Professional wrestler Daniel Garcia has been noticeably absent from AEW television subsequent to an incident on Dynamite where he was assaulted by MJF. This heel turn occurred not long after Garcia’s defeat against Will Ospreay for the AEW International Championship.
In a recent episode of Matt Hardy’s “Extreme Life” podcast, the subject of Garcia’s absence from AEW was discussed in detail. Apparently, the wrestler’s TV absence aligns with the nearing expiration of his contract.
The podcast conversation touched on various aspects:
On the subject of Daniel Garcia and his AEW career trajectory, Hardy expressed his admiration for Garcia as an individual and performer. He observed that they had initiated a significant angle with MJF signaling their intention to keep Garcia around and build his character. Hardy likened the situation to his tease with Randy Orton at the conclusion of Raw where his character was ‘killed off’. If Hardy’s character returns, there could be a storyline revolving around him seeking revenge. Hardy inferred that Garcia was given a similar opportunity with his angle with MJF.
He believes that Garcia, due to his young age, has the potential for success irrespective of whether he stays in AEW or moves to WWE. However, Hardy advised that Garcia should ideally have a comprehensive career plan outlined for him by either Tony Khan or MJF, so he knows how they plan to utilize and elevate him. He mentioned that wrestlers like Wardlow have had opportunities to move up but those have not been fulfilled, and that Garcia should avoid such a situation.
Regarding the possibility of Garcia’s move to WWE, Hardy suggested that he could have a similar trajectory like Ethan Page in NXT, eventually moving to the main roster. Despite what critics may say, Hardy considers being the face of any company, as he was with ECW, a significant achievement demonstrating the trust placed by the promoters in the talent. He expressed confidence that Garcia could enjoy similar trust from WWE if he transitions to NXT.