Neck issues almost forced a last-minute change on January 22
Summary
– Jeff Hardy was nearly removed from his January 22 TNA iMPACT match
– Matt Hardy was discussed as a possible replacement
– Hardy pushed to compete and finished the match without complications
Jeff Hardy’s return to singles action on TNA iMPACT came far closer to being canceled than fans realized.
According to Fightful Select, internal discussions took place ahead of the January 22 episode regarding Hardy’s availability due to ongoing neck concerns. Officials reportedly considered pulling him from the match entirely.
Those talks included a contingency plan that would have seen Matt Hardy step in if Jeff was deemed unable to compete. The situation remained unresolved until late in the process.
Ultimately, Jeff Hardy was the deciding factor. He strongly advocated for staying in the match, citing his trust in Mustafa Ali and his excitement about working a singles bout against him.
Hardy went through with the match, earned the win, and did not suffer any reported setbacks afterward. The outcome helped ease concerns, at least in the short term.
The situation followed Hardy’s appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, where he revealed he had been dealing with two bulging discs in his neck for several months. He admitted the injury weighed heavily on him during TNA’s early AMC shows.
Hardy explained that early MRI results were alarming and forced him to confront difficult possibilities about his future. Since then, he has said his condition has improved and that he feels more confident managing his recovery.
What nearly became a late scratch instead turned into a pivotal moment, with Hardy proving both his determination and his willingness to push forward carefully.
