The Wrestling World is Buzzing: Hardy Boyz Tease WWE Return and Crown a New Star
The iconic Hardy Boyz are making waves again, not just for their own legendary careers, but for shining a spotlight on the next big thing in wrestling: 21-year-old Leon Slater. But here's where it gets controversial: is Slater truly the future of the business, or is the hype train moving too fast? Matt Hardy thinks so, praising Slater's mental maturity as something that sets him apart from his peers. In an exclusive interview with Metro, Matt revealed, 'Leon is the future of the business. He's 21, but mentally, he acts and thinks like a 30-year-old. That's what impresses me the most about him.'
Slater's rise has been nothing short of meteoric. He became the youngest X-Division Champion in TNA history by defeating Moose at Slammiversary 2025, joining the ranks of legends like AJ Styles and Samoa Joe. Since then, he's defended his title against top contenders like Rich Swann, Cedric Alexander, and A.J. Francis. And this is the part most people miss: Slater's success isn't just about his in-ring skills; it's his ability to think strategically and carry himself like a seasoned veteran that truly stands out.
The TNA-WWE partnership has given Slater a massive platform to showcase his talent. He was hand-picked by John Cena for Saturday Night's Main Event in December, teaming with Je'Von Evans against AJ Styles and Dragon Lee. Slater also challenged Oba Femi for the NXT Championship at New Year's Evil and answered Carmelo Hayes' United States Championship Open Challenge on SmackDown in January. Most recently, he main-evented TNA No Surrender alongside TNA World Champion Mike Santana, securing a pinfall victory over Nic Nemeth.
While Slater's trajectory is the headline, the Hardy Boyz themselves are making news with their ongoing negotiations with WWE. Matt confirmed, 'We're in constant negotiations with WWE about doing some more stuff. We will do more with them. I think you're going to see some more cool Hardy Boyz moments in WWE before it's all said and done in 2026.' Bold claim or realistic expectation? With their history of holding the TNA and NXT Tag Team Championships simultaneously last October, the Hardys have proven they can dominate across promotions.
But TNA remains their priority. Matt emphasized that staying with TNA was a deliberate choice, as the promotion positions them for success and allows them to contribute to the company's growth during its new AMC era. Meanwhile, the Hardy legacy may continue through the next generation. Jeff Hardy revealed that his daughters have shown interest in wrestling, with his eldest already displaying natural talent. 'She's asked me about it several times recently, like, 'Dad, you still think about maybe getting that ring one day?'' Jeff shared. 'So it's maybe not too late, and the Hardy Girlz may very well be a thing in the future!'
Matt's children are also showing interest, though in a more creative direction. 'I don't know if I wanna get beat up like that, Dad, but can you insult people and make money in wrestling? You can? That's awesome!' his middle child joked. Thought-provoking question: As the Hardys pass the torch to the next generation, will their legacy be defined by their in-ring achievements or their ability to inspire future stars?
Currently, the Hardys are embroiled in a feud with The Righteous (Vincent and Dutch), who debuted in TNA at Final Resolution in December. Matt noted that the late Bray Wyatt (Windham Rotunda) had pushed for WWE to sign Vincent and Dutch following their 2022 tryout, and believes Wyatt would have loved working with the pair. 'Windham would have loved to have been able to sink his teeth into Vinnie and Dutch, no doubt,' Matt said, praising their commitment to their characters.
With the TNA World Tag Team Championships still around their waists and more WWE crossover appearances on the horizon, the Hardy Boyz show no signs of slowing down in 2026. Final question for you: Do you think Leon Slater will live up to the hype, or is he being thrust into the spotlight too soon? Let us know in the comments!
