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The Hardy Boyz Admit That Vince McMahon Tried to Split Them Up
Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Matt and Jeff Hardy are gearing up to set the ring on fire with a Fatal 4-Way Ladder Match for the TNA World Tag Team Titles at TNA Slammiversary 2025 on July 20 against reigning champions The Nemeths, The Rascalz, and Fir$t Cla$$. During their historic WWE run, the duo was regarded as one of the most iconic tag teams in the game. However, according to the brothers, former WWE top honcho, Vince McMahon was trying to split them up, despite their immense popularity.

Talking on the Ariel Helwani show, the Hardy brothers opened up about their rocky relationship with McMahon, particularly shedding light on the fact that he preferred Jeff more.

“Vince, early on, tried to split us up. Like, there were a few different times where, even way before it was time to, I think. Because he saw potential in doing things, and obviously, Vince became a big Jeff guy. He loved Jeff,” Matt said. “Jeff has always been more historically popular than I am, but still, I think people forget how popular I am on my own.”

When the Hardy Boyz first signed with WWE in the late 1990s, they were one of the organization’s beloved tag teams. However, the duo split twice during their time at WWE, the first was from 2002 to 2005, after Jeff took on the Undertaker in a feud.

The duo united again in 2006, during the Hardy Boyz reunion, before splitting up once again in 2009. They soon bid adieu to WWE, that same year and returned to TNA.

Previously while speaking on his podcast, Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, the older Hardy had opened up about McMahon wanting him to adopt a new identity. He stated that the WWE undermined their collective crowd appeal and that McMahon had always considered Jeff the popular sibling.

Meanwhile, when Helwani asked if they ever stood up against McMahon’s ideas, the duo admitted that they were unable to do so.

“Not really, I don’t think we had that stroke then. There were some times when there was a scenario where they were trying to do something, and Jeff didn’t feel comfortable, or none of us really did,” they said. “And we just like got taken off TV for a few weeks but still did house shows, because they were trying to push us into a split.”

“Vince Saw More of A Shining Star In Jeff”

The Hardy brothers’ claim about McMahon’s apparent favoritism wasn’t just a blind arrow that was shot into the sky. In fact, while talking to Wrestling Inc, former WWE referee Jimmy Korderas also agreed that McMahon saw Jeff as a bigger star.

“I don’t wanna speak for Vince, but it almost felt to me that Vince saw more of a shining star in Jeff than he did in Matt. Maybe that’s why,” he said. “I don’t wanna say Matt was held back but he didn’t achieve as much as Jeff did. I think he saw more star power in Jeff.”

This article first appeared on Fights Around The World and was syndicated with permission.

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