Matt Hardy Calls Death Riders Storyline Stale – Matt Hardy has offered a blunt critique of AEW’s creative direction in the aftermath of the AEW Dynasty pay-per-view, specifically calling out the current trajectory of Jon Moxley and the Death Riders. Speaking on his Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, the veteran wrestler emphasized that while Moxley remains one of AEW’s hardest-working stars, the storyline is no longer engaging.
“As I’d said last week before we ever got to the Pay Per View event… I feel it’s one of those times where, you know, the Death Riders thing, it has pretty much run its course,” Hardy said.
Hardy made it clear that his criticism had nothing to do with Moxley’s dedication or talent. He praised Moxley’s commitment to AEW and his willingness to put his body on the line.
“I love Jon Moxley. I think in many ways, Jon Moxley is the heart and soul of AEW. I think he busts his busted his ass for AEW,” Hardy continued. “He takes these crazy risk and he puts it on the line for AEW week in and week out, no doubt, but I think it is time to go a different direction and try and start something new that could possibly catch fire.”
According to Hardy, AEW needs a creative jolt to reignite excitement in the product.
“AEW really, really, really needs something to get hot and catch fire to kind of get their momentum back, I think so,” he said.
Hardy also questioned the direction of the Death Riders as a faction.
“I don’t necessarily understand their whole mission at AEW, what are they trying to accomplish?” he asked.
Turning his attention to The Young Bucks’ involvement in the AEW Dynasty main event—where they interfered to help Moxley retain the AEW World Championship against Swerve Strickland—Hardy said the storyline development was curious.
“You said, you know, the Bucks coming back and helping Jon Moxley. It’s gonna be really interesting… I want to see how they explain that. I’m really curious of how they’re going to tell this story… It was an interesting choice,” he said, agreeing with podcast co-host Jon Alba’s speculation that it could lead to The Young Bucks facing Swerve Strickland and Hangman Page.
When it comes to rising stars like Will Ospreay, Hardy had mixed feelings. He acknowledged Ospreay’s in-ring prowess but questioned his depth as a character.
“Besides being the greatest wrestler in the world, like I’m just curious of what story they will create,” Hardy said, adding, “I think WWE, they would definitely change his presentation. They would try and sink their teeth into him and give him more substance than he has as a character.”
Still, Hardy sees potential in Ospreay.
“I don’t think Will Ospreay has got as big as he can get… There’s going to be just like, one more layer of something… that is going to help really catapult him to the next level,” he added.
Discussing FTR’s heel turn against Adam Copeland, Hardy said, “I feel pretty confident saying I think FTR is at their best when they are the bad guys,” before predicting, “I think everybody sees the writing on the wall that we’re eventually going to get a Cope and Christian reunion in some capacity.”
Hardy also touched on the length of AEW’s pay-per-view events and whether fan fatigue could be playing a role in reactions to Moxley or the product overall.
“That’s a long time to keep an audience captivated,” he said of shows that run past midnight Eastern. While he rejected the idea that Moxley himself had “go away heat,” Hardy said, “I don’t think Jon Moxley, as a performer, has go away heat,” but acknowledged fans might be growing tired of the current angle. “I think people are past that storyline or they’re just frustrated with it or they’re not into it as much anymore.”
With WrestleDream and AEW’s summer schedule ahead, Hardy made it clear that a creative reset might be necessary to regain momentum heading into the second half of 2025.
Matt Hardy Calls Death Riders Storyline Stale
