Matt Hardy has praised Tony Khan’s decision to crown the new AEW World Tag Team Champions, stating the AEW President made the right move by “striking while the iron’s hot.” On the latest episode of his Extreme Life Of Matt Hardy podcast, Hardy advised that it will be increasingly important for Khan to listen to and cater to the fans in the arena.
The endorsement follows the recent and rapid ascent of Brodido, the team of Bandido and Brody King. The pair reached the finals of the World Tag Team Tournament, where they wrestled FTR to a 30-minute time-limit draw. The result advanced both teams to a three-way match against The Hurt Syndicate at Forbidden Door, where Brodido ultimately captured the championship.
During his podcast, Hardy commended the new champions for their sudden surge in popularity. “They kinda came out of nowhere, which is amazing,” Hardy said. “I think they’re both individually talented, and I love that they’re gelling, and it seems like people are behind them. It’s cool that they’ve created a tag team that has some nice momentum in AEW.”
Hardy’s advice for Khan to prioritize the reactions of the live audience over social media platforms like X comes after a period where the AEW founder has faced booking criticism. Over the past year, some fans and wrestling journalists have voiced concerns over his creative direction amid fluctuating viewership and ticket sales.
These past criticisms, which surfaced in late 2024 and early 2025, included accusations of a “fantasy booking” style that sometimes failed to deliver satisfying conclusions to storylines. During that time, wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer suggested Khan was overextended in his multiple roles, while former WWE writer Vince Russo commented on the need to manage top-tier talent more effectively.