A Requiem for Vanguard 1, Matt Hardy’s “Friend” Drone

One of pro wrestling’s most compelling characters this year goes by the name Vanguard 1. But this character is neither a he nor a she. Rather, Vanguard 1 is a machine — a drone in particular — and it helped make the AEW’s weekly Dynamite shows must-see TV, along with its owner, the “Broken” Matt Hardy. The two debuted in style back in March, with Vanguard 1 flying into the ring to “interrupt” Chris Jericho, while Hardy stood high up in the empty arena.

Now, it used to be that only a select few had access to drones, which at first were used exclusively for military purposes, like target training and reconnaissance missions. But drones, thanks to advancements in technology, have evolved through the years, and so have their uses. They are also far more accessible nowadays, with a variety of drones listed on Adorama such as the Yuneec Typhoon H3 Hexacopter and the Autel Robotics EVO II PRO. These hi-tech machines come with powerful mounted cameras, and are now being used in a variety of fields, from surveillance to logistics and even filmmaking.

And as Hardy has shown with Vanguard 1, there are plenty of creative, if not offbeat, ways to use drones, and his decision to use one as an “ally” has been nothing short of groundbreaking. Hardy’s drone is from the DJI Phantom line, which is regarded as one of the best in recent years. AEW’s most bizarre star is the DJI Phantom 4 Pro, the drone model featured in this Verge article back in January. The article lauded it for its variable aperture, a 1-inch sensor, and 30-minute flight time.

The DJI Phantom 4 Pro is a definite upgrade from its 2016 predecessors, which Hardy used back in 2017 when he first debuted Vanguard 1 in the WWE as part of his Broken/Woken Matt Hardy gimmick. Vanguard 1 became a fan favorite soon enough, adding a layer of complexity to the already complex Broken/Woken character that Hardy will forever be remembered for. Broken Matt, according to Calvin Gibbons, revitalized Hardy’s career, and “was perfect” says Juan Bautista. And while Hardy deserves a ton of credit for making the character memorable, Vanguard 1’s role in it shouldn’t be dismissed.

Put simply, Broken Matt and Vanguard 1 were a team, with the latter turning out to be a perfect manifestation of the former’s worldview, which was equal parts bizarre, maniacal, and over-the-top. Granted, their run in the WWE was short-lived, but it was certainly well received, so much that the WWE even created a Vanguard 1 action figure. Hardy and his drone eventually made their way to Impact Wrestling, where they again received critical acclaim before leaving a lasting imprint on the promotion.

Then, this year, Vanguard 1 and Broken Matt jumped ship to the AEW, where the two have already made their mark — as expected. Vanguard 1, in fact, even took on a starring role ever so briefly in one of the AEW’s most compelling (and at times comedic) storylines of the year: the man vs. machine feud between Chris Jericho and Vanguard 1. Jericho ultimately won, shattering Vanguard 1 with his bat (bizarrely named “Floyd”) back in May and breaking Broken Matt even more (witness Hardy’s angst filled and tearful goodbye to Vanguard 1 below).

So, for now, Vanguard 1 is officially decommissioned, but not after a fruitful, controversial, and highly successful four year run that began in 2016. It was quite a flight for this drone all right, and it’s a shame it had to end that way. That said, its success might ultimately pave the way for Vanguard 2, which wouldn’t be surprising given the advancements in drone technology. Vanguard 1, however, will stand alone as a most compelling and unique trailblazer in pro wrestling.