Do Jeff Hardy’s Past Wellness Policy Violations Still Count?

Some fans are wondering whether Jeff Hardy’s past talent wellness policy violations have carried over into his current employment with WWE.

When Hardy parted ways with WWE in 2009, Hardy had violated the talent wellness policy twice — in 2006 and 2008. According to the policy, any previous violations carry over even if there is a lapse of employment.

Any WWE Talent, who leaves the WWE for any reason with a first or second violation on his/her record, will maintain said violation count on his/her record from the time he/she departs WWE until the time he/she returns, if ever, to the WWE.

Despite this, Hardy could still get one removed from his record. WWE introduced a Redemption program in 2013 for performers with two violations which could result in the removal of one of the violations from their record if they complete the program.

A WWE talent who has “two” violations under the Policy may, subject to Medical Director approval, enter the Redemption Program. The Redemption Program is an eighteen (18) month process that requires the following:

1. An initial assessment conducted by the Medical Director (or, as the case may be, an addiction specialist recommended by the Medical Director) who will analyze the addiction related issues and health related concerns then being experienced by the WWE Talent, develop proposed treatments, therapies and/or support programs that may assist the WWE Talent in managing these issues/concerns and determine initial entry date for the WWE Talent into the Redemption Program;

2. Compliance with the assessment recommendations made by the Medical Director (or, as the case may be, an addiction specialist recommended by the Medical Director) for the duration of the eighteen (18) month program;

3. Mandatory unannounced follow-up testing as set forth in Section 8(C) (1) of the Policy; and

4. No violations under the Policy for eighteen (18) consecutive months after initial entry into the Redemption Program.

Upon successful completion of the Redemption Program, the WWE Talent shall request the PA, with the approval of the Medical Director, to delete one (1) of the two (2) violations of record for such WWE Talent. In the event the PA determines in favor of the request, the violation record for such WWE Talent will then be amended to reflect the reduction of a violation leaving the WWE Talent with only one (1) violation under the Policy.

If Hardy were to violate the policy a third time without successfully completing the Redemption Program, his contract would be automatically terminated and he would be prohibited from returning for a year. He would then have to go through a rigorous drug testing process if he were to be rehired.

In the event of a third positive test for substances prohibited by this Policy other than marijuana and alcohol, the WWE Talent’s contract with WWE will be terminated and WWE will publicly disclose the WWE Talent’s name and that WWE Talent’s contract was terminated for a third violation of the Policy.

Any WWE Talent, who is terminated by the WWE for a third violation of the Policy, will be prohibited from returning to the WWE for at least one (1) year. If any WWE Talent, who is terminated for a third violation of the Policy, is permitted by the WWE, in its sole discretion, to return to the WWE, then (1) such WWE Talent must test negative for all prohibited substances under this Policy during the pre-contract screening process; (2) such WWE Talent will return to the WWE with a first and second violation of this Policy against his/her record; (3) such WWE Talent must undergo the mandatory unannounced follow-up testing set forth in Section 8 C (1) of the Policy for a period of at least one (1) year after execution of his/her new contract with WWE; and (4) such WWE Talent will automatically enter the Violation Redemption Program as defined below.