The Antichrist is Back: Why TNA’s Righteous Deletion Proved Matt Hardy Still Has It
If you had any lingering doubts about whether Matt Hardy could still cook up cinematic wrestling gold at the highest level, the Righteous Deletion match on TNA iMPACT! just completely blew them away.
When the initial word dropped about a showdown with The Righteous, the internet rumor mill immediately started spinning—with Jeff sliding straight into a massive World Title program against Nic Nemeth.
But instead of just a standard challenger build, what we got was something infinitely more entertaining: a full-blown blast from the past that completely resets the board, gives Jeff a fresh solo gimmick, and sets the table for an absolute powerhouse world title run.
It's perfect.
Out of the murky depths of the iconic Lake of Reincarnation emerged "The Antichrist"—complete with the legendary custom Immortal Championship belt from 2010.
Seeing that piece of history reappear on television was pure gasoline for anyone who remembers the Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff era.
Lake of Reincarnation Magic: Bringing Back The Antichrist and the Immortal Title
And man, did they deliver.
The match itself was an absolute masterclass in pacing and tone. It was:
Scary
Creepy
Inordinately fun
It proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Matt hasn't lost an ounce of his creative edge. The Hardy Compound cinematic formula can sometimes be a tightrope walk, but this felt fresh, unhinged, and brilliantly executed right down to the forklift Swanton Bomb.
Now, TNA is sitting pretty. Heel Jeff Hardy isn't just a nostalgia pop; he instantly anchors himself as the top name and top star the company has on its roster. The ceiling just got blown off the division, and the landscape of TNA has officially changed.
LOVED IT!
