Almost nothing can top the excitement of watching the larger-than-life battle of good vs. evil play out in the middle of a wrestling ring. We say "almost" because one thing that nearly always does top it is watching the backstage drama that takes place behind the scenes of the wrestling business. The latest salacious story, as usual, involves TNA Wrestling, who all the wrestling dirt sheets are reporting has sent rival promotion Ring of Honor, PPV distributors carrying Ring of Honor's 15th Anniversary show, which aired last night, and wrestlers Matt and Jeff Hardy cease and desist notices over the Hardys' "Broken" gimmick.
While working for TNA, it's widely believed that the Hardys were allowed free reign to create and run with the Broken storyline, which worked out well for the organization, serving as one of the few bright spots and a viral success in an otherwise dismal year that saw the company almost taken over by Smashing Pumpkins vocalist Billy Corgan before finally being actually taken over by Anthem Sports & Entertainment, who restored co-founder Jeff Jarrett to a seemingly important creative role. However, when the Hardys' contracts expired earlier this month, they chose not to re-sign with the company, reportedly due to new provisions the company was reportedly asking all talent to agree to in new contracts. The Hardys showed up in Ring of Honor to win the tag team championships last week, and successfully defended them in a triple threat Las Vegas streetfight at Ring of Honor 15th Anniversary last night. However, unlike their first appearance, the Hardys did not speak at last night's show, though it's unknown whether that had anything to do with the cease and desist.
The legal issue boils down to what was in the Hardys' previous TNA contracts. If a clause gave TNA the rights to material created by the Hardys during their run there, then TNA could own the rights to the Broken gimmick. Matt Hardy's wife, Reby, however, has a different stance on the matter, which she voiced on Twitter:
LMAO FUCK YOU GUYS @EdNordholm @RealJeffJarrett @IMPACTWRESTLING
MORE than happy to play this game
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
Can we just talk about how many times Matt's contract could have been broken due to NUMEROUS issues on TNA end and…
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
…never made a fuss about shit, but MFers wanna try & come at us NOW, *after the fact* ?! Don't you have an owl to promote or some shit !?
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
Or – I dunno – a company to "make great" ? Instead of acting like the petty little bitches you are ????
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
Speaking of petty, nice video package on TNA's "history": with NO visual or mention of Jeff – who gave his all for 7 YEARS – or Kurt ?!
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
But y'all sure made sure to get those two video ID shoots of Jeff Jarrett in there LMAO. But it's "just business, brother", right ? PETTY.
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
Everything these boys have done for the company & you wanna try & fuck us for the sake of it. Literally no other reason except YOU MAD lol
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
How about my husband leaving me A DAY AFTER GIVING BIRTH to make your TV tapings ? That's how dedicated this MFer was to the company.
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
How about how the 3 highest rated TV segments of 2016 were financed by HARDYS solely to help the product & because they BELIEVED IN TNA
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
Or ALL THE SHIT TALKING BY JJ throughout contract negotiations & Matt was STILL THERE, professional & trying to make things work for 2017 !
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
Oh & this the best part…these MFers trying to come after SEÑOR BENJAMIN.
LMAO I CANT.
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
"Señor Benjamin" – my dad, by the way – who was never paid a dime by the company & who was obviously never under contract…
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
…Not that those contract things mean anything to TNA…Until after they're over or until 3 days before they expire, apparently.
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
Funny thing is, everyone who ever actually had anything to do with #BROKEN Matt Hardy has our back on this.
WHAT DOES THAT SAY TO YOU ?
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
Damn near 20% of your roster leaving in the span of a week, all citing the same reasons or none at all.
WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ?
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
And then a fakeass "wishing you well" tweet from @EdNordholm, mere HOURS before threatening to sue us. SUCH A FITTING END, MAN.
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
Seriously, you couldn't write this shit… Well. TNA couldn't write this shit… any writers worth a shit left too ! 😆
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
Real cute how TNA can go radio silent for WEEKS (with exception of nonsensical drunk texts from JJ) but we get a 2 hour deadline to respond
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
Fuck you think this is, "Taken" ? LOL I can't.
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
Good luck explaining to your talent that their pay checks are late (again) because you're spending all your $$ suing the Hardys.
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
And fuck that owl.
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
If you're wondering what we're going to do next, #WatchROH #ROH15TH
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 10, 2017
#watchROH #ROH15TH #fuckthatowl pic.twitter.com/sBkswVnkIk
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) March 11, 2017
Yikes!
Ed Nordholm, the Anthem executive in charge of TNA, wished Matt Hardy well in his post-TNA career earlier in the day, but the wording of the well-wishing was very interesting, noting that the Broken Universe "will always be here [in TNA]," referring to Hardy specifically for his "performance" in the storyline, and crediting a "creative team behind the vision" that did not include Hardy:
We thank @matthardybrand for a superb performance in Broken Universe. May the seven deities guide with their Broken Brilliance left behind
— Ed Nordholm (@EdNordholm) March 10, 2017
Broken Universe will always be here. Kudos to the creative team behind the vision @JeremyBorash @paradysexoxo @Lagana @Billy
— Ed Nordholm (@EdNordholm) March 10, 2017
Earlier in the week, it was reported that Matt Hardy filed trademarks for the Broken characters. This situation is developing, and if it's already gotten this public, we can only imagine how it's going to be if things really get ugly. Basically, Matt Hardy is Alan Moore, TNA is DC Comics, and the Broken gimmick is Watchmen.
Matt Hardy shared his opinion on the matter in the wake of last night's ROH event:
Tonight's #ROH15TH PPV was an absolutely ILLUSTRIOUS event.
A DELIGHTFUL roster & an office that is fair & respectful. Thanks @ringofhonor.
— #BROKEN Matt Hardy (@MATTHARDYBRAND) March 11, 2017
#HouseHardy will continue DELETING & the DELETE chants will NEVAH end.. https://t.co/so5MzlvXmY
— #BROKEN Matt Hardy (@MATTHARDYBRAND) March 11, 2017
And on his wife's Twitter rant:
I love my wife, Queen Rebecca.
If you're loyal & faithful to her, she'd die for you.
If you cross & betray her, she will massacre you. pic.twitter.com/wK3YTFdtfq
— #BROKEN Matt Hardy (@MATTHARDYBRAND) March 11, 2017
Bleeding Cool has reached out to Ring of Honor and TNA for comment on the situation, but ROH declined to comment at this time, and TNA has not yet responded.