruiting new members, they could bring in Matt without knowing he would become the new leader. AEW could create a compelling story with Matt following orders at first before becoming the one to make them. Despite all of his accomplishments and the acclaim for his “Broken” character, Matt is still highly underrated.

He can do great work in a stable as we have seen in the past when he is just a member of the stable. However, he shined when leading his Mattitude stable during that gimmick. Unfortunately, that stable was cut short and the Hardy Family Office never really picked up with the audience to nobody involved specific fault. However, The Dark Order stable and “Broken” Matt Hardy characters are both established as fan favorites. If AEW decides to mesh the two together, they could potentially create magic.

Matt has the veteran mind to help the younger members of the group behind the scenes and in on-camera storylines. It would also work for his brother whenever Jeff is clean and clear to make his return. It would be a great home for his Willow character he has wanted to give it another run. With speculation and rumors aside, The Dark Order is overdue for a new member to join. They haven’t gained a new member since Alan Angels and lost him and pretty much everyone else. It is time for The Dark Order to step up and bring in some new members before they fade away.