AEW Star Jeff Hardy Arrested On Multiple Charges Months After WWE Firing Over Suspected Substance Abuse
Jacob Smith
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AEW Star Jeff Hardy has been arrested on multiple charges just months after leaving WWE due to alleged substance abuse issues.
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All Elite Wrestling’s Hardy was arrested shortly after midnight last night in Volusia County, Florida, where records show that he was booked into jail at 12:45am on charges of Driving While License Canceled/Suspended/Revoked, Violation of Restrictions Placed on Drivers License, and DUI Alcohol/Drugs Third Offense within 10 Years.
According to TMZ, the wrestler took two breathalyzer tests after being stopped by authorities, first blowing a .294 and then .291.
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Hardy received a cash bond of $500 – $3,500 for the license charges, and $2,500 for the DUI. He is currently still incarcerated at the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. Hardy is scheduled to appear in front of a judge for his first hearing tomorrow, June 14 at 1:30 pm.
The license charges are second-degree misdemeanors, and the DUI is a third-degree felony. Given that this is Hardy’s third DUI arrest in as many years, he could be looking at up to five years in prison in the state of Florida.
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Back in December of last year, Jeff Hardy was fired by WWE after he appeared to be intoxicated during the main event of a live event in Texas. Hardy was alongside Drew McIntyre and Xavier Woods against Roman Reigns and the Uso brothers, Jimmy and Jey.
Hardy then left the match before its conclusion, and was sent home by management. WWE then presented Hardy with the option of going to rehab, but he declined, and later claimed innocence of allegations of drug issues.
Source: Jeff Hardy’s wildest Swanton Bombs: WWE Top 10, Dec. 6, 2020, WWE YouTube
WWE subsequently released Jeff Hardy from his contract, and he signed with All Elite Wrestling in March just three months later.
Hardy’s well-being came back into question during the AEW PPV Double or Nothing in Las Vegas on May 29th. Fans noted that Hardy looked noticeably slow, and seemed out of it during a tag team match with his brother Matt Hardy as they took on The Young Bucks.
Wrestling Observer founder Dave Meltzer told fans on his program Wrestling Observer Radio that Hardy’s performance was injury-related, rather than substance-related.
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“Jeff Hardy was a mess going into Double Or Nothing. From what I was told, it was really the Darby Allin match, he’s beat up. The one thing, when he went to AEW, you can watch those highlight reels and see how he did some big stunts at his age, and he’s paying for it now.”
“Jeff was having a tough go in that tag team match. Every time he moved, it was a painful reminder that this guy is hurting really bad.” he continued.
However, questions about Jeff Hardy’s fitness didn’t start at the PPV. Back in April, Pro Wrestling Insider Brad Shepard reported that Hardy was intoxicated during an appearance at a wrestling event in Dallas. After appearing on a panel with pro wrestling legends Eric Bischoff, William Regal, and Jeff Jarrett, Hardy said to be out of it, and was later taken off stage by Regal.
Archive Link Source: Brad Shepard Twitter
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Jeff Hardy has had a long history of substance abuse and drug arrests. On September 11, 2009, he was arrested on charges of trafficking in controlled prescription pills and possession of anabolic steroids.
A search of his house yielded 262 Vicodin prescription pills, 180 Soma prescription pills, 555 milliliters of anabolic steroids, a residual amount of powder cocaine, and drug paraphernalia. Hardy would later plead guilty to those charges and only serve 10 days in jail, with a $100,000 fine.
In July 2019, Hardy was arrested in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for public intoxication. Three months later, he would be arrested again and charged with driving while impaired in Moore County, North Carolina.
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As of this writing, neither AEW nor owner Tony Khan has responded to the arrest. Hardy is currently scheduled for Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, where he will team with his brother in a triple threat ladder match also including the Young Bucks and Jurassic Express. There is no word if that match will be removed, or what Hardy’s status with AEW will be in the future.
What do make of Hardy’s latest DUI arrest? Let us know your thoughts on social media or in the comments down below!
(Editor’s Note: This article was updated following publication to include TMZ’s report on Hardy’s breathalyzer results.)
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