Ryan Rider was joined by Jeff Hardy this week on MainEventRadio.com for a personal and revealing interview. Here is a recap:
What have been your favorite memories working for TNA Impact Wrestling?
For sure it was coming back after Victory Road 2011. 2012 was the best year of my pro wrestling career. Being clean and straight up. Looking great, loving life. 2012 was huge with me, every match. Winning the World title in a killer match-up against Austin Aries. The #1 year for me.
Victory Road 2011. I would assume that that had to be the worst night of your career.
I was too f***ed up to even try to get through the match. You see yourself on video, not knowing how bad you were. It’s embarrassing; it’s terrifying watching yourself. Me seeing myself in that shape devastated me. A huge let-down for the fans. Everything that was bad in me pretty much died that night.Thank G-d they didn’t fire me that night. After Victory Road, that was a huge eye opener. I had a huge decision…I had the chance to do a 120-day outpatient rehab. It was good for me. It saved me.
When you came back later that year, how did it feel to be forgiven and embraced by the fans?
When I returned I had to go and apologize to everyone in the locker room. I could barely talk, it was horrible. I went in there and went through it, begged for forgiveness. I begged everyone for one last chance. I came out of that whole situation better than ever.
