Controversy is never far from the famous, whose wealth and
social status brings them power and opportunities that many of us will never
see or experience. Jeff Hardy began his professional career as part of the
highly innovative and successful tag team of the ‘Hardy Boyz’ with his brother
Matt; together the Hardy Boyz lit up the tag team division in the WWE and were
involved in many – now legendary – TLC matches (tables, ladders & chairs).
However, even in the beginning there was a quality about Jeff, the greater risk
taker of the partnership. Eventually Jeff broke away from his brother and went
on to become one of the most popular faces in the WWE. Jeff’s showmanship,
coupled with his penchant for high risk, aerial acrobatics was a recipe for
success and popularity. His unique ring attire and face paint earned him the nickname the 'charismatic enigma'. Yet, despite his popularity with the fans behind the
scenes, Jeff’s personal life was spiralling out of control. Drug abuse resulted
in Jeff parting ways with the WWE and joining the then fledgling TNA promotion,
which had high aspirations for its future. Jeff was a major signing for them
and he spent three years in the company before finally returning to the WWE.
Jeff’s
second run in the WWE saw him propelled back into the spot light and after a
string of high profile matches the main event, eventually culminating in him
winning the world title at Armageddon 2008, in a triple threat match
against Triple H and Edge – two of the most decorated men in the WWE. But Jeff
would again leave the WWE in 2009 and once more return to TNA in January 2010.
TNA had grown since Jeff’s first run with the company and it had also signed
Hulk Hogan to the roster, arguably the most famous man in professional
wrestling. Jeff’s popularity and achievements with the WWE put him right back
into the main event in TNA and at Bound For Glory 2010 Jeff won his first TNA
world title after turning heel and joining
the now defunct Immortal heel faction. Jeff’s heel world title reign was rocky
to say the least; the self-proclaimed ‘anti-Christ’ of wrestling found it hard
to turn the crowd on him after being beloved for so many years. His
personal demons also resurfaced, ending in a now infamous match at Victory Road
2011 against Sting in which he lost his world title that resulted in Jeff leaving wrestling.
If this
was where Jeff Hardy’s career ended, it would have been the stuff of Shakespearian tragedy – a man with natural born talent, charisma and the ‘IT’
factor that so many wrestlers aspire and work so hard to have, some never even finding it, only to throw his career away because of his inability to control his vices. I must
admit that after Victory Road 2011 I had given up on Jeff. He had been a wrestler
I had grown up watching and while respected his in-ring ability had never truly
got behind him with all his personal issues. This was his curtain call, his
final act and the end of his chances. His unprofessionalism had finally become
too much for me and I was glad to see him gone.
That was then.
In August 2011, Jeff returned to TNA and begun his
‘redemption’. At first I was dubious; but then it struck me: as a Christian I
believe in redemption. I believe in the importance and power of grace and
forgiveness. Suddenly, the parallels between the Gospel and Jeff Hardy’s career
became apparent to me. It would have been hypocritical of me to write off Jeff
Hardy when God had so graciously forgiven me. The Bible teaches that all who
come to Christ in faith become adopted children of God (John 1:12). If then I had been
given a new life in Christ and forgiveness for my sin; then surely,
professionally, Jeff Hardy deserved his chance for redemption. Jesus taught to forgive other people their sins that God may also forgive us (Matthew 6:14, Luke 6:37). This was Jeff’s
opportunity to earn the forgiveness from TNA and from his fans.
Jeff’s redemption has been one of the most real things about
wrestling in a long time. In an industry known for its larger than life
characters and superhuman feats, reality is often suspended. But Jeff’s return
to TNA in August 2011 marked a very important turning point in his career. Jeff’s
redemption has not just been a story, told and narrated through the way he has
been booked and the commentators at ring-side. It is real. Jeff's personal life has changed for the better; having become a father Jeff has cleaned up his life. Professionally, over the last year
Jeff has been in some of the best matches on PPV; he has had some excellent
performances against former world champion Bobby Roode and Kurt Angle and earlier this year won the prestigious Bound
for Glory series at No Surrender guaranteeing him a match against
the world champion in the main event at Bound for Glory, TNA’s biggest PPV of
the year. Jeff has definitely given back to TNA; his performances have improved dramatically
and are arguably on the same level they were at during his peak when he won the WWE
world title in 2008.
At Bound for Glory 2012 Jeff Hardy regained the coveted TNA
world title from Austin Aries, his first world title win as a face in the
company. This victory has the potential to mark a new era in Jeff’s career; one
that will see him fulfil his potential as a performer and as a champion. Time
will tell whether this world title run will be his Indian summer but come what may, the moral of Jeff Hardy's career is that redemption is an essential part of life. We all are human with our flaws and vices. We all have the potential (being made in the image of God) to become outstanding people of good judgement, wisdom and righteousness. We all deserve a second chance. But more than that, Jeff Hardy's career is testiment to the fact that we all need grace. Grace is undeserved favour. TNA didn't have to take Jeff back onto their roster. But they showed him grace to prove himself once more. Through Jesus Christ God has demonstrated His remarkable grace that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). We are saved by grace alone (Ephesians 2:5).
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