Summary

The Hardys will defend the HOG Tag Team Titles in Las Vegas as part of an open challenge, but Matt Hardy said fans should not expect an AEW team to be the one answering it.

Hardy addressed the situation while speaking with TMZ Inside The Ropes after TNA pulled talent from upcoming matches against AEW wrestlers. That included Leon Slater being removed from a bout with Ricochet and Nic Nemeth being pulled from a match with MJF.

Quote from Matt Hardy

Asked whether any team could realistically accept the challenge, Hardy said:

"For me, it would be. I don't know what the higher ups would say. I think, we had already determined because we're the tag champions at TNA, we determined we weren't going to do an AEW team early on with House of Glory. Maybe anybody but them. I don't think AEW could do it anyway because if they get in the ring with the GOATs, they're probably not going to win and I think they have to win."

What Matt Hardy's Comment Means For TNA And HOG

Matt Hardy's comment makes the boundaries around this open challenge a lot clearer, even with the bout being billed as open. If TNA and AEW talent are being kept apart in this situation, that narrows the field for who can step in against The Hardys and tells fans not to expect a crossover surprise from AEW at the Las Vegas show.

It also puts more attention on the wider fallout from TNA pulling Leon Slater and Nic Nemeth from those scheduled matches. Even though Hardy delivered the line with a laugh, the larger point was direct: this title defense is expected to stay outside the AEW-TNA mix.

Sources

As reported by Fightful.