WWE has confirmed that Matt Hardy’s contract has expired.
Hardy announced that his contract expired on a YouTube video that premiered late last night. Hardy thanked WWE for the past three years and did not rule out a return to the company in the future. Hardy talked about being a free agent and keeping all his options open as he is not sure how much time he has left in his career.
WWE gave Hardy a write-up on their website highlighting his WWE career before thanking him for “his contributions to sports-entertainment and the WWE Universe and wishes him well in his future endeavors.”
Here is the full release from WWE:
Matt Hardy’s contract with WWE has expired.
A trailblazer throughout his 19-year WWE career, Matt and his brother Jeff pioneered the first tag team Ladder and TLC Matches in WWE, stealing the show at WrestleMania on several occasions. Matt, who competed in his first WWE match in 1994, captured nine tag team titles with Jeff, in addition to two other reigns with MVP and Bray Wyatt.
He is also a former ECW, United States, European, Cruiserweight and Hardcore champion, and he won the Fifth Annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 34.
But Matt is perhaps most revered for the uncanny connection he has cultivated with the WWE Universe over the years, even as his character has transformed. From a gravity-defying daredevil willing to take any and all risks to becoming one of the most eccentric personas ever seen as “Woken” Matt Hardy, all incarnations had one thing in common — the adoration of WWE fans.
WWE thanks Matt Hardy for his contributions to sports-entertainment and the WWE Universe and wishes him the best in his future endeavors.