Coming it at a rating of just 0.55 out of 10 and getting the award for the worst match in AEW history was the calamitous “Broken Rules” match between Sammy Guevara and Matt Hardy.
The match somehow lost the “Worst Match of the Year” award to a terrible Braun Strowman vs The Fiend match, but I think the AEW bout is worse because it could have ended so, so much worse for Matt Hardy.
The bout took place at All Out 2020, and came at the end of an already doomed rivalry between the two. Guevara had already busted Hardy open with a wayward chair throw at his face, and this match was set to be the decider from weeks of overly-violent abuse.
The “Broken Rules” match was basically a last man standing match, with Matt Hardy tasked with bringing his Broken Character back for the bout.
Sadly, it all went terrible wrong when Matt Hardy had his head slammed onto concrete from a great height, but it was what came after the solidified this as one of the worst matches of all time.
Sammy Guevara vs Matt Hardy Is The Worst AEW Match Ever
No match in AEW history has been as dangerous, reckless and downright stupid as the match between Sammy Guevara and Matt Hardy.
Sammy Guevara vs Matt Hardy is the worst match in AEW history because it put the life of Matt Hardy on the line, in one of the most reckless flaunting of safety precautions you’ll see in contemporary wrestling.
Guevara speared Hardy from the top of a forklift, missing the table below completely and bouncing Hardy’s head off the concrete. Hardy was unconscious, but when he came to be, referee Aubrey Edwards allowed the match to continue.
It should have been called off and Hardy sent straight to hospital, but they wrestled five more minutes in front of a very uncomfortable audience.
It was scary. Matt Hardy was clearly concussed, but due to the stipulation of the “Broken Rules match”, they couldn’t let him lose (If Hardy lost, he had to leave AEW).
However, that was not an excuse to put his life on the line. Matt Hardy could have been killed by that horrific bump.
And even though he wasn’t, that is no excuse for Aubrey Edwards for continuing the match. Even in a fake sport, the referee and doctors have a duty of care towards the wrestlers.
The match should have been immediately called off. I’m sure any wrestling booker worth his salt could have figured out how to bring back Matt Hardy, even after he’s been “kicked out” of AEW.
Or, just call the match off. It wasn’t a main event match that was going to tank the PPV if they cancelled it.
With all due respect, it was an aging Matt Hardy against an up-and-comer in Sammy Guevara. It would’ve been better to simply wait until Hardy was better, and redo the match on Dynamite.
Or Dark, or just not done it again at all.
Matt Hardy vs Sammy Guevara is by far the worst match in AEW history, due to how they risked Matt Hardy’s life, health and future for a pointless match against Chris Jericho’s lackey, of all people.