Crayzcm writes:
I wanted to voice my opinion on this situation involving Jeff Hardy. While everyone is "innocent until proven guilty"…Jeff Hardy’s past would lead most of us to believe that he is, indeed, guilty. I have read articles and tweets and blogs from people like Jeff’s brother, Matt, Chris Jericho, Lance Storm, Ken Anderson, etc. who have all had wonderful things to say about Jeff Hardy as a person and a performer, and encouraging us (the wrestling fans) to not judge him until all the facts come out. In my opinion…the facts are out. Tons of drugs and drug paraphernalia were found in Jeff Hardy’s home. I don’t care why they were there, I don’t care how often he used them, or if he was going to sell them. The FACT is, they were there.
Drug abuse has run rampant in the world of wrestling for far too long. It is time that someone takes a stand! We have lost far too many great and talented men and women long before their time, as a result of drug use. While I agree that individuals need to take responsibility for their own actions; the people they work for need to also take responsibility. Not just the WWE, not just Vince McMahon! So often, Vince McMahon is blamed for all the deaths in wrestling, and all the drug use. But it seems like anyone who was released of their WWE contract due to violations of the "wellness policy" can turn up in TNA 90 days later. The bottom line is that promoters just care about making money, and not about the individuals working for them. That’s not just a problem in the WWE…it’s a problem in wrestling in general. Since the death of Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero, the WWE has been under constant scrutiny from the media. What about TNA? Give Scott Steiner and Kurt Angle a drug test, and let me know how that works out. Vince McMahon and the WWE are the easy targets, but it goes beyond that.
The blame also lies with us…the wrestling fans! We want to see our favorite stars, but at what price? Let’s assume Vince McMahon was aware of Jeff Hardy’s "alleged" drug problems. Should he or anyone else be taken him off TV’s and events which they were advertised, despite the fact that fans all over the world would be outraged that they aren’t going to get to see their favorite stars? And if so, how many members of the current WWE roster do you think would be "suspended" for one reason or another? I’m afraid to think of who would be main eventing pay per view events if every person in the locker room who was using any type of drug was suspended or fired. Vince McMahon, and other promoters are in a very rough spot. The more money you make, the more the company needs you. This is why a guy like Jeff Hardy is able to main event pay per views, while Umaga is waiting out his 90 day no compete clause.
Watch the Jake Roberts DVD, watch the Road Warriors DVD…listen to what they say about these guys! Everyone talks about Jake Roberts showing up to events drunk or stoned, and not being in the right frame of mind to get in the ring; but they let him in the ring anyway – because he was one of their biggest draws! Same goes for Hawk from the L.O.D; they discuss his drug problem in explicit detail, and acknowledge the fact that he was still wrestling while "under the influence". I’m sure that is something that still goes on to this day, in promotions all across the world, no matter how big or small.
As wrestling fans, are we too involved in the wrestling business? In the old days, if someone was "injured" and taken off TV for a few months, it was assumed they were injured. There weren’t websites saying that someone was "suspended for violating the wellness policy". These days it’s impossible to reprimand someone, or attempt to get them the help they need, without it becoming public knowledge. How can a promoter suspend his number one babyface for drug use, without destroying his credibility as "number one babyface"? We all know that Hulk Hogan has done steroids in the past, but how could he have been punished for it, only to come back on TV to tell children to "say their prayers and take their vitamins"? Kids would wonder: what type of "vitamins" he was referring to?
And guys like Roddy Piper are always quick to talk about all the "FRATS" that he’s lost over the years; all his running mates who are no longer with us due to drug abuse. But he, and many other Legends, when accepting their Hall of Fame plaques and rings, often tell stories of the "old days" and make reference to drinking excessively, and doing drugs, and claim it to be the best time of their lives. The reason so many people have died over the years from drug use, is because so many people do it, that no one even realizes it’s a problem until it’s too late. And then, everyone wants to point fingers, but no one wants to take the blame. For every one of those dead wrestlers who Piper at one time or another watched smoke or sniff anything; he is just as much to blame for their deaths as anyone else whom he chooses to blame.
But when it comes down to it, we are all to blame. And a perfect example of that is Matt Hardy’s recent tweets. He thanks people for their support and encourages everyone to wait for the "truth" to come out. Well the truth is; Matt Hardy cares more about what the fans think than he does about his own brother. At a time when Matt should be there for his brother, and his family…he is tweeting to his "fans". F*** the fans, this is REAL LIFE!! Maybe Matt Hardy should stop defending and enabling his brother, and try to reason with him, plead with him, support him, and get him the help he so desperately needs. Maybe that’s the problem? Maybe that’s always been the problem? Everyone worries so much about the fans, and no one worries about the performers themselves. These guys and girls are people just like us, just because they are celebrities doesn’t mean that they don’t have problems. And we need to be understanding, and let these problems be addressed. If it means missing out on a great main event once in a while, so be it. I’d rather have 10 more years of great main events, than another 10 bell salute on RAW and a DVD Tribute.
C-Dizzle,
Geeze, maybe you should have written that article. You make a lot of good points, and while I think you assume too much (you have no idea what Matt Hardy really cares about) you’re right when you say that this is real life. Your final statement was extremely well put. Thanks a lot!
