SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
Jeff Hardy wants to finish his career in a Hell in a Cell match against The Undertaker at WrestleMania.
Hardy, who is currently part of the wild-idea Hardy Brothers “Final Deletion” series on TNA TV, talked to L.A. Weekly reporter Art Tavana about the future of his wrestling career.
“Matt and I are doing some great stuff in TNA right now, so I’ll be happy to stay here until the end if that’s how it works out,” Hardy told Tavana, who followed around Hardy throughout the “Gathering of the Juggalos” weekend.
“End” could mean when Hardy’s TNA contract expires in February 2017, or “end” could mean the end of his wrestling career, which seems to be drawing close. Hardy was noticeably hurt and struggled to get around throughout the weekend.
“Everything hurts. I’ve had a broken elbow, shoulder, leg,” Hardy said before his wife, Beth interrupted: “I’ve taken him to the hospital so many times.” Hardy added, “She takes care of me, man.”
What keeps Hardy going, apparently, is a wild-idea for his WrestleMania send-off against Undertaker.
“Man, I want to Swanton off the top of the cell, onto the commentary table,” said Hardy. “Then, I want to climb the cell, cut the f—— cage, when Taker’s back in the ring, and Swanton though the cage, miss, and then Tombstone 1-2-3.”
Far away from the WrestleMania stage, Hardy wrestled in a tent in the carnival atmosphere of the “Gathering,” where he suffered a nasty neck injury.
“My neck, man. I felt like I got knocked out. But that was fun. It’s probably just a stinger,” Hardy downplayed. Beth tweeted shortly thereafter: “My husband can barely walk & can’t turn his head after his match last night. It’s straight to the doctor when we land.”
If Hardy did consider returning to WWE in 2017, he would have to pass a WWE physical and pre-screening tests. More hard bumps, whiplash, and potential concussions would make it difficult for him to be cleared. But, it sounds like he’s content if his match with Undertaker remains one of the many creative thoughts in his head.
“Everything hurts”
“I’ve taken him to the hospital so many times”
“My husband can barely walk”
I really hope the current generation of wrestlers looks at Jeff Hardy (and Mick Foley, and Chris Benoit, Jimmy Snuka, and Dynamite Kid, et al) and sees his condition as a warning of the kind of risks you shouldn’t be taking in the ring.
“Swanton off the top of the cell, onto the commentary table”
“Swanton though the cage, miss”
I swear, Hardy must WANT to end up in a wheelchair.