Matt Hardy has shared details about the Hardy Boyz’s recent appearance at WWE SummerSlam 2025 in New Jersey, explaining how their cameo nearly did not take place. The event celebrated the 25th anniversary of the first-ever TLC (Tables, Ladders, and Chairs) match, originally held at SummerSlam 2000, which featured the Hardy Boyz along with the Dudley Boyz and Edge & Christian.
To honor that milestone, WWE organized a six-team TLC match for the WWE Tag Team Championship, won by the Wyatt Sicks, who defeated teams including DIY, Motor City Machine Guns, The Street Profits, Fraxiom, and the duo of Rey Fenix & Andrade.
Background of the Hardy Boyz and Dudley Boyz Appearances
Both the Hardy Boyz and Dudley Boyz appeared briefly in the crowd before the TLC match started. Matt Hardy later explained how the plan for their appearance evolved during conversations with WWE personnel. Initially, he and his brother Jeff were booked only to film promotional content for WWE’s A&E shows and social media platforms, recognizing their status as WWE legacy performers.
During this time, Matt reached out to Shane Helms with an idea to have the Hardy Boyz present in the audience to pay tribute during the TLC anniversary match. He emphasized that their presence would be respectful and would not interfere with the match itself.
How the Idea Gained Approval
Matt said,
“We were booked to come do some content earlier in the week. John Cone, who’s been an absolute pleasure to work with, he reached out to us and talked about coming to film some content, just some evergreen stuff for the A&E shows and whatnot. Just stuff for their social media — we’re WWE legacy acts and they view us as such.”
He continued,
“We’re doing that on Friday and I want to say it was Wednesday or Thursday, I spoke with Shane [Helms]. We catch up every so often and I was just like, ‘Yeah man, I was thinking that with the TLC match, it might be neat if myself and Jeff were there and we were in the crowd watching. It’s the 25 year anniversary of TLC, that’d be cool if that happened.’ I said, ‘I wouldn’t want to distract and make people think that we’re out here to challenge the champs or we’re going to jump in the match. Just like, we’re there paying respects to these teams that are carrying the TLC tradition forward.’ He said, ‘God, I love that idea, that’s great. I might pitch it, are you okay with that? Would you guys be okay doing it, would it work?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, sure.’”
These discussions led to the concept being taken higher within WWE, eventually receiving the necessary approvals late in the week.
Final Preparations and Added Participation
Matt described how the confirmation came just before the event, requiring last-minute adjustments.
“I know he pitched it to a couple of people and they liked it and it officially got cleared I guess through the man with three Hs maybe Sunday morning or late Saturday night. They reached out to us like, ‘Hey, if you can still do that, then let us know.’ I said, ‘Hey, we’re going to this appearance and we’re going to bust our ass.’ We went out there thirty minutes early so we could delete the line and get out on time and make it to SummerSlam. Low and behold, it worked. Shane ended up adding a little more to it, cause he also reached out to The Dudleyz and put them out there. I thought it was real cool that The Hardyz and The Dudleyz were standing out there. We saw a couple of the teams before and we said, ‘Oh man’, not like they had enough pressure as it was, now the OGs are going to be sitting out watching us.”
—Matt Hardy, wrestler and podcast host
The added presence of the Dudley Boyz alongside the Hardy Boyz amplified the moment, symbolizing respect for the TLC legacy and its ongoing influence.
The Significance of the Hardy Boyz WWE SummerSlam Appearance
The cameo highlighted the enduring impact that the Hardy Boyz and other original TLC competitors have had on WWE‘s tag team division and wrestling culture as a whole. Their presence paid homage not only to their pioneering efforts in ladder and TLC matches but also to the new generation of performers continuing the tradition.
By blending nostalgia with current storylines, WWE created a bridge between eras, underscoring the importance of honoring foundational moments in wrestling history. The successful execution of this cameo, despite its last-minute nature, demonstrated the company’s commitment to celebrating its legacy while engaging fans at SummerSlam 2025.
Looking ahead, the inclusion of veteran wrestlers like the Hardy Boyz in special appearances may continue to offer meaningful connections for audiences, enhancing WWE’s live events and content offerings in the years to come.
