AEW moved Kenny Omega’s title win over MJF from Redemption to the Beach Break edition of Dynamite on July 8, and with the pay-per-view now days away in Montreal, Matt Hardy is not sure the decision has paid off.
The subject came up on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, with host John Alba noting that a number of Redemption tickets have appeared on resale in recent weeks, his read being that buyers had expected to see MJF and Omega on the card.
Hardy said his position on MJF has not changed.
“I think him versus a big babyface is where you’re going to sell tickets,” Hardy said.
For him, the formula is not complicated.
“I just feel like MJF versus an over babyface with some sort of story behind it and motivation for the babyface to kick his as, I think that makes money. I think that is wrestling 101,” Hardy said. “That’s what it’s all about at the end of the day, not the actual in-ring wrestling. To sell tickets, it is about having that matchup that people give a sit about.”
The match he would most like to see is one AEW has not booked.
“MJF versus Will Ospreay, I still think is the biggest match you could do. You could do it at All In,” Hardy said. “But it is what it is.”
Omega beat MJF at Beach Break in a match carrying the stipulation that he could never challenge for the title again if he lost, ending MJF’s third reign. Fightful Select has since reported that MJF is expected to be off AEW television for a stretch, though he remains part of the plans for All In at Wembley Stadium on August 30, where Omega is expected to defend against Ospreay.
Omega now defends the AEW World Championship against Kevin Knight in the Redemption main event, a match made after Knight interrupted his championship celebration on the July 15 Dynamite and cracked him with a microphone. AEW Redemption takes place Sunday at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
