Matt Hardy explains how pro wrestlers unionizing could put smaller companies out of business
The idea of pro wrestlers unionizing has been a hot topic in 2026, with a number of WWE names reportedly being asked to take pay cuts by TKO in recent months. Speaking on his Extreme Life podcast, former WWE star Matt Hardy explained why unionizing could actually cause smaller promotions to go out of business, despite it being a positive for performers at the bigger promotions:
“Wrestling is so different [to traditional acting]. Like with WWE and AEW, with the financial backing that those two companies havee, that is something that could be feasible [unionizing], it could be possible there and I could see where they could unionize to a degree. But, it would be hard for other companies to do that…some other companies would be just out of business because they wouldn’t be able to to handle that. They wouldn’t be able to cover all that…covering a certain amount of insurance.“
Matt Hardy on pro wrestling unionization
Hardy would go on to say that getting unionization would be great for the performers at bigger companies, as it could also mean that the independent contractor status at smaller promotions might have to TRULY be independent contractor deals: “As far as being able to have some sort of unionization, where there was some sort of control and people were regulated, that would be great. The smaller companies, I feel like they would have to kind of carve out their own niche where you would have to be independent contractors, but you would truly be independent contractors. I feel like myself and Jeff, we are like the epitome of independent contractors right now at TNA. As long as we do their TV dates, we’re all good. We can do whatever we want.”
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