Y'know, I was holding out for Hardy. I thought maybe he wouldn't be this stupid, but I shouldn't have been surprised. I've always been a fan of Jeff's. I supported his first title reign, I marked out when he beat Edge in the ladder match. I like Jeff. But this is ridiculous.
Jeff Hardy is a god damned adult, but he's acting like an 8 year old. He's arguably the most successful man in the WWE. His contract is probably a little smaller than Cena or HHH, but his merchandising is undoubtedly massive, bigger than Cena's, I would daresay. He's hugely over, and that's not cheap fill in SmackDown pops. He appeals across the board, to kids, women, and men. He's finally at the top of his game. Staying another five years would guarantee him main event status for the whole time, more world title reigns, probably main eventing WrestleMania multiple times, and a Hall of Fame spot. Instead, he trades it so he can go play in his fucking treehouse.
I hope you have fun painting pictures or whatever the fuck you do, Jeff. I don't care how much a free spirit or whatever bullshit he is, he's an adult with responsibility. A responsibility to himself, a responsibility to his job, and, you know what, a responsibility to the people that made him what he is. First and foremost, he's finally made it big in his job, and NOW he leaves? That's downright irresponsible to his future plans. I don't know how much money he's made, but I doubt he's rolling in cash, with drug problems, extended periods of time off, and a house burning down. Another five years in the WWE would guarantee him and any future family financial security for a lifetime. Now he takes a risk.
Furthermore, the WWE has invested so much into Jeff over the last year. 3 world titles, a mega push, becoming the face of SmackDown, basically turning him into the main eventer he always could have been, and once again, he walks on the company. Now what? He leaves the WWE in a big hole for faces. Taker can do it, but for how long? Is Morrison really ready to step up? Can Morrison capture the audience like Hardy? All evidence says that not right now, no. Morrison will need another year or two before he can truly main event. All they have left in terms of fresh, exciting faces is Mysterio, who is gaining his own health problems. Meanwhile, healthy, entertaining, main event level Jeff Hardy? Playing in the closet in North Carolina.
And damn it, he owes the fans. He's been around forever, and he's always had a big contingent of fans. He's gone on such a rollercoaster career, with his firing from WWE, to TNA, to coming back to WWE, to just almost getting there, to getting suspended again, and he FINALLY makes it to the top, where all the Hardy fans can finally enjoy the Jeff Hardy main event run they've wanted...oh, but sorry, Jeff wants to play in his shitty little band.
I'm still going to hold out one last shred of hope that this is either a false report or Jeff will get a great deal, and he'll stick around, but if he's really gone, then I lose all respect for him. I hope he enjoys doing the one thing he's always been best at - failing.