Matt Hardy On AEW Backstage Fight: Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks Did Nothing Wrong

Speaking about the AEW backstage fight between CM Punk, Ace Steel, and The Elite, Matt Hardy has stated that Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks did nothing wrong and "if anything, they were the victims."

"It's going to be very interesting to see The Elite back, the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega. I'm very happy they are back. I will say this right here and right now, those guys didn't do anything wrong in this situation. If anything, they were the victims. I'm telling you that from a first-person perspective. I was there, I witnessed it all. I love all three of those guys. I've known Matt and Nick forever. I've just gotten to know Kenny while working with AEW. I'm very happy they are returning to TV and they are back in the mix. They deserve to be in the mix," Matt said on his Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast.

"When I saw them yesterday, I said, 'It's so good to see you guys. You guys are the heart and soul of AEW.' The Elite, in many ways, are the identity of AEW. Without those guys, you don't have AEW as it is right now. Things are very different. Tony Khan may have started wrestling in some capacity, but All Elite Wrestling, those guys are the identity of AEW. It's very important to have them back," Matt added. 

Hardy has since tweeted: "My comments from this week's @matthardypod have been misconstrued. I WAS NOT at All Out 2022. I DID NOT say I witnessed the events at All Out. I witnessed the entire process in real time over the months & stand by my comment that the Elite were not in the wrong."

A backstage fight between Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, Ace Steel, and CM Punk broke out following Punk's incendiary comments about The Elite, Hangman Page, and Colt Cabana during his post-All Out media scrum on September 4. The Elite went to Punk's locker room after the press conference and reports have noted that CM Punk threw the first punch and Ace Steel bit Kenny Omega and threw a chair that rocked Nick Jackson.

All five men were suspended following the incident while a third party investigated what happened. That investigation has since ended and The Elite have been backstage at recent episodes of AEW Dynamite. Their returns have also been teased on TV. CM Punk, meanwhile, is reportedly in talks with AEW over a contract buyout and Ace Steel has been released. 

Issues between Punk and members of the AEW roster had been building for some time, with the situation beginning after AEW initially opted not to renew Colt Cabana's contract before he was re-signed and banished to Ring of Honor. Speculation suggested CM Punk was involved in the decision, something both Punk and Tony Khan have denied. 

Cabana ultimately made his return on Wednesday's episode of Dynamite to challenge Chris Jericho for the ROH World Championship and Hardy admitted he was happy to see 'Boom Boom' back. 

"I was excited for it. It was great. Colt Cabana has been away from AEW for a very long time. It is what it is, I don't have to sit here and go into things, but we're in a position right now where he can be back at AEW TV and I'm glad to have him back. I feel the investigation has happened and I'm glad their names have been cleared and they are coming back to TV and I'm happy to see Colt Cabana, who I think is a great human being and performer, I'm happy to see back on AEW programming."

H/T to Fightful