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Professional wrestler Jeff Hardy was arrested Monday in Florida on several charges, including DUI, according to law enforcers.
Professional wrestler Jeff Hardy was arrested Monday in Florida on several charges, including DUI, according to law enforcement officers.
Police detained the 44-year-old sports entertainment athlete for DUI, driving while his license was revoked, and breaking a restriction that required him to have a DUI interlock device in his vehicle, per Fox News.
According to The Daytona Beach News-Journal, Hardy's third DUI violation in the last ten years is a third-degree felony.
Hardy was apprehended by the Florida Highway Patrol on Interstate-4 in Volusia County. Hardy was "swerving all over the road, failing to maintain (his) lane, and running off the road," according to police.
Hardy confessed to drinking earlier in the day and agreed to two breathalyzer tests and blew 0.294 and 0.291. In Florida, the legal limit is 0.08.
Hardy was arrested for driving while intoxicated in his home state of North Carolina in 2018 and 2019. He was also arrested for public intoxication in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in July 2019.
In the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Hardy is best known for his high-flying technique throughout the company's Attitude Era, which later boosted his popularity and established a reputation among fans that lives on today.
After another run in WWE in 2021, he was released. Subsequently, Hardy was working with his brother Matt for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in early 2022, reuniting their tag team.
Matt Hardy's Comments Raise Red Flag on Jeff's Condition
Matt Hardy has yet to comment on his brother's arrest as of this reporting. He did, however, say something intriguing regarding Jeff being "almost knocked out" during The Hardys vs. Young Bucks match at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view earlier this month, as per a report from WrestlingInc.
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Matt recently stated on his podcast: "[Jeff] doesn't remember the match at all after that happened. He was literally just a vessel being given directions throughout this match, to kinda do what he was supposed to do. So considering he got really knocked loopy terribly at some point earlier in the match, he still did pretty well... If you look at that Swanton he does on the stairs, he still does it perfectly."
Those comments from Matt had raised red flags among fans concerned for Jeff's health.
Fans Show Concern
Following his arrest, per The Spun, wrestling fans express their concern for Jeff Hardy, considering that the incident happened just a few days before a scheduled ladder match.
A user named Melissa posted on Twitter: "as someone who has grown up around addiction and am still around recovering addicts, I know firsthand how hard it is, DAILY. I will NEVER judge somebody or "cancel" them for their demons. I just pray that Jeff Hardy can truly get the help he needs, not for us, but him."
"Jeff Hardy: we all love you. Please take care of yourself and be safe," another fan tweeted.
Wrestling reporter Sean Ross tweeted: "Can't convey how disappointed I am about the Jeff Hardy arrest again. He's a wonderfully nice dude that needs to get straight or get off the roads. You're Jeff Hardy. You can get a ride."
Can't convey how disappointed I am about the Jeff Hardy arrest again. He's a wonderfully nice dude that needs to get straight or get off the roads. You're Jeff Hardy. You can get a ride.
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) June 13, 2022
As of present reporting, AEW President Tony Khan decided to suspend Jeff Hardy following his arrest.
He issued the following statement regarding the situation on Twitter: "We were able to resume contact with Jeff Hardy this afternoon. AEW does not condone Jeff's alleged behavior. We've made it clear to Jeff that we'll assist him in getting treatment for substance abuse issues, which he has indicated that he's open to receiving."
Khan added that Hardy is "suspended without pay" and he can return to work "upon successfully completing treatment and maintaining his sobriety."
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) June 14, 2022
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