Matt Hardy Voices Concerns About AEW’s All Out PPV’s Violent Moments
On September fifth, the All Out pay-in line with-view (PPV) event in Chicago sent shockwaves through the wrestling international—not simplest for its celebrity-studded fits however for its severe and controversial use of violence. One of the most vocal critics is none other than veteran wrestler Matt Hardy, a person whose name is synonymous with high-chance, excessive fits. Despite his career being steeped in physicality, Hardy feels AEW can also have crossed the line at All Out, specially in the course of moments involving syringes, head trauma, and suffocation.
AEW’s All Out 2024 can be remembered for some of the action-packed fits, however also for pushing the envelope of what even die-difficult wrestling enthusiasts may discover appropriate. The main occasion among “Hangman” Adam Page and Swerve Strickland had wrestling purists and fanatics humming—for higher or worse. The scene changed into extreme: cinderblocks have been smashed over bodies, staple weapons had been used recklessly, and possibly most stunning of all, Adam Page rammed a syringe into Swerve’s mouth.
This move left a few shocked, including Matt Hardy, a former AEW superstar who weighed in closely on the occasion all through his Extreme Life Of Matt Hardy podcast. Hardy, who is no stranger to the violence of expert wrestling, said the use of a syringe didn’t simply pass too a long way, it additionally didn’t make experience in the story context of the match.
Hardy commented on this controversial scene, saying, “The syringe into Swerve’s mouth? I just don’t really know where it fell into the story. It felt like they were just pulling out a syringe because it was something graphic and violent to do. I don’t know if it served the match’s purpose, other than shock value.”
He compared this to an iconic moment in wrestling history where his brother, Jeff Hardy, had a screwdriver twisted into his ear by Randy Orton during a Hell in a Cell match. “There was a reason for that,” Hardy explained, adding that the screwdriver was taken from a toolbox under the ring, a prop that made sense. “But does Hangman carry a syringe in his pocket? The whole thing just felt out of place.”
For Hardy, the syringe wasn’t just unnecessary; it brought negative connotations to the match. He reflected on how syringes have often been linked to steroids and drug abuse in the wrestling world—a stain that promotions like WWE worked hard to scrub out. “I don’t think pro wrestling needs to be associated with syringes. That connection brings us back to some dark moments in wrestling’s past, and that’s not something we should be revisiting.”
Chair Shots and Suffocation: Other Controversial Moments at AEW All Out
The violent highlights of AEW All Out didn’t prevent on the syringe. Hardy additionally voiced his disapproval of a chair shot to the head during the in shape. Chair pictures, specially unprotected ones to the top, have lengthy been a warm topic in wrestling. With the arrival of extra cognizance round concussions and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), many promotions have banned such dangerous moves.
“The chair shot, I get why people do it—for the shock effect. But I’m not a fan of it, especially today,” Hardy said. The veteran wrestler is no stranger to taking shots to the head and admitted that the cumulative damage has taken its toll. “I can tell that my mind doesn’t work like it did 30 years ago. The head trauma has had its effects, and that’s why I think the more we can avoid these dangerous spots, the better.”
However, perhaps the most disturbing moment of the event, according to Hardy, was when Jon Moxley placed a plastic bag over Bryan Danielson’s head in an attempt to suffocate him. “The bag over Bryan’s head reminded me of Terry Funk doing it to Ric Flair. It was nostalgic in some ways, but as a father of four kids, it’s not something I’d want my children to see,” Hardy remarked, touching on the impact such graphic moments can have on families watching the show.
“It’s going to be tough for families to sit down and watch when you have scenes like that. It’s one thing if you’re catering to an audience of hardcore wrestling fans, but if you’re aiming for families and young viewers, that’s a line you need to be careful with.”
Hardy’s Final Thoughts on AEW’s Increasingly Violent Content
As wrestling maintains to conform, AEW is continuously pushing the boundaries of what’s taken into consideration perfect in the game. While some can also argue that extra violence brings more excitement, it’s clear that veterans like Matt Hardy accept as true with there’s a restrict. “If the promotion is purely for shock value, that’s one thing,” Hardy explained. “But if you’re hoping to appeal to families and younger audiences, then moments like these need to be reconsidered.”
Hardy’s words are a reflection of the broader debate around the role of violence in professional wrestling. While he is aware the need for intense, memorable spots, he additionally advocates for caution, in particular in a world in which head injuries and brutal imagery could have lasting effects on each performers and fans.
