He’s one of the most enigmatic and innovative wrestlers of the past 20 years, whose cult like status is only equaled by the amount of derailed pushes, setbacks and legal problems that have hampered what should have been a legendary career in pro wrestling. Edward “Teddy” Annis, son of Stampede wrestler BJ Annis and Hart family member Georgia Hart, and better known worldwide as Teddy Hart announced today that the charges from an incident in Texas last New Years have been dropped and he’s been cleared to return to the ring, which he’ll be doing immediately – he’s booked to appear at this Saturday’s Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) Ready To Die event.
Yes it's true. Thanks to God and all the prayers from you guys and girls I am back and this time I'm back for good. Thank you to everyone for believing in me at a time when you all could've turned your backs. I love you and I'll see you soon. God bless.
— Teddy Hart (@TeddyHartIsBACK) December 14, 2017
Hart was charged after last New Years in Texas, when he was arrested for drunk driving and evading the police. He finally faced the music this past fall, when he turned himself over on November 5.
A message from Teddy (11/12/17) pic.twitter.com/PJiJgRMK5H
— Teddy Hart (@TeddyHartIsBACK) November 13, 2017
Teddy Hart has been a part of wrestling lore since his childhood. As part of one of wrestling’s most influential families, Hart’s wrestling life has always been a point of scrutiny, be in from fans, family or promoters. He grew up in Stampede Wrestling, often teaming with his cousin Harry Smith (aka Davey Boy Smith Jr.), Tyson Kidd and fellow Dungeon trainee Jack Evans. At the age of 16, he wrestled in the opening match at a WWE house show in Calgary, alongside Kidd and Smith. A gifted aerialist who combined technical Hart savvy with an instinct for the extreme, Hart was one of the top prospects in the wrestling world. In 1998, he was signed by the WWE to a developmental deal at the age of 18, the youngest person ever signed by the WWE. He was released soon after due to “attitude problems”.
He would continue on the indies, with stints with Ring of Honor, TNA and others, but incidents always seem to end his stints prematurely. In 2006, he was re-signed by the WWE once again and in developmental was part of the Next Generation Hart Foundation alongside his cousins Smith and Natalya. But shortly before they were to debut on the main roster, Hart was once again released for erratic behavior.
He headed to Mexico, wrestling regularly with AAA, where he joined Perro Aguayo Jr.‘s stable, Los Perros de Mal, as well as independents around North America and the UK. The past seven years have seen Hart’s appearances dwindle, with his life outside of wrestling diminishing his bookings and demand, despite his cult-like following. But in 2016, he began to turn his life back around with this year looking to be the year of redemption for Hart. Until the New Year’s incident happened. Hart continued to work most of 2017, to high praise, until he decided to face the music in November. Here’s hoping that 2018 picks up where he left off, with Teddy Hart continuing to be the innovator and inspiration he’s been this past year.
