Welcome to SEScoops’ Daily Drop – a rundown of the top stories in pro wrestling all in one place.

Our mission is to provide our readers with the most important and interesting news from WWE, AEW and more that’s timely, informative and engaging. The Daily Drop is a destination where you can get a snapshot of the top stories in wrestling.

• WrestleMania 40 COUNTDOWN: 50 days away

Here’s the Daily Drop news report for Wednesday, February 16, 2024:

WWE News and Notes

– Tonight’s WWE SmackDown from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, UT is officially SOLD OUT with over 11,000 tickets distributed, per Wrestletix. 

SmackDown will feature appearances from The Rock and Roman Reigns, as well as Elimination Chamber qualifying matches with:

• Logan Paul vs. The Miz
• Kevin Owens vs. Dominik Mysterio
• Naomi vs. Zelina Vega
• Tiffany Stratton vs. Alba Fyre

– Drew McIntyre still has yet to sign a new WWE contract, but the Scottish Warrior’s will be on television through WrestleMania 40. Time was added to the back-end of his deal to make up for dates missed due to injuries.

– WWE saw a notable behind-the-scenes departure on February 15th. Jennifer Pepperman has left WWE. She a senior writer and producer who was heavily involved with the Women’s division on SmackDown. 

We’ve updated our WWE Releases tracker to reflect Pepperman’s departure.

– Speaking of WWE releases, former voice of Monday Night Raw Kevin Patrick has already landed his next gig. He’ll be part of the panel for the second season of MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. 

– Former WWE executive Stephanie McMahon has been named as part of the alleged cover-up regarding Ashley Massaro being sexually assaulted while in Kuwait on WWE business. A friend of the late WWE superstar alleges that Stephanie McMahon worked with her to brush the incident under the rug.

Cara Pipia, friend of Ashley Massaro, a former WWE star who accused Vince McMahon of covering up an alleged rape, joined #Banfield to discuss the allegations made. MORE: https://t.co/UH9s3sC401 pic.twitter.com/Ep927Xrxgb

— NewsNation (@NewsNation) February 15, 2024

AEW News and Notes

– Tonight’s AEW Rampage on TNT (taped Wednesday from Cedar Park, TX) will see:

• No DQ match: Jeff Hardy vs. Sammy Guevara
• Anna Jay vs. Queen Aminata
• Bang Bang Scissor Gang in 12-man tag team action

– AEW may have to start watching their language a lot more. It was reported that WBD is nixing their profanities, so the bleeping will take over the regular S-Bombs on every show.

– We’re still waiting on new word regarding Jeff Hardy’s injury during the February 14th Rampage taping. As of this writing, the concern was for his head, and some thought he may have broken his nose. That show will air tonight.

Jeff and Matt Hardy flip off Sammy Guevara after the botch that knocked out Jeff pic.twitter.com/Wl2TnbFXuJ

— Wrestlelamia.com (@wrestlelamia) February 16, 2024

Coming Up

– WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth takes place next Saturday, February 24.

– AEW Revolution takes place the following weekend on Sunday, March 3.

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of these stories, and everything else that breaks in the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for more updates!

Welcome to a new feature for SEScoops, the Daily Drop – a rundown of the top stories in pro wrestling all in one place. 

Our mission is to provide our readers with the most important and interesting news from WWE, AEW and more that’s timely, informative and engaging. The Daily Drop is a destination where you can catch up and the wrestling news you need.

WrestleMania 40 COUNTDOWN: 51 days days away

Here’s the Daily Drop news report for Wednesday, February 15, 2024:

WWE News

– The Rock and Roman Reigns are advertised for tomorrow’s WWE SmackDown from Salt Lake City, Utah. (Tickets)

– WWE released Matt Camp from his contract sometime last week. This news broke on February 14th, and it was also a big shock for many. Camp never missed an episode of The Bump, and his departure was not mentioned on this week’s show, either.’  We’ve updated our WWE Releases tracker to reflect this departure.

– Jade Cargill was removed from her planned spot in the Elimination Chamber match. Cargill made her in-ring debut at the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble and was slated to be part of the upcoming Chamber match from Australia, based on a graphic that leaked on WWE.com showing the participants. This would have been another chance to feature Cargill in a multi-person match that would have protected her, but it seems those plans have been scrapped.

– Shotzi Blackheart was legit injured during the NXT television taping this week. She seriously hurt her knee, and reports later confirmed that she left the NXT Arena on crutches. We’re still awaiting word on her condition.

– The new WWE Experience exhibition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia opens tomorrow. WWE-themed events center will be located at Boulevard City.  (Tickets)

“Dive into the world of WWE, where fans walk in the footsteps of legends, immersing in sights, sounds, and epic stories of global stars. Every guest will enjoy a front-row seat, unparalleled access to exciting opportunities, and moments exclusive to WWE.”

AEW News

– During AEW Dynamite this week, they finally announced Sting’s final match. The Icon will team with Darby Allin to take on The Young Bucks in an AEW World Tag Team Title match at AEW Revolution on March 9th.

– Jeff Hardy was possibly injured during the AEW Rampage taping this week. Sammy Guevara went for a shooting star press, and it appeared that his knee struck Hardy in the head. The match was then called off. We do not have any more updates at this time.

this is NOT the first time Sammy Guevara has injured Jeff Hardy with his amateur hour bullshit

HE IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER pic.twitter.com/Hm4EOwzU0z

— Degenerate George (@DGen_Media) February 15, 2024

– QT Marshall is returning to AEW. He will not be wrestling, but he will work with the company in a backstage capacity. Marshall left the company at the end of 2023, but came to terms on a revised role. 

Marshall’s ‘new’ promotion Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling is expected to continue. TCW held its return event last week at the Nightmare Factory training facility, where they crowned inaugural champions.

– Rob Van Dam returns next week in an all-star 6-man tag match on AEW Dynamite. The ECW legend will team with Hook and Hangman Page against Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland and Brian Cage.

What’s Next

– WWE Elimination Chamber takes place next weekend, Saturday, February 24 from Perth, Australia. This will be the final stop on the road to WrestleMania 40.

– The following weekend, All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Revolution 2024 live on pay-per-view from the historic Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. The event will feature Sting’s retirement match and Samoa Joe defending the AEW World championship against Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland.

Check back tomorrow for the next installment of the Daily Drop wrestling news report and make sure to Follow SEScoops on Google News, Facebook and Twitter.

Jeff Hardy recently made headlines when he expressed apparent disappointment about how the Hardys are booked on AEW television. He wrestled on Rampage this week, but that match sadly ended with an apparent injury.

Jeff Hardy was knocked out by sammy Guevara #AEWDynamite #AEWRampage pic.twitter.com/Q5Tr3TMEvx

— REKTS (@Hyperdude54) February 15, 2024

Jeff Hardy Possibly Injured

After the February 14th episode of AEW Dynamite, the company recorded the upcoming Rampage episode airing on February 19th. That match featured Hardy taking Sammy Guevara in singles action.

At the H.E.B. Center in Cedar Park, Texas, where the taping took place, fans captured footage of Sammy Guevara striking Jeff Hardy directly in the face with a knee. This went down as Guevara nailed a top rope move on the Charismatic Enigma.

The match was promptly ended to provide Hardy with immediate medical attention, as he was visibly bleeding from the mouth and appeared disoriented when trying to stand. Fans in attendance also noted that Hardy appeared to be out of it, and Guevara is taking some blame online.

this is NOT the first time Sammy Guevara has injured Jeff Hardy with his amateur hour bullshit

HE IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER pic.twitter.com/Hm4EOwzU0z

— Degenerate George (@DGen_Media) February 15, 2024

What’s Next

Because of NBA All-Star weekend, Rampage will air this week on February 16th at 7 PM EST. The episode will also feature Anna Jay against Queen Aminata.

The entire staff of SE Scoops is sending our best to Jeff Hardy during this time. Hopefully, he isn’t injured and won’t miss any time.

The Hardy Boys are a part of the AEW roster, but they did not get booked for the company’s January 10th Dynamite Homecoming episode. That fact was not lost on Jeff Hardy.

Jeff Hardy’s Interesting Instagram Post

Jeff Hardy dropped a post on Instagram right before AEW Dynamite went live. While promoting the lineup for the company’s January 10th episode, Hardy also made it very clear that his team will not be on Dynamite.

The Charismatic Enigma then made a little quip about how fans can find him in the Rampage Dimension instead.  Update: Jeff Hardy went to take down his post.

We,”TheHardys”will not be appearing on this live show called #AEWDynamite. We, “TheHardys”are stuck in the dimension of,”AEWRampage”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C18Jyn6r9KP

Possible Issues Brewing With The Hardy Boys In AEW

This is the first we’ve heard that would give us any indication that the Hardy Boys aren’t happy with their spot in AEW. All things considered, they are featured and get to wrestle on television. 

Then again, Jeff and Matt have made no secret about how they want another Tag Team Title run before they retire, and matches on Rampage may not be the right path to get them there.

It is also worth noting that, according to reports we’ve seen so far from Daily’s Place, The Hardy Boys were also not booked for AEW Rampage this week. They did announce a few matches already, and you may find them below.

AEW Rampage Card for January 12, 2024

• Eddie Kingston (C) vs Wheeler Yuta – Continental Crown Championship 
• Hikaru Shida vs Queen Aminata 
• Swerve Strickland vs Matt Sydal

Update: Jeff Hardy Is At It Again

Jeff Hardy shared the AEW Collision and Battle of the Belts card on January 12th, along with an intriguing caption. This seemed to be another tongue-in-cheek post.

In the caption, he clarified that the Hardy brothers exclusively work Dynamite shows, providing insight into their absence from tonight’s lineup. 

Don’t miss #AEWCollision http://tonight.It’s gonna be another amazing Saturday night of pro wrestling like it always is. We,the Hardys only work 1 show a week…….because we’re the Hardys. We prefer #AEWDynamite. The dimension of #AEWCollision was designed for punks.

https://twitter.com/JEFFHARDYBRAND/status/1746263723193344410

AEW’s Matt Hardy has hit back at ‘haters’ who have taken aim at his brother Jeff following a mistake on the most recent episode of Rampage. 

The January 5, edition of AEW Rampage saw the Hardyz team with Mark Briscoe for the first time in their careers. The trio of tag-team specialists proved to be quite the group as they defeated Kip Sabian, The Butcher, and The Blade. 

Jeff’s Mistake & Matt Reacts

During the match, Jeff attempted to jump off his brother’s back but slipped in an awkward moment. Many fans leapt onto this mistake on social media and have attempted to make it into a big deal. Not every fan has acted this way, however, and one sarcastically commented that the world was going to end because Jeff made a mistake. Replying to this tweet, Matt pointed out that mistakes are bound to happen. The veteran also had some choice words about those trying to create a ‘narrative.’

Correct. Jeff slipped. It happens all the time in wrestling. Jeff sometimes slipped in the 90s, the 00s, the 10s & he will slip in the 20s. The people on social media that are trying to create the narrative that Jeff’s not good or whatever the fuck are pathetic & merely haters. https://t.co/uUO0FSv9jT

— MATT HARDY (@MATTHARDYBRAND) January 7, 2024

Speaking about a Whisper in the Wind spot from Jeff’s return to AEW that was ‘botched’, Matt claimed that this was supposed to be messed up to show some ring-rust on his brother’s behalf. Matt also made it clear he’s extremely proud of what his brother has been doing. 

That WITW spot was actually on purpose, this was not. I agree that Jeff has looked tremendous since he returned & he gains more confidence every outing. I’m extremely proud of him & where he’s at in life. https://t.co/GvJ9xL291o

— MATT HARDY (@MATTHARDYBRAND) January 7, 2024

Jeff joined AEW in 2022 following his controversial release from WWE the previous year. In June of 2022, Hardy was arrested and charged with driving under the influence. The case against Hardy was later dropped due to unreliable breath test results and he returned to programming in April 2023.

Ethan Page is forever grateful to Matt Hardy for everything he has done.

The AEW star grew up watching The Hardy Boys do all sorts of crazy stunts. It was a dream come true for him when he got to work with the duo during his run with The Firm in late 2022 and early 2023.

The Canadian star recently appeared on Chris Van Vliet’s Insight podcast. Ethan Page first discussed how his outlook on The Hardy Boyz has changed over the years:

“Back to my convo with Matt last night. He recently put up this clip of…it’s like Broken Matt in his bed and he’s reacting to old things that happened to him in his career. It was all these wild falls and bumps and crashes and just insane things that he put his body through. I’m watching this at 34, almost 20 years into my wrestling career and the thoughts going through my mind compared to when I was a kid watching.

When I’m a kid watching I’m thinking, ‘This is amazing. I want to do that. This looks so fun. Do you see he jumped off the ladder?’ and all this stuff. Now I’m 34, all these years in and I’m like, ‘How is this man alive? How is he walking?'”

Ethan Page On Working With Matt Hardy

Ethan Page then talked about working with Matt Hardy on AEW Dark: Elevation among other shows. He mentioned that Matt always made sure that he benefited from those matches, and explained that both of these veterans deserve their flowers:

“The things that Matt and Jeff have put their bodies through physically. I’ll never comprehend just because of how I feel now and how I have done nothing as close to them and I never will. I promise you. I never will. Both of those guys deserve their flowers forever just for what they’ve done and the fact that they’re still willing to give.

I was just giving Matt praise to somebody in the car yesterday because I feel like there are people in wrestling that, they might be nice and they’re very friendly and cordial. But when it comes down to the business part of things most people are very selfish. Whereas I feel like with Matt, he cares more about delivering a good story, instead of benefiting himself.

I got to work with him for over a year. [We were] very heavily featured on Elevation which gave us a lot of creative freedom, which I’m obviously going to defer to the legend in professional wrestling and he would always look out for me. He would always make sure that I benefited in anything that we did. That’s kind of rare in wrestling. So I will appreciate that from Matt for the remainder of my career and I’ll love that dude forever.”

You can check out Ethan Page’s full interview below:

More originals from SEScoops:

• Randy Orton Reflects On Being A ‘D**K’ Early In His Career
  Xavier Woods says AI Will 100% Kill All Humans
• MJF Believes Hardcore Fans Are ‘Overly Consumed’ By Bell To Bell Action
• Wrestling Veterans Support Jon Moxley’s Idea Of New Concussion Protocol
• John Cena Shuts Down Criticism of WWE Return

If you use any quotes from the article please credit Insight With Chris Van Vliet with an H/t to SEScoops for transcription

AEW commentator Jim Ross has said that WWE often struggled to “totally trust” Jeff Hardy due to his personal demons.

Jeff’s problems with substances, which have led to several arrests, have been well-documented, and have followed the veteran across multiple promotions.

Last June, Hardy was arrested and charged with his third DUI in a decade, but the charge has been dropped due to a faulty breathalyzer result.

Trust

Hardy’s personal demons have not stopped the ‘Charismatic Enigma’ from becoming one of the most popular stars in the history of wrestling.

In WWE, Hardy was never turned heel, though such a turn was briefly teased in 2003 before his release from the company.

Speaking on his Grilling JR podcast, Ross explained why WWE opted not to make Hardy a heel.

“I don’t know if he’s too big [of a merch mover]. I think maybe, my guess on this question would be another one with reliability issues. How far do you go with someone that you don’t totally trust?”

Jim Ross.

Ross added that any major plans for Hardy at the time were always seen through this ‘can we trust him’ lens, and said that at the time, the answer was “no.”

Hardy would turn heel as part of TNA Wrestling years later, but has remained a face in WWE through his multiple runs with the company.

Make Yourself Famous

In 2002, WWE tried to show Hardy they had faith in him (and encourage him to change his ways,) by giving him a prominent feud with The Undertaker.

To this day, their ladder match on the July 1, 2002, episode of Raw, is considered one of the best Raw matches ever, and Ross remembers it fondly.

“He’s one of my favorite talents to call matches for. I remember the match that he and Taker had. I said something like climb the ladder and make yourself famous or something to that effect. And I just admired his work so much, I adored it.“

Jim Ross.

Despite this show of good faith by WWE, Hardy would not get a handle on his problems, and would be gone from the company less than a year later.

On Thursday, Jeff Hardy’s 2022 DUI case was closed.

The same day, a special AdFreeShow for Patreons only episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy was released. One of the questions was asking for an update on Jeff. The episode was recorded a day ahead of Jeff’s court date.

“He’s doing great. (…) He just wants to get this all behind him. Y’know, they feel like they’re in a pretty good position because he’s done like, all the work necessary. Rehab for many, many days. He did outpatient treatment for months. He has really dedicated himself and he’s committed himself to getting better. And the biggest barometer — my biggest judge — is how happy his wife is with him and where his life is. Every time I’ve talked to him, he’s been very good, very positive.”

What’s next for Jeff Hardy

While it’s too early to say if Jeff ever returns to AEW or wrestling in general, he may potentially have something lined up with his brother outside of the ring.

“Actually, I had a very long conversation with him today about some stuff myself and Reby are working on as far as business goes about expanding the House Hardy brand. He was definitely on board, he just has to get past this. (…) He just wants to get it all behind him and try and right his wrongs. He’s just, so to say — I can’t really compare these because they’re different things — but he’s ready to like pay his penance and move past it and begin anew.”

• AEW “All Access” 1-hour Weekly Show Will Air After Dynamite

Early on Friday morning, Matt also tweeted about how proud he is of his brother. He praised how hard Jeff has worked on himself over the last nine months.

We hope for the best for Jeff Hardy moving forward.

It appears as if Jeff Hardy’s recent court case has been closed.

According to records from the Volusia County Clerk of Circuit Court, Jeff Hardy’s DUI case stemming from an incident in June 2022 was closed on Thursday, February 23, 2023.

Following ‘unreliable breath test results’, a motion to suppress was filed this past Monday on February 21, 2023:

• 20. Mr. Hardy’s breath tests did not comply with FDLE’s requirements established in FDLE’s administrative rules to ensure reliable quantitative breath tests.
• 21. There is insufficient probative evidence that the breath tests in Mr. Jeff Hardy‘s case were performed substantially in accordance with methods approved by FDLE and with a compliant machine approved by FDLE.
• 22. For the above reasons, this Court should enter an order excluding any evidence of a breath test and breath test results obtained in this case.

On the morning on Wednesday, February 23, 2023, Jeff Hardy signed a written plea of ‘no contest’ for the charges of 3rd DUI offense in the last 10 years, driving with a suspended license, and causing a driving violation with a restricted driver’s license.

Jeff Hardy was credited with 38 days served in jail and will be on probation for two years (24 months), and fined $4,000 with an additional $586 to cover court costs. Hardy’s driver’s license has been suspended for 10 years and has had his vehicle impounded for 90 days.

Jeff Hardy was originally arrested on June 13, 2022 in Volusia County, Florida and was charged with DUI, driving with a suspended driver’s license, and allegedly violated restrictions that were placed on his driver’s license. The following day on June 14, 2022, Hardy was subsequently suspended without pay by AEW and it was noted that he cannot return to the company until he completes substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation.

SEScoops will provide any updates on the condition and status of Jeff Hardy as they become available.

Jeff Hardy is scheduled to appear in court this week, stemming from his arrest in June of last year.

Within months of making his AEW debut, Hardy was arrested and charged with his third DUI within a decade.

The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion has been suspended from AEW ever since, and will not be allowed to appear until he can prove his sobriety.

Court Date

In August of last year, Hardy waived his right to a speedy trial, and his case has faced some delays.

PW Insider reports that the Charismatic Enigma’s next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday, February 23rd at 1:30 PM EST in Florida.

Hardy submitted a written plea of “not guilty” on June 28, 2022 and it had been reported that the two sides could come to a plea deal, though that has not been confirmed.

Hardy has been charged with DUI (Alcohol or Drugs), third offense within ten years, driving while license canceled/suspended/revoked, and violation of restrictions placed on a driver’s license.

Punishment

While most of the charges Hardy is facing are misdemeanors, the DUI charge to his name is a felony offense.

Under Florida law, Hardy would face a minimum 30 days behind bars and could face up to five years in prison if convicted of the DUI.

Other potential punishments include a minimum 10-year driver’s license revocation and up to $5,000 in fines.

Tony Khan has said he supports Hardy’s choice to try and seek help for his substance-abuse issues, but has said that this will be Jeff’s one and only chance to improve in AEW.

Shawn Michaels may have mellowed out considerably from the man he was during the 1990s, but the WWE roster got a glimpse of the old HBK in 2007.

During the 1990s, Michaels was notoriously difficult to work with and would use his position as part of the Kliq to play politics backstage.

After a back injury ended Michaels’ career in 1998, the former World Champion would find his faith and return to the ring in 2002.

A Devil in a Robe

By 2007, Michaels was far from the wild child that terrorized the locker room during the New Generation Era, but there was still a spark of the old HBK.

Speaking on his Extreme Life podcast, Matt Hardy recalled the WWE roster going out to celebrate following Michaels’ near-one-hour match with John Cena on Raw in 2007.

“Shawn at this point, was not drinking, very religious. And Ric [Flair] was down there just annoying the sh*t out of him. He’s like ‘Come on Shawn! Look at the champ John! He’s the leader now. He’s having some drinks. Shawn, you can have a drink! It doesn’t make you a bad person.’

Matt Hardy.

The old Shawn Michaels

After plenty of nagging by Ric Flair, Michaels eventually caved, which brought out a side that the roster didn’t expect to see.

“Ric finally got Shawn to cave and have some drinks. So he’s sitting there having his drinks, and you’re seeing the ‘old’ Shawn Michaels starting to come out. And Jeff and I, we were just tickled.

“Look at you Jeff Hardy. A Shawn Michaels wannabe!”

A drunk Shawn Michaels in 2007.

“You see Shawn and now that he’s had a few, he says ‘yeah look at you Jeff Hardy. A Shawn Michaels wannabe! People know that I’m the real deal. You think you’re hot sh*t right, just because people love you. Well people will always believe in me! Are they going to always believe in you?”

Matt added that Jeff was wowed by the drunk Michaels, but that he and Matt found the situation to be hilarious.

Confrontation

Well and truly inebriated at this point, Michaels turned his attention to Umaga, who was having none of his antics.

“Shawn’s like ‘hey, look at the big man over here. I’m incredible! If I hit you with that superkick, everybody knows I can beat you.’

“And I will never forget Umaga just jumped up and [aggressively] said ‘why don’t you give me a shot right now then? Go on!’ and Shawn backed off. ‘Whoa brother, I’m just working brother. Work with me brother.'”

“I will never forget Umaga just jumped up and [aggressively] said ‘why don’t you give me a shot right now.”

Umaga confronting a drunk Shawn Michaels about his superkick.

Hardy said at this point, he and Jeff were crying with laughter, calling it one of his favorite stories of life on the road.

For use of these quotes please give a h/t to SEScoops.

There has been speculation about Jeff Hardy’s future in AEW following his DUI arrest last year, and now his brother, Matt, has cast doubt on whether he will return to wrestling. 

During a recent episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, Matt noted that he doesn’t know whether Jeff will return. 

Matt also revealed that  Hardys were set to become AEW Tag Team Champions if Jeff had not been suspended by AEW and entered rehab after his legal issues.

Jeff Gone for Good?

“It’s just very unfortunate, the things that happened with Jeff. Hopefully it’s something that he is going to make into a positive and he’s going to turn everything around in his life, and he can come back and be better. We’ll see, I don’t know, I don’t know.

 Maybe he comes back, maybe he doesn’t, but we were scheduled to do all kinds of things during the summer and it really sent me down a big path of detour following that, but it is what it is. It’s pro wrestling where you have to adapt and change on the fly, and I’ve made the most of it and tried to do what I can.”

The former WWE Champion was arrested on June 13. Hardy has been charged with Driving While License Canceled/Suspended/Revoked, Violation of Restrictions Placed on Drivers License, and DUI Alcohol/Drugs Third Offense within 10 Years. Hardy has entered a “not guilty” plea to the charge.

H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcription

December 14 was the 14th anniversary of Jeff Hardy winning his first and only WWE Championship. In route to becoming champion, Hardy was rumored to win the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 24.

On the latest episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, it focuses on the road to the WWE Championship for Jeff. On the March 3 episode of RAW, Jeff is a guest on Chris Jericho’s “Highlight Reel” when Jericho attacked him from behind. Shortly thereafter, Jeff dropped the Intercontinental Championship to Jericho. This was due to a failed drug test and 60-day suspension as it was his second violation.

Matt Explains What Happened

Matt confirmed the rumor that his brother was scheduled to win the ladder match and they had decided to make him champion. Freddie Prinze, Jr. was part of creative at this time and had been tasked with making Jeff the WWE Champion.

“I know Freddie Prinze had been given this edict to get Jeff ready for the championship. This was around the time too that he had started to paint his face again. I think they started to lean into some stuff that was very Jeff Hardy-ish.”

“Jeff was in Mexico on an international tour and its at some point there he ended up taking something, some sort of pill or substance — I don’t know if it was for his back or whatever it was — but he ended up getting popped in a drug test. One of the things I remember from the story is that Michael Hayes called him at home and was like, ‘what is going on here? I can’t believe you did all this. Vince is going to call you in a few minutes, so be ready to answer the phone.’ Vince called and was like, ‘what the fuck have you done?’ I guess they taiked it through and Jeff said they spoke for a while and they seemed to be kosher. Jeff just apologized and regretted taking it.”

Matt Speaks on Jeff Hardy Plane Incident

Matt also discussed the “Nashville incident” where Jeff was removed from a plane by police. The brothers and Shane Helms had been celebrating someone’s birthday the night before and stayed up too late. The next day, Jeff managed to get either liquor or beer and was “buzzed.”

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Matt tried to get his brother to eat and Jeff smashed the sausage biscuit into the ground while laughing. Matt & Helms told him to “be cool.” Jeff talked to everyone that was boarding and someone with the airline realized he might be drunk. They asked him to leave and he said no, he’d just sleep on the flight. He was the escorted off the plane by police. This incident upset some of the locker room and Jeff lost some support.

Jeff eventually beat Edge and the WWE Champion Triple H at Armageddon, even though Triple H didn’t think Jeff was reliable enough to be champion. Matt says seeing his brother become WWE Champion was one of the highlights of his career.

Back in June, Jeff Hardy was arrested for DUI among other charges just days after Double or Nothing. Since then, his court dates have been pushed back several times. Hardy did enter alcohol rehabilitation.

In September, Matt Hardy said on his podcast that Jeff had been improving. “I feel like his mentality is that he knows he has to make changes and do what’s right and I feel like he’s at the point where he will this time around. I’m excited to have him back.” That quote gave some the impression that he was on his way back to AEW, but he still has legal issues to contend with.

Jeff Hardy is ‘In a Good Place’

During this week’s episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, Matt did a Q&A episode where he provided an update on his brother.

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“He’s basically doing the same thing he’s been doing, he’s doing exactly what he needs to be doing to get where he needs to be in life. More or less, we just have to get these legal issues behind him before we can move forward. So, that’s kind of where we’re at with Jeff. We’re hoping that happens sooner rather than later.”

“He seems to be in a really good place. It’s very nice and refreshing to see. Hopefully, that continues and we get him back to where he belongs.”

Matt didn’t provide further information on when legal issues might be behind Jeff. There is still no timetable for his potential AEW return.

Matt Hardy has big plans for his final-ever match, including facing a WWE Hall of Famer.

Hardy’s wrestling career began in 1992 and has seen Matt hold gold in WWE, TNA/Impact Wrestling, and Ring of Honor.

In April 2020, Hardy made his debut for All Elite Wrestling where he competes to this day.

Retirement

With 30 years in the wrestling business, Matt is fully aware that his days as an active competitor are coming to an end.

Speaking on his ‘Extreme Life’ podcast, Hardy revealed that he wants The Hardy Boyz’ final match to be against Edge & Christian.

“Our rivalry is just so iconic. I feel like that would be a pretty amazing way to end it, having one last match with those guys.”

Matt Hardy.

No Mercy 1999

The Hardys and Edge & Christian faced off countless times in WWE, but perhaps their best-known match took place at No Mercy 1999.

In the finals of the Terri Invitation Tournament (or T.I.T as Jerry Lawler reminded fans on commentary), the two teams faced off in the first tag-team ladder match in WWE history.

With their win, the Hardyz (then known as the New Brood) won $100,000 and the managerial services of Terri Runnels.

In their memoirs, ‘Exist 2 Inspire’ the Hardyz wrote that the four celebrated the match backstage with beers, the first time either Matt or Jeff drank alcohol.

The death-defying spots would cement both teams as ‘legitimate’ in the eyes of fans, with John Powell of SLAM! Wrestling writing at the time that the match overshadowed the Triple H Vs. Steve Austin WWF Title main event.

h/t – Sportskeeda

AEW star Darby Allin is a risk-taker in and out of the ring, but thought he wasn’t going to make it through a match with Jeff Hardy.

During the May 11, 2022, edition of AEW Dynamite, the two popular wrestlers faced off in what was billed as an ‘Anything Goes’ Match.

The match, which Hardy would eventually win, saw both men use weapons in one of the most extreme matches AEW has ever produced.

Meet my Doom

Arguably the biggest spot of the match (at least from a literal sense) came when Allin dove off a ladder in the ring, onto Jeff outside the ring.

The pair landed on ten steel chairs, earning ‘Holy Sh*t’ chants from the crowd in attendance.

Speaking on the latest episode of ‘The Sessions’ Allin told new AEW signing Renee Paquette about the trepidation going into the match.

“Earlier in the day, I climbed that ladder and I looked down and I was like ‘yeah, I’m for sure going to the hospital tonight.’ There’s no way around it.”

Despite how dangerous the spot seemed and looked to fans, Allin said he found it a mostly pleasant experience.

“Everybody asks me ‘dude how’d that feel?’ And honestly, it didn’t feel like anything, it was so safe. You can see me if you watch the video back, I kinda go to Jeff’s ear ‘that sh*t was so fun!”

“AEW-wise, that was the craziest thing. I thought for sure I was going to meet my doom.”

Darby Allin on Anything Goes match with Jeff Hardy.

The match would be one of Jeff’s most recent matches with AEW, as he was arrested and charged with driving under the influence the following month.

Wrestling Myself

With his face paint, daredevil attitude, and unique personality, Darby Allin has often been compared to Jeff Hardy.

Speaking about working with the former WWE World Champion, Allin said it was like working with himself.

“It felt like I was putting a match together with myself…It was like I was talking to myself. It was fun. A week before, it was just supposed to be a normal match. Just a straight-up match. And I went up to Tony [Khan] and I said ‘hey, nobody wants to see us exchange wrist locks.'”

Allin’s only regret is that the match was under the watchful eye of New York’s State Athletic Commission, which kept some of his most extreme ideas off of the show.

“It was in New York where there’s a state commission, and I was like ‘why couldn’t we wait a week when we’re in Texas when no-one gives a sh*t?”

Darby Allin

Out of the Ring

Allin considers the Jeff Hardy match a personal highlight of his risk-taking life, which isn’t just for the cameras.

In the interview, Allin explained how even when he’s got time to ‘relax’ his version of chilling out includes more risk-taking.

“Every time I’m off for the week, it’s like ‘alright, Darby is going to take the week off and chill out and whatever.’ [But really,] I go harder outside of work than I do in the realm of AEW. I’m never really stopping. It’s fun though because I never know when I’m going to get hit by a bus or something.”

Allin has taken to social media to show off some of his stunts, including driving a jeep over his own home.

For use of these quotes please give a h/t to SEScoops.

It appears fans won’t see Jeff Hardy back on AEW TV in the near future due to his legal issues. 

Hardy has been suspended by AEW indefinitely and without pay following his DUI arrest in June. After the arrest, he checked himself into rehab. 

Hardy has been charged with Driving While License Canceled/Suspended/Revoked, Violation of Restrictions Placed on Drivers License, and DUI Alcohol/Drugs Third Offense within 10 Years. Hardy has entered a “not guilty” plea to the charge.

Latest on Jeff Hardy’s Status

Pwinsider.com reported today that Hardy has a pre-trial hearing for his DUI scheduled for Wednesday, October 19, after Hardy’s attorneys previously waived his right to a speedy trial. The hearing was supposed to happen in July, but was pushed back due to the request of his attorneys and is now scheduled for this month.

The report added that Hardy is still officially with the company but will not be brought back until his legal issues are cleared up. All Elite Wrestling also wants Hardy to show that he can maintain his sobriety as he has been in treatment “for some time.’

Jeff’s brother and fellow AEW star, Matt Hardy, recently stated that fans will see a new Jeff when he eventually returns. 

Two weeks after the attacks on Sept. 11, a then 12-year-old Jacob Grondy was on his way to the airport – and he was scared.

Not only was this his first flight, but he was dealing with what many in the country were feeling – fear of flying due to the recent attacks. But a surreptitious introduction with a few pro wrestling passengers – thanks to the just-released Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 issue – assuaged his fears.

Grondy’s flight out of the Raleigh, N.C. airport was shared by the Hardy Boys, Amy Dumas – who wrestled for the WWF at the time as Lita – and Shane Helms on board. They were four of the hottest acts in the WWF at the time and were heroes to a 12-year-old Grondy, especially after they turned what could have been a traumatic experience into one of his favorite childhood memories.

“I was honestly trying to act tough,” Grondy said. “But as we were getting closer to the airport, I was visibly scared. I wasn’t talking at all, which was extremely rare (for me) as a kid.”

On the way to the airport, his dad gave him a copy of the PWI 500 issue to read and keep his mind off the recent attacks. Growing up in North Carolina, Grondy said he was immersed in pro wrestling. As a kid he watched WCW and the WWF religiously and was excited when ECW made its TNN television debut. He’s continued to be a fan well into adulthood. He hosts a podcast called Curtain Jerkin’ on Spotify.

The issue provided a bit of a distraction, but it was who he saw in the airport that relieved his fears.

“I don’t remember anything other than getting to the terminal, sitting down and looking up – and there was Jeff Hardy,” Grondy said. “He was dressed exactly how you would see him on TV. I leapt up in excitement. My dad had a pen on him and gave it to me so I could ask to get my PWI signed.”

Jeff walked Grondy over to his brother Matt Hardy to get his autograph. Matt then said they should get him Lita’s as well. As he walked back to his dad, his dad was smiling with relief, that he wasn’t as scared as he had been when he got to the airport. As he sat back down, he was approached by Shane Helms – who had just joined the WWF after the WCW sale and was beginning his Hurricane Helms gimmick. He said Helms asked to sign the issue, then asked if he could read it on the plane.

“As I let him read it, that’s when I realized that no terrorist was going to take down this plane, Team Extreme wasn’t going to let that happen,” Grondy said.

Grondy shared this story with Jeff at a meet-and-greet a year ago.

“He thought it was pretty cool.”

Grondy and his dad were flying to the United States Grand Prix in Indianapolis. It was the final race of the Formula 1 season, and was the first international sporting event to take place after the Sept. 11 attacks.

“(I) couldn’t tell you who won the race we went to, but every year the PWI 500 comes out I look back at that moment fondly. It was definitely a childhood highlight.”

Fans will soon get the chance to see a ‘new’ Jeff Hardy following the former World Champion’s lengthy absence from AEW.

Hardy hasn’t competed for AEW since Double or Nothing 2022 in May, where he and Matt defeated the Young Bucks. Back in June, he was arrested in Florida and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.

This marks Jeff’s third DUI arrest in 10 years, after having faced arrests in both WWE and TNA/Impact Wrestling. Hardy has since been suspended without pay from AEW, and will not be allowed to return until he shows he has changed.

The New Jeff Hardy

Jeff has entered alcohol rehabilitation, and is said to be making great improvements, according to his brother Matt Hardy.

On the latest edition of “The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy” podcast, Hardy said that Jeff’s return to AEW isn’t too far away.

“We’re getting close to the point where we meet the new Jeff and we figure out his future and what he ends up doing. I’m pretty excited.”

Matt Hardy on his brother Jeff.

Matt added that his brother realizes that this is a make-or-break moment for his career.

“I feel like his mentality is that he knows he has to make changes and do what’s right and I feel like he’s at the point where he will this time around. I’m excited to have him back.”

Last Chance

While Tony Khan has said he supports Jeff and wants him to get better, the AEW President has said this is his last chance he’ll get in the promotion.

Hardy has pleaded not guilty to all charges related to his June 2022 arrest, and if convicted of the DUI charge, faces up to five years in prison.

H/T WrestleTalk

Last month, Jeff Hardy was arrested and charged with driving under the influence.

Hardy was arrested on June 13 during a traffic stop on Interstate 95 in DeLand, Florida, and at one point, law enforcement had to draw their weapons to get Jeff to comply.

Hardy’s Blood-Alcohol level was over three times the legal limit to be driving.

In addition to the DUI charge, Jeff is also charged with driving with a suspended or revoked license and a violation of restrictions placed on his driver’s license

The Arraignment

Jeff is facing some serious consequences, and now there’s been an update in his case.

A notice has been posted on the Volusia County, Florida Clerk of Circuit Court’s website, which has ordered Hardy to appear in court on Tuesday, August 2, for his arraignment.

Last month, Hardy waived arraignment when he entered a written plea of not guilty.

The AEW star’s initial arraignment had been scheduled for July 5, but that date went by without the hearing taking place.

It is currently unclear if Hardy will appear in court on August 2.

Possible Prison Time

The charges against Hardy include the AEW star’s third DUI offense within ten years, which is a felony in the state of Florida.

Given the seriousness of the charge, the former World Champion could face up to five years in prison if found guilty.

AEW President Tony Khan has said that Jeff has entered rehab to deal with his substance abuse issues, but has warned him that this is his last chance.

Khan has also said that Hardy will have to prove his sobriety before he is allowed to return to AEW programming.

Last month, Jeff Hardy was arrested and leveled with several charges, including driving under the influence and driving with an invalid license.

This marks Hardy’s third arrest within a decade due to driving under the influence, and many have questioned what can be done with the popular but problematic wrestler.

The evening before his arrest, Hardy had spent it at the SlamDown VII convention in Orlando, FL and there has now been a major update in the case.

Not Guilty Plea

According to PWInsider, Hardy filed a written plea on June 28, insisting that he is not guilty.

If convicted of the DUI charge, a felony in the state of Florida, he could face up to five years in prison for his actions.

Hardy’s blood-alcohol level was over three times the legal limit and at one point, officers had to pull their firearms on the AEW star to get him to comply.

The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion’s next big day will be on July 5 when he is scheduled to be arraigned.

Hardy’s last chance

This is Hardy’s first run-in with the law as an AEW wrestler, and if Tony Khan has his way, it will also be the last.

Khan has made it clear that this is Jeff’s last chance and is likely to release him should he have another arrest while under contract.

It was reported last month that Jeff has entered a rehab facility which he began on June 21.

Jeff Hardy forced Tony Khan and AEW to make major changes to their plans when he got arrested for driving without a license while being intoxicated earlier this month. The AEW owner recently took part in a media call to promote the Forbidden Door PPV. Among other things he also addressed the actions of the Charismatic Enigma.

Khan first mentioned how Jon Moxley also battled with alcohol addiction but he did the right thing by seeking help. What Hardy did was completely different and per Tony, this is why they handled the situations differently:

“With Jeff [Hardy], it’s totally different. The way it went down is totally different and that’s why the statements and the way we handled the two things are different. In this case, I don’t think there is any comparison. Jeff is doing much better. As I understand, Jeff is in treatment. I don’t want to say too much about what is going on because it’s his business, but I’m here for him for whatever he needs. I’m really glad nobody got hurt.”

‘It’s His Last Chance’

Though Tony Khan later said that he’d be remiss if he didn’t give Jeff the credit for finally doing the right thing. The AEW president claimed that this is Hardy’s last chance:

“I’d be remiss if I didn’t give Jeff a lot of credit for now doing the right thing. This is why we said Jeff has to the right thing if he wants to stay with AEW. It’s [his] last chance.”

Khan mentioned how Moxley didn’t put anyone at risk with his actions and so the two things cannot be compared. He also revealed his recent talk with Matt Hardy where he told the AEW star that they will support his brother through his treatment.

Jeff Hardy has been arrested for driving under the influence yet again, marking his third DUI arrest in under a decade.

Hardy’s problems with substances have seen him face suspensions in WWE, Impact Wrestling and now AEW, in a sad repeated pattern of behavior from the former World Champion.

Matt’s Comments

On this week’s “Extreme Life” podcast, Matt said he is doing all he can to support his younger brother after his latest run-in with the law.

Speaking about what he believes started Jeff’s problems, Matt said a traumatic childhood event had a profound effect on “The Charismatic Enigma.” (via WrestlingNews)

“I feel like some of Jeff’s issues probably come from our mother dying when he was so, so young. That was always an issue that he carried with him deeply. I know 100%, the biggest thing that drives me to stay healthy and not have an addiction issue at all, because I’m sure I have an addictive personality, but the thing that keeps me running and stronger than anything else is my family, my children, specifically.”

Ruby Moore Hardy died in 1986 of brain cancer when Matt was just 12 years old and his brother Jeff was nine.

What’s next for Jeff Hardy?

This week, AEW President Tony Khan suspended Jeff without pay, stating that he will only be able to return if he can prove his sobriety.

That is a huge setback for Jeff, but things could get much worse for the popular albeit problematic star.

If convicted of a DUI, his third in ten years, Jeff could face up to five years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines.

AEW has been left reeling from Jeff Hardy’s recent arrest, as the popular wrestler has been charged with three felonies, including driving under the influence.

Prior to his arrest, Jeff and Matt were scheduled to face AEW World Tag Team Champions Jurrasic Express and the Young Bucks in a triple-threat Tag Team Title Ladder match.

The match went ahead without the Hardys, and while the Bucks won, becoming the first two-time AEW World Tag Team Champions, the company had much different plans at first.

The Plan

According to Bryan Alverez, the original plan for the match was for Matt and Jeff to win the AEW World Tag Team Titles, which would have marked their first reign in the company.

However, those plans changed following Jeff’s performance at May’s Double or Nothing Pay Per View, as it was deemed that the former WWE World Champion looked too bad in the ring.

There were at one point, plans for the Hardys to be attacked before the match began, but neither Jeff nor his older brother was used at all for the match.

Jeff’s arrest as expected played a massive role in the decision to change plans, and it’s reported that his openly telling the officers that he was going to undergo a brain scan was also an issue.

What’s next for Jeff?

Jeff Hardy has been suspended from AEW without pay, according to a statement given by Tony Khan over Twitter.

This marks Hardy’s third DUI arrest within a decade which could lead to a hefty jail sentence for “The Charismatic Enigma.”

In the state of Florida, where Hardy was arrested, a third DUI in under ten years can lead to a maximum five-year prison sentence.

Jeff could also face up to $5,000 in fines, and a minimum 10-year driver’s license revocation.

Jeff Hardy is once again in trouble with the law, after being arrested last weekend and driving under the influence.

After being tested by police, who at one point had to pull guns on the AEW star, Hardy’s blood-alcohol level was over triple the legal driving limit at which point he was arrested.

A lot has been said about Jeff and who should share responsibility for his actions, but one former WWE Superstar has taken aim at Matt Hardy.

Matt Hardy and Bill DeMott

It’s been reported that Matt Hardy was with Jeff hours before his arrest, and after AEW President Tony Khan issued a statement about Jeff’s arrest, one fan asked whether action will be taken against Matt.

“What about @MATTHARDYBRAND who was getting drunk with him and let him drive knowing he was drunk and doesn’t have a license full accountability @TonyKhan right @BillDeMott”

DeMott responded by saying “it’s a good question.”

Matt responded, unhappy about DeMott’s insinuation that he bears responsibility for his younger brother’s arrest.

“Understand your passion on this & agree that DD is unacceptable. I expect speculation from fans, but not you. I haven’t touched a drug in over a decade, haven’t drank since I’ve been a Dad. Saw Jeff last on Sun night & flew early Mon w/@RebyHardy. I can’t be with Jeff every min.”

DeMott responded by saying he has nothing but respect for the former ECW Champion.

“No disrespect or anything toward you Matt. Utmost respect, we are all accountable for ourselves.”

DeMott’s tragedy

Jeff and Matt Hardy aren’t the only people that Bill DeMott has been especially critical of regarding driving under the influence.

Earlier this year, DeMott called on WWE to remove Tammy ‘Sunny’ Sytch for the Hall of Fame following her own arrest and being charged with DUI manslaughter.

Sytch is accused of killing 75-year-old Julian Lasseter via her drink-driving, and DeMott knows what it’s like to lose a loved one.

In 2015, DeMott’s daughter Keri Anne DeMott was killed by a drunk driver. She was 20 at the time.

In response, DeMott founded the Keri Anne DeMott Foundation, which looks to reduce the risk of drunk drivers on the road.