According to Meltzers report they want them under a contract like all the other talent that locks them up until the final match taped at these tapings air. Why not work with the talent that has provided almost all the good will your product has received in the past year and work out a short turnaround on tape to air for their match and a special one off contract, especially if they're willing to help in that scenario? Is the extra paperwork worth more than the bad press they're getting?

After all, Anthem schedule the tapings two days after these contracts expired, which means if it's not just LoLTNA , it was a calculated move to get out from under their big money contracts and they're working on a long term plans that don't involve those people that didn't re-sign (but why have the belts on people with contracts fixing to expire, especially when you have Jeff Jarrett walking around backstage , surely he could tell them why that's a bad idea). So they either expected the Hardy's to sign whatever they were given or walk.

From the Hardy's POV, the have played ball for over a year through the transition and now Anthem is trying to big-time them. If I was the Hardy's I'd immediately be calling Vince so I could throw the belts (or faximiles thereof) in the trash on the Croatian only version of Main Event and be done.

All Anthem's done is put out more eyes on the taping results, instead of the weekly show. So they've made Meltz, Wade Keller, all the way down to Wrestledoodz.net.co.foot money this week, but hurt their product for the next 3-6 months.

As you said they're businessmen, so there's surely some long term plan in the works, but they have certainly lit the fire to scorch the earth behind them along the way, and with no track record to go by besides TNA's and GFW's, you'll see why most people aren't quick to give them the benefit of the doubt