ProWrestling.net was reporting earlier this evening that Jeff Hardy might be pulled from his main event and stripped of the title as TNA management “there was concern amongst TNA management that Hardy was in no condition to perform”. This of course turned out to not be the case by a long shot. Hardy performed like someone very much in control of himself. One has to wonder how much longer this type of careless reporting can continue?
I myself wrote an expose on the NWA several years ago and understand the need for anonymous sources. But if these sources keep feeding you bad information you are under no obligation to pass it along. As a matter of fact of you continue to pass along bad information knowing the source is bad in my opinion your reporting has zero integrity.
Here’s hoping that wrestling fans will keep note of the sites that publish unabashed rumors without clearly labeling them as such and eventually run the garbage sites out of business.
I’m not sure why the initial report emanated from ProWrestling.NET, however a few months ago I had a brief e-mail conversation with the gentleman who runs that site (his name escapes me at the moment) and he seemed like someone on the up and up. So your suggestion about him being fed bad information from the anonymous source seems plausible. I think your point about labeling a rumor as a rumor is well-taken, though, William. Especially now that I’m reading on other sites how last night was a “false alarm.”
Really? A “false alarm?” That’s not good enough – especially when you’re talking about drugs in professional wrestling.
I don’t mind reading assumption and innuendo being reported as fact when we’re talking who is going to win a title or which tag team is going to break up or something that is ultimately inconsequential like that. But if the assumption and innuendo has to do with a guy’s personal life, drugs in professional wrestling, someone’s contract, etc. then I think extra due diligence is necessary.
ProWrestling.net usually seems to be an up and up site, so I do want to clarify in case anyone is mistaken about my opinion.
Rumors of this nature run on the borderline of libel. Not only is that legally bad but even if you can get away with them it’s just bad mojo. Revenue by both TNA and Jeff Hardy can be lost by these continuing accusations I believe these news outlets need to think twice before reporting this “news”. Sometimes the rush to post it first overrides the drive to post it right.
I was on this other wrestling news site earlier, and they received a fan email, saying this:
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“I felt like I should send someone an email about this. Not sure if everyone knows this, but Jeff was not in Orlando last night [Saturday night]. He was in the Detroit area doing a signing at a monster truck thing with Shannon Moore and Jesse Neal. He was totally fine at that event, which went to about midnight. He signed and took pictures with just about everyone. I had a vip pass for the event and was around him most of the night and didn’t see him drinking or anything else. I was also staying at the same hotel as him, which he came back to and went to his room early.
However, he was extremely tired. We actually spoke about it (him being tired) and made a joke how everyone says TNA has such a light schedule. He noted that he posted something on twitter before about TNA actually does have a hard schedule.
As for the schedule, TNA sent him on a 20 hour flight to the middle east after thanksgiving. The tour lasted until Wednesday. He then took a 20 hour flight home to Atlanta on Thursday, then had to connect back to north Carolina. He had Friday off after all that, living with a new born, and then flew to Detroit for the monster truck deal on Saturday and had an early flight to Orlando Sunday morning for the ppv and 2+ days of tv.
Not sure about u, but I’d be tired also. It was also noted that hardy looked fine in his match with matt Morgan.
Sorry for the long email, but I hate to see Jeff’s name dragged through the mud for no reason.
I really think this was just a misunderstanding. With all the travel, he should have been dead on his feet.”
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The site I took that email from, was also the site that prior to posting that fan email article, had already posted rumours of
Jeff Hardy. This one, actually:
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There was definitely “100 percent, no doubt about it” concern this afternoon over the condition of Jeff Hardy backstage at the TNA “Final Resolution” pay per view.
“TNA had a decision to make this afternoon. Either send Jeff out to the ring, knowing the example it sets, or send him home and do damage control,” a key TNA insider told us, “they are keeping him because that’s the damage control they came up with.”
Jeff’s condition backstage, which was described as “another You Tube video ready to happen” is ironic, considering he is scheduled for his next hearing on several drug charges this Wednesday in Moore County, North Carolina.
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These dirt sheets need to get their shit together.
Thanks for the info and update Radiitz. I would hope the originating site of this rumor issues a full retraction.