Jeff Hardy has been in the professional wrestling business for a long time, and there’s no denying that Jeff has been able to find massive success in WWE.
The Charismatic Enigma has been able to reach main event status, but back in 2003 when he was working his way up the card he decided to walk away from WWE due to drug related issues, and during a recent episode of Grilling JR Jim Ross explained that Jeff Hardy refused to go to rehab.
“But he said I’m not going to rehab. I said ‘Is that your final answer, do you want to think about this and get back to me later today?’ [Jeff responded,] ‘Nope, I’m not going.’ Alright, then you’re basically telling me you’re done because we can’t continue this way, it’s not an option. He was wrecking corvettes and missing death multiple times. He was so well liked there, Jeff is such a lovable guy and I’m so happy he’s got that s–t under control. That’s a blessing for him and his family but he didn’t believe he had a problem.”
Eventually Jeff Hardy returned to WWE in 2006, and he went on to win the WWE Championship in 2008, but according to Jim Ross there was talk of pushing Hardy much earlier than that.
“When I told Vince [McMahon], Vince was incredulous as well,” Ross said. “[He said] ‘You mean he’s going to walk away? He knew we’re going to push him? You know he’s got a great opportunity?’ Apparently he’d rather get high then come to work. Luckily for everyone involved he’s climbed that mountain but man, he was primed. There’s no reason that Jeff Hardy would not be a great WWE Champion. He just wasn’t reliable and how do you put your championship on somebody you don’t have full confidence that they’re going to be okay.”
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