It may be over a quarter of a century since they first met, but two of WWE’s greatest tag teams are about to get it on again.
The Hardy Boyz are enjoying quite the swansong to their epic career, a late run in TNA proving mightily fruitful.
Matt and Jeff shone as recently as this past weekend, winning back their TNA World Tag Team Championships at the company’s Slammiversary event.
More than 7,000 packed into Elmont, New York’s UBS Arena on Sunday for what was TNA’s biggest ever North American crowd.
A talent crossover with WWE – which sees performers from each company appear on the other’s programming – has played a major role in TNA’s recent resurgence.
The Hardy Boyz remain hugely popular, returning to TNA in spring 2024 and even popping up for a fun WWE cameo on NXT Roadblock in March.
On Sunday they stood proudly in the ring with their newly re-acquired tag team titles, but were quickly confronted by one of their oldest rivals in Bubba Ray Dudley.
One half of the iconic Dudley Boyz, Bubba Ray wasted no time on the mic – he wants the legendary foursome to go at it one more time.
“This is about something special,” he began. “This is about something that can never, ever happen again.
“So this is what I got for you: October, Bound for Glory, Hardyz, Team 3D, one last match.”
The suggestion was met with tremendous applause from the live crowd, who quickly chanted to know the whereabouts of D-Von Dudley, the only member of the iconic quartet not present.
“That’s a great point and a great question,” Bubba replied. “Because at Bound for Glory, you’re gonna hear, one last time: ‘D-Von, get the tables!’”
The sound of Bubba Ray’s iconic catchphrase was a great sign-off to the segment, which ended with the Hardyz and their rival shaking hands to effectively confirm the match.
An October meeting at Bound for Glory would be an incredible throwback for wrestling fans everywhere.
Alongside Edge and Christian, The Dudleys – Team 3D in TNA – and the Hardyz are part of one of the greatest tag team wrestling eras of all time.
Their epic TLC battles spanned Raws, SmackDowns and WrestleManias aplenty during the Attitude Era, the Hardy brothers first meeting Bubba Ray and D-Von at WWE live event in September 1999.
What’s followed in the 26 years since has stayed in the memories of those who remember the rivalries fondly – leaving one fan to pen on X: “Bubba Ray Dudley challenging Matt and Jeff Hardy to one last TLC Match made me feel like a child again. The energy in the arena was out of this world.”
Another said: “I can’t wait for that match. I’m ordering Bound for Glory just for that match.”
While Matt and Jeff Hardy have been wrestling on a fairly regular basis in recent years – and indeed since their glory days in WWE – the same can’t be said for one of their foes.
52-year-old D-Von Dudley has wrestled just three matches in the last nine years, though Bubba Ray, 54, turned out on the independent scene as recently as last month.
Their TLC battles remain some of the most revered tag team matches of all time.
A full Hardy Boyz, Dudley Boyz, and Edge & Christian reunion looks unlikely – the latter duo are active in AEW.