Scott Bowden presents Kentucky Fried Rasslin

Dude, it's all been a misunderstanding.

A week after he walked away from an unprecedented offer from World Wrestling Entertainment last year, former WWE champion Jeff Hardy, 32, was arrested on multiple charges of prescription-drug trafficking and possession of cocaine and anabolic steroids in September 2009.

Hardy was arrested after a search of his residence yielded 262 Vicodin prescription pills, 180 Soma prescription pills, 555 milliliters of anabolic steroids, a residual amount of powder cocaine and items of drug paraphernalia, according to a press release. A joint investigation conducted by officers with the Moore County Sheriff’s Office narcotics and select enforcement units and the Fayetteville Police Department led to the arrest.

Today, James Caldwell of the Torch updated the story:

Hardy is scheduled for Superior Court on Tuesday, July 6 faced with conspiracy drug trafficking. The North Carolina Court System lists the charge as “Conspiracy to Traffic Opium.” The big charges of felony drug trafficking, felony possession of cocaine, felony maintaining a dwelling for drug distribution, and misdemeanor drug possession were dropped. The charges dropped were from the initial 2009 arrest. The remaining conspiracy charge was the latest charge added in January 2010.
The following is an update on the charges Hardy was and now is faced with:

Case 1 – Felony drug trafficking, Two felony charges of possession of a Schedule III controlled substance or drug.
Case 2 – Felony possession of cocaine, Felony maintaining a dwelling for redistribution of controlled substances.
Case 3 – Misdemeanor Possession of drug paraphernalia.
Case 4 (newly added January 2010) – Conspiracy to traffic opium.

Despite being one of the most popular performers in the industry the last five years, Hardy’s struggles with drugs and alcohol have been well-documented, so much in fact that before his departure from the company, WWE Creative weaved his personal problems into a program with CM Punk, who preaches a “straight-edge” lifestyle. 

The three dropped charges bodes well for Hardy. I should have known everything was going to be fine after Jeff tweeted following his arrest that “a lot 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.” That clears up everything.