Matt Hardy Clarifies Broken Rules Match Won’t Be Cinematic – Following a cinematic-style vignette showing Matt and Jeff Hardy returning to the iconic Lake of Reincarnation, the “Broken Hardys” are officially set to compete together in WWE for the first time under that name. The legendary duo will face Dark State at NXT Halloween Havoc in a “Broken Rules Match,” a stipulation Matt Hardy recently explained in detail on his podcast, The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy.

When co-host Jon Alba asked him to clarify what exactly a Broken Rules Match entails, Hardy gave a simple but definitive answer. “A broken rules match is basically a match with no rules,” Hardy said. “Where anything goes, anything can be used. You can fight all over the building and the venue. The standard rules of a pro wrestling match typically are broken.”

Despite the “Broken” universe’s history with cinematic matches such as The Final Deletion and Total Nonstop Deletion, Hardy emphasized that this upcoming match will be a traditional live contest rather than a pre-taped production.

When asked directly if the bout would be cinematic, Hardy was quick to set the record straight. “This is a real match,” he confirmed. “We’re going to see in the… it’s going to be a real match in the arena. Yes.” He doubled down on the statement, adding, “We will be in Arizona, and we will be going nuts.”

This bout marks a historic milestone, as it is the first time WWE has officially used the “Broken Hardys” name since Matt and Jeff brought the popular characters to mainstream attention in 2016 and later returned to WWE in 2017. Fans are eager to see how the creative and unpredictable “Broken” style will translate to the live NXT stage.

NXT Halloween Havoc is scheduled to take place on October 25, 2025, from the Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, Arizona, and will stream live on Peacock.

Matt Hardy Clarifies Broken Rules Match Won’t Be Cinematic

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