Matt Hardy Responds to Bizarre Facebook Death Hoax as Hardy Boyz Compete in TNA Main Event
Matt Hardy has publicly dismissed a viral death hoax after a fake Facebook page posted a false obituary for the 51-year-old wrestler. The false tribute gained wide traction online, prompting Hardy to address the rumors and promote his appearance in that night’s TNA IMPACT! main event at 9 pm ET on AMC.
Matt Hardy shuts down the false obituary
A fake Facebook page using the name Bill Goldberg published a post announcing "Gone but never forgotten. Matt Hardy (1972-2026)" and included a lengthy tribute describing Hardy as a "soul of passion and creation" whose matches and scars told a story. The post circulated broadly on the platform, with one account of the hoax noting it amassed over 2, 000 comments and more than 1, 600 shares. Other tallies referenced the same post drawing more than 1, 800 comments and about 1, 000 shares, while some summaries described it as having been shared over 1, 000 times with many comments. The fake account was also noted for using AI-generated images to drive engagement.
How Matt Hardy addressed the hoax
Matt Hardy shared a video on Instagram to dismiss the rumors, declaring, "Ladies and gentleman, the rumours are not true. The Hardy Boyz are not dead because Matt and Jeff Hardy will not die! We are both alive and well and we will be featured tonight in the main event of TNA IMPACT that starts at 9 pm ET on AMC. " He used the appearance to lean into his "Broken" persona while promoting the match and warned The Righteous not to betray the Hardy brothers.
Social reaction and Hardy’s follow-up comments
Hardy said many people had contacted him about the troubling posts, prompting his public response. In the comments to his post he wrote that the obituary had been sent to him nearly 100 times during the day and apologized for frightening anyone, adding that it would not be his ghost appearing on IMPACT. Other descriptions of the spread said he had been sent the false obituary dozens of times, reflecting the multiple waves of circulation.
Match lineup and outcome on the February 26 episode
The night's main event, from Nashville, featured the Hardy Boyz teaming with Vincent and Dutch of The Righteous in an eight-man tag match against The System: Brian Myers, Eddie Edwards, Cedric Alexander, and Bear Bronson. The match ended when Vincent shoved Matt Hardy out of harm's way and absorbed a Boston Knee Party from Eddie Edwards, allowing The System to secure the pinfall victory.
Where the Hardys stand and wider context
Matt and Jeff Hardy, aged 51 and 48 respectively, remain active performers and are identified as the current TNA World Tag Team Champions. The incident underscored how AI-driven or fake social accounts can mislead fans. Matt used the moment both to reassure his audience and to promote ongoing storylines; he warned The Righteous that betrayal would carry consequences summarized by the phrase FAFO (F*ck around and find out).
Connections and backstory referenced during the exchange
Discussion around The Righteous highlighted that the duo had previously been slated to work with the late Bray Wyatt before plans changed months prior to Wyatt's death at age 32 in August 2023. Matt also praised The Righteous for their commitment to character work and said that their dedication is important when performing a wrestling role. Finally, commentary around the Hardys included the note that the duo could end up back on WWE television at some point.
Recent updates indicate the situation stemmed from a fake social-media account and a widely shared post; details may continue to evolve as the wrestlers and promotions move forward with booking and public responses.
