S.J. Maximus
Championship Contender
I've decided to start a little series on WZ in order to expose some hypocrisy in the IWC and more importantly to understand why it occurs. Why are certain people/actions loved while others of the exact same nature are hated? In this inaugural edition, I'm going to talk about one of the biggest examples of this concept out there, the love for Scott Hall vs. the hate for Jeff Hardy. Both men were key members of a specific decade (90's for Hall, 00's for Hardy) that revolutionized the business (Hall with the Ladder Match, Hardy with TLC) in their own unique ways. Both were extremely over with the fans and big moneymakers, and Hall can boast that he was a charter member of the biggest group in wrestling history, the NWO.
That all being said, Hall has had a plethora of drug problems. Alcohol and cocaine have led Hall down a spiral that has made him irrelevant for most of the 21st century, as well as a rehab patient 11 times. He's had trouble with the law, with the WWE, and recently he made an appearance on so many drugs that he wasn't worth a single cent of the money he was paid. Stephanie McMahon said on E:60 last week that they have spent well into 6 figures on Scott's rehab attempts, and nothing has seemed to work. With all of these problems that Scott has faced, whenever he is mentioned the only posts I see are "I hope he gets better" and "it's a shame to see this happen to such a great man" which demonstrates the love and admiration the fans have for Hall.
Hardy has had his fair share of drug problems as well. He is the only man in WWE history to have 4 wellness policy violations, (he got 2 the left, came back years later and got 2 more) and caused TNA to have a 90-second main event at Victory Road due to his problems. He recently just got out of jail after he was arrested in 2009 for having 100s of different painkillers in his house. He has never been to rehab, and refuses to do so for unknown reasons. Whenever he is mentioned, I see name-calling like "Meth Hardy", "That Druggie Hippie", "The Intoxicated Enigma", and many more comments that wish he would rot in jail and never work for a wrestling promotion again.
In the words of JR: Why damnit, tell me why!!!!! It's completely unfair to hate Hardy and defend Hall IMO, especially when Hall's problems have been much much worse. Hall deserted his family, was on suicide watch, takes 11 medications for his heart alone daily, and wears a pacemaker. Hardy is a drug user (which people on this forum probably are) who has gotten caught too many times and arrested once (one less time than Hall has). Is it because Hardy isn't as bad as Scott, so his story doesn't garner as much sympathy? IMO it's because Scott's from the 90's, which is when a lot of these posters (including myself) were either children or teenagers, so the nostalgia keeps Hall as a saint while Jeff Hardy seems pitiful now as we are in adulthood. IMO nostalgia isn't a reasonable excuse to pardon one mans actions, and I personally wish that both men get better and are able to live healthy lives. I'd love to see both men return to the WWE and maybe even wrestle some matches (if Hall's Hart can take it) or get involved in some angles. I want both men to succeed by why does the IWC only care about one?
Scott Hall http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhP6TP-rspY&feature=related
vs.
Jeff Hardy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6Jb4PGyfTw&feature=related
That all being said, Hall has had a plethora of drug problems. Alcohol and cocaine have led Hall down a spiral that has made him irrelevant for most of the 21st century, as well as a rehab patient 11 times. He's had trouble with the law, with the WWE, and recently he made an appearance on so many drugs that he wasn't worth a single cent of the money he was paid. Stephanie McMahon said on E:60 last week that they have spent well into 6 figures on Scott's rehab attempts, and nothing has seemed to work. With all of these problems that Scott has faced, whenever he is mentioned the only posts I see are "I hope he gets better" and "it's a shame to see this happen to such a great man" which demonstrates the love and admiration the fans have for Hall.
Hardy has had his fair share of drug problems as well. He is the only man in WWE history to have 4 wellness policy violations, (he got 2 the left, came back years later and got 2 more) and caused TNA to have a 90-second main event at Victory Road due to his problems. He recently just got out of jail after he was arrested in 2009 for having 100s of different painkillers in his house. He has never been to rehab, and refuses to do so for unknown reasons. Whenever he is mentioned, I see name-calling like "Meth Hardy", "That Druggie Hippie", "The Intoxicated Enigma", and many more comments that wish he would rot in jail and never work for a wrestling promotion again.
In the words of JR: Why damnit, tell me why!!!!! It's completely unfair to hate Hardy and defend Hall IMO, especially when Hall's problems have been much much worse. Hall deserted his family, was on suicide watch, takes 11 medications for his heart alone daily, and wears a pacemaker. Hardy is a drug user (which people on this forum probably are) who has gotten caught too many times and arrested once (one less time than Hall has). Is it because Hardy isn't as bad as Scott, so his story doesn't garner as much sympathy? IMO it's because Scott's from the 90's, which is when a lot of these posters (including myself) were either children or teenagers, so the nostalgia keeps Hall as a saint while Jeff Hardy seems pitiful now as we are in adulthood. IMO nostalgia isn't a reasonable excuse to pardon one mans actions, and I personally wish that both men get better and are able to live healthy lives. I'd love to see both men return to the WWE and maybe even wrestle some matches (if Hall's Hart can take it) or get involved in some angles. I want both men to succeed by why does the IWC only care about one?
Scott Hall http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhP6TP-rspY&feature=related
vs.
Jeff Hardy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6Jb4PGyfTw&feature=related