Jeff Hardy arrested on multiple felony drug charges

Ex-WWE pro wrestler Jeff Hardy was arrested this week on multiple felony drug charges including "charges of trafficking in controlled prescription pills and possession of anabolic steroids."

The Southern Pines Pilot newspaper reports word from the Moore County, N.C. sheriff's office that Hardy was arrested after "262 Vicodin prescription pills, 180 Soma prescription pills, 555 milliliters of anabolic steroids, a residual amount of powder cocaine and items of drug paraphernalia" were uncovered.

Hardy has been formally charged with five felony counts including "felony trafficking in opium, two counts of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule III controlled substance, felony maintaining a dwelling to keep controlled substance, & felony possession of cocaine." He was additionally charged with one misdemeanor charge of possessing drug paraphernalia.

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UPDATE: The ex-WWE/World champion was reported by the Pines Pilot to be in jail Friday but Jeff Hardy has since tweeted the following this Friday afternoon.... "Alot of exaggerations are out there today, don't believe everything you read 4 it is not true, I am at home and fine-thanks for your concern."

TMZ.com and PWInsider.com both report that Jeff Hardy was bailed out "by his brother," presumably Matt, though Jeff later tweeted that Matt didn't even know about the situation.

Jeff Hardy leaves WWE

THe long rumored departure of Jeff Hardy from World Wrestling Entertainment finally took place this week as he exited following a loss in a "loser leaves WWE" steel cage match against CM Punk for the World title.

This week's "Friday Night Smackdown" main event matchup ended soon after Punk took down Jeff Hardy with a superplex from the top of the cage. Hardy would recover long enough to fight Punk at the top of the cage but just as in SummerSlam's TLC match, Punk got the better of the final exchange and shoved Hardy down to fall to the mat one final time.

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The remarkable thing about Jeff Hardy is how his WWE story was so unlike many others. There were better promo men, there were even a few better wrestlers but somehow Hardy managed to connect with fans organically to the point that WWE was left with no alternative but to let him be a true superstar. What Hardy did every night was just give everything he was, everything he had until there was simply nothing left.

The only thing more remarkable about Jeff Hardy is that he chose to take all that success and popularity and set it aside. Virtually nobody in his position would have made the decision he did to simply leave and not pursue pro wrestling further without the promise of a better opportunity.

There's no guarantee that Hardy will succeed with music or reality TV anywhere near to the point that he has in WWE. For better or worse though, the man doesn't think the same way like the rest of us in this world of ours. One can only give the man best wishes as he pursues his own passions as far as they will take him, then hope that he will one day return to this sphere of professional wrestling we love so much.

WWE Smackdown taping note

It is the standard policy of WrestlingBloob.com not to post confirmed spoiler information. As a result, the situation regarding Smackdown's World title competitors will not be addressed until this Friday @ 10 pm PDT/Saturday 1 am EDT.

CM Punk defeats Jeff Hardy in SummerSlam TLC for World title

Straight edge superstar CM Punk finally came out on top in his feud with Jeff Hardy, retrieving the title belt after a grueling TLC match to become WWE's new World champion. Punk would not have the chance at a celebration though as after the sound of a gong and a period of darkness, Undertaker appeared where Jeff Hardy had fallen. Taker chokeslammed Punk to close out the SummerSlam pay-per-view.

The finishing sequence of the World title match itself occurred when Hardy hit a swanton bomb from the top of a 15 foot ladder to Punk, prone at the time on the ECW announcing table. Hardy was hooked onto a stretcher while Punk recovered first to reach the ladder. Hardy eventually reached the ladder himself to go into an exchange with Punk, an exchange finally won with a punch to the ribs from Punk.

With Jeff Hardy expected to leave WWE within the week, the post match theatrics will allow to promotion to segue nicely into a Punk/Undertaker feud. If this is the truly the last that we'll see of Jeff Hardy in WWE, at least he went out on a sensational note.

In the other main event title match, Randy Orton retained the WWE championship over John Cena after attempts at losses by self-dq and countout were lamely overturned. "Fan" interference (from Brett DiBiase) broke up Cena's STF attempt, leading to a surprise RKO from Orton for the win. DX won a surprisingly competitive semi-main event over Legacy while the Intercontinental, ECW and unified tag team champions all retained their titles.

Jeff Hardy reclaims World title from CM Punk

The Night of Champions PPV main event proved fortuitous for Jeff Hardy as he reclaimed the World title from CM Punk, winning a major World or WWE singles title for the third time in his World Wrestling Entertainment career.

Hardy avoided defeat against the heelish Punk after kicking out three consecutive times following Punk's Go To Sleep. He then had to throw Punk back into the ring after Punk attempted to walk away with the belt, subsequently hitting the Twist of Fate and the Swanton Bomb for the win.

While the match's quality was obviously top par the outcome was something of a surprise, considering Jeff Hardy's alleged plans to leave WWE in a few weeks. Barring another sudden title switch, Jeff Hardy should still stick around at least through the SummerSlam PPV.

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All major WWE titles on line in Raw 3-For-All

All three World Wrestling Entertainment brand titles will be on the line this week in an extended edition of WWE Raw. The 3-For-All will feature title matches for the WWE (Raw), World (Smackdown) and ECW titles.

The WWE title match may be the most noteworthy as current WWE champion Batista's title reign will be vacated due to his real-life biceps tendon injury. Randy Orton, Triple H, John Cena and Big Show will fight in a four-way match for the belt. Not to belabor the obvious but some new blood really should have been introduced into this title scenario.

Smackdown's World title will be at stake when babyface trending heel CM Punk defends against both Jeff Hardy and Edge in a triple threat match. In Charlotte, North Carolina, Hardy will have near universal support while CM Punk might as well be in the same category as Edge.

The ECW title will also be defended as new champion Tommy Dreamer takes on former champion Christian. With Dreamer having signed a new real-life contract, the way is cleared for his first title defense. My own belief is that Dreamer's title reign will be a short one since there's just no money in it but give the man credit for connecting with a whole new fan base.

For its extended edition, WWE Raw will begin one hour earlier at 8 p.m. EDT/PDT on USA Network.

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CM Punk cashes in vs. Jeff Hardy to win World title

Just minutes after Jeff Hardy defeated Edge in a grueling ladder match to win the World championship, CM Punk cashed in the Money in the Bank briefcase in a stunning maneuver and went on to himself become World champion for the second time.

Jeff Hardy's second World title reign in WWE lasted only briefly before CM Punk made the official challenge. Punk hit Hardy with the Go To Sleep maneuver twice and scored the winning pinfall before a shocked crowd at Extreme Rules PPV. Punk had earlier defeated Umaga in a Samoan strap match but still played off as much fresher than Jeff Hardy.

While Punk did cash in against a weakened opponent last year in the hated heel Edge, cashing in against the megapopular Jeff Hardy just after Hardy won the title is an altogether different thing. CM Punk may now be destined to reign on top of the Smackdown roster as a heel especially if Jeff Hardy sticks around to feud with Punk over the strap.

CM Punk has not worked heel at any point in World Wrestling Entertainment though longtime Ring of Honor fans saw him excel in the role as a self-righteous arrogant straight-edger. WWE fans could well get that same opportunity.