Jeff Hardy made his return to WWE television this week after a nine-month hiatus, appearing on Tuesday’s episode of Backstage — where he talked about going to rehab and getting back in the squared circle.
“I’m officially cleared,” Hardy said, speaking to host Renee Young in a lengthy sit-down interview. “So I’ve been at SmackDown on Fox the last two weeks in a row and I’m just waiting for the right creative spot to jump back in the mix.”
Hardy, 42, has been off television since last October, when he was arrested for his second DWI offense in two years. He spoke in-depth about getting treatment for his alcohol problems and what it’s like to be back clean and sober.
“The last nine months has been very crazy,” Hardy admitted. “On the night of Oct. 3 I got into some trouble. On the morning of Oct. 4 I arranged for me to go to inpatient rehab for the first time in my life and it was one of the best things I could have done for myself — and I’ve done something every day to better myself.”
Hardy told Young that he was looking forward to returning to in-ring action and showing the WWE Universe the new side of him.
“It’s just going to be so good to back in front of all those people, in the mindset that I am in right now and to feel that energy,” Hardy said. “Because there’s something left for me to do in the WWE. I’m not sure what that is but I want to make that happen.”
Describing the anticipation of his return, the “Charismatic Enigma” said: “I’ve got tons of ideas like, running through my mind, you know, what I can do that’s new and fresh. And I will be different, I will be the 2020 version of Jeff Hardy — no doubt about it.”
As for possible opponents, Hardy said he’d love to have a match with a certain SmackDown superstar — and hopes to one day do something at WrestleMania.
“More than anything, I would probably have to say I feel there’s a huge moment between me and Roman Reigns,” explained Hardy. “So yea, I can kind of see that happening. And yea, I think that’s one thing — to kind of be involved in something cool and important at WrestleMania in the next few years. If I can fight back into that zone, I think that’s my biggest goal.”
Young closed out the interview by asking Hardy about his brother Matt’s departure from WWE and what his possible plans were. But Jeff didn’t have much to offer.
“I haven't spoken to him hardly at all about that,” Hardy said. “We’ve been wrestling for a long time and even if we are in different wrestling worlds its still cool that the Hardy Boyz can go their separate ways and do their own thing.”