10 Articles You Won't Believe WWE.com Once Posted!
9. ‘Jeff Hardy Found Unconscious’
It’s well-known ‘The Charismatic Enigma’ Jeff Hardy has had multiple issues with substance abuse and the law ever since he signed to the WWF in 1998 that have come close to doing fatal damage to his life and career. WWE to a negative reaction online have used this detail about Jeff’s personal struggles in storylines numerous times, even recently as 2020 in an angle with Sheamus where he would be labelled a “junkie” and be arrested for intoxication.
The first time WWE chose to use this personal detail on TV was the worst of the bunch. In 2008, right before Survivor Series where Jeff was scheduled to wrestle for the WWE Championship, WWE.com posted the headline ‘Jeff Hardy found unconscious’ that had his legion of fans desperately concerned for his wellbeing. Rightfully so, given the death of Eddie Guerrero in similar circumstances a few years before. WWE.com ambiguously wrote in the article ‘Jeff Hardy was found unconscious in a stairwell at his hotel in Boston today, and was rushed to the nearest emergency room. Due to privacy issues, WWE is not releasing the name of the hospital. WWE.com will have more information if it becomes available.’
This would ultimately be revealed to all be part of a storyline where Jeff got jumped but fans did not know this at the time. Jeff had genuinely failed two Wellness tests at that point so fans could easily believe and speculate Jeff was in trouble in real life. WWE was heavily criticized for making it not known this was a storyline at the time. TMZ even investigated it after receiving huge concern from fans for Jeff’s wellbeing.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter ended up voting it ‘Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic’ that year.