A Fan Attacked: TNA’s Broken Star Goes Too Far

In wrestling, we’re able to let things go. Things that, in the “real world,” would absolutely not fly. Something like, for example, hitting someone with a chair. Sure, it’s not exactly celebrated in wrestling, but it’s treated as more of an offense that gets a finger wag and a warning, as opposed to the criminal charges one would most likely face if the chair attack happened at, say, a work party.

These are big guys, with big egos and big tempers, playing with big stakes in hopes of earning the biggest prize. To expect complete fair play from them would be, quite honestly, silly. Much like a fight may break out in MMA after the actual contest, sometimes in wrestling, the wrestlers get a little too involved in the heat of the moment.

And, for the most part, the respective wrestling organizations do a decent enough job of making sure that when a line is crossed, someone pays for it. Rick Rude was sent packing for saying disparaging things about the mother of the Big Boss Man. Vader was suspended for assaulting Gorilla Monsoon.

At least, that used to be the case. In recent weeks, TNA has sat and watched as one of its stars – a certain “Broken” Matt Hardy – dives deeper and deeper into his lunacy. He has placed his young son in danger, and has unleashed a series of attacks on his brother Jeff, including one at his very own house.

And yet, TNA has seen fit to sit on their thumbs. Not only has Matt Hardy not been punished for his acts, he’s actually seen rewards come his way. He was given a Final Deletion match against Jeff. TNA allowed a match where this loon would take control of the Hardy brand, reducing Jeff to nothing more than an obsolete mule. TNA allowed their biggest star to be made mocked completely, risking injury in a match conducted on the same ramps that once broke Jeff’s leg.

He even goaded Jeff into attempting another jump on his bike, which again led to a landing that could have injured Jeff once again. He was then placed into the Bound for Glory Playoffs for a chance at regaining the TNA Title he once held.

This egregious lack of caring for their talent’s safety is concerning, but at the same time, we know that Jeff has always been willing to reach the highest of highs, even if it means eventually crashing back down to earth.

But TNA should never have allowed the Final Deletion. Matt Hardy has proven himself to be too psychotic at this juncture to be permitted to enter into any type of athletic contest. He’s proven to be too dangerous to not only himself and his enemies, but to his loved ones as well. His decisions aren’t sane, and yet TNA simply sits back and watches, cheering at the amount of Youtube views these Hardy segments rack up.

It was this lust for attention that eventually led to the moment that could be seen coming from a mile away. The moment where Matt Hardy, allowed to run free in his maniacal state, would finally go too far.

While Jeff wrestled JT Dunn and Chuck Taylor (!!!), Matt Hardy prowled the ringside area, screaming at the fans who continued to defiantly chant JEFF!!! JEFF!!! JEFF!!! Matt clearly grew more incensed, screeching that his name was no longer Jeff, entering into his usual rants about Brother Nero, mules, and obsolete.

It was getting uncomfortable, as what first appeared to be Matt simply sending his brother into a 2 on 1 situation started to grow into Matt vs. The Fans while Jeff wrestled.

And then, TNA cameras caught the moment. Matt would snapmare a fan over the barricade and dive onto him, sinking his teeth into the man’s neck. The fan screamed in agony as top notch commentator Josh Matthews pointed out that, yes, this was a fan. A few security goons ran out in an attempt to stop the attack, but that was hardly enough. Where’s Dixie? Where’s Billy Corgan?? Matt Hardy would rise, his mouth covered in blood. Josh Matthews, ace that he is, took the opportunity to compare this horrible attack to some well known TV shows.

Make no mistake: this incident – this disgusting, totally preventable incident – falls at TNA’s feet just as much as it does Matt Hardy’s. TNA has allowed Matt Hardy to do whatever he wants for nearly the entire year. It started with Big Money Matt, and it’s followed into his current Broken state. As long as he keeps people talking, it seems that TNA is more than happy to sit back and let him destroy everything they’ve worked so hard for.

The saddest part of the despicable incident on Impact was how the match continued. Matt Hardy was still allowed to participate, even getting the deciding pinfall. There was no immediate punishment for Matt’s actions. No wrestlers came out to help the fan, or even to stick up for Jeff Hardy. Not one person came out to help, save for the security team. One has to wonder, was this because no one wanted to help, or was it because no one was allowed to help?

We all know that WWE can and will do anything it can to protect John Cena. Why can’t we apply this line of thought to the obvious complicity TNA shows in continuing to allow a dangerous man like Matt Hardy to freely roam, putting its performers (and now, apparently, its fans), directly in the line of fire of a man who doesn’t feel like playing by any rules any more.

Matt Hardy has generated headlines for months now, and TNA has clearly fallen in love with it. Now there’s blood on their hands. TNA must do the right thing, and it must suspend Matt Hardy for the forseeable future. His actions this past Impact went far beyond that of a bad guy. Matt Hardy needs to be reminded that, Broken or not, he’s not the one running the show.

We can only hope that the fan will be okay. We were never given an update on the poor man’s condition.

TNA has been on a roll in 2016, providing us with some nice title feuds, some outstanding matches, and a general product that has pleased its fans. Risking this good will by continuing to put everyone in danger with the chance of a Matt Hardy attack is the last thing that they should be doing. At some point, common sense has to win out over greed. If TNA doesn’t want to self-regulate, then hopefully a state athletic commission can step in. Because Matt Hardy, as he is, should not be allowed to compete anymore.

Not until he’s cleared by a licensed therapist. Not until he’s proven that he can keep his hands off of the fans. Matt Hardy crossed the line. Normally, in TNA, that’s the goal. This time, an example needs to be made of him. If nothing is done, we can only expect more, until it’s TNA itself that ends up deleted.

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