Teddy Hart is a professional wrestler who belongs to the famous Hart wrestling family, but his career and personal life have been marred by controversy, legal troubles, and allegations of sexual misconduct.
Hart was once the youngest wrestler to be signed by WWE, but he was released twice and never made it to the main roster. He has wrestled for various promotions around the world, but he has also been involved in several incidents that have damaged his reputation and relationships. Hart is currently facing multiple charges in Florida, including drug possession, assault, and battery.
Teddy Hart’s Professional Wrestling Career
Early Career (1995-1998)
Hart made his Rockyford, Alberta, debut in July 1995 alongside his brother Matthew, defeating their cousins Harry Smith and T. J. Wilson. Hart paired with Smith, Wilson, and Jack Evans in Calgary’s Stampede Wrestling.
World Wrestling Federation (1998-2002)
Hart achieved an early degree of fame when he became the youngest wrestler to be signed to the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) in 1998 at the age of 18. He entered the developmental program and trained with Dory Funk Jr. He was expected to debut on the main roster in 2002 as part of The Next Generation Hart Foundation, along with Smith and Wilson, but he was released before that due to attitude problems and unprofessional conduct.
Ring of Honor (2003)
Hart joined Ring of Honor (ROH) in 2003 and formed a faction called The Prophecy with Christopher Daniels, Donovan Morgan, and Dan Maff. He also competed in the first ROH Pure Championship tournament, but he was eliminated by Doug Williams in the quarterfinals. Hart’s tenure in ROH was short-lived, as he was fired after a backstage altercation with CM Punk and a controversial incident at an ROH show in Philadelphia, where he performed several unplanned high-risk moves after his match and disrespected the locker room.
NWA Total Nonstop Action (2003-2004)
Hart made his debut for NWA Total Nonstop Action (TNA) in October 2003 as part of Team Canada, along with Johnny Devine, Petey Williams, and Jack Evans. He participated in the Super X Cup tournament, but he was eliminated by Juventud Guerrera in the first round. He left TNA in February 2004 after a dispute over his pay.
Major League Wrestling (2004)
Hart signed with Major League Wrestling (MLW) in 2004 and formed The New Hart Foundation with Harry Smith and Jack Evans. He won the MLW World Junior Heavyweight Championship by defeating Sonjay Dutt in July 2004. He defended the title against Homicide, CM Punk, Terry Funk, and others until MLW ceased operations in December 2004.
Jersey All Pro Wrestling (2004-2007)
Hart joined Jersey All Pro Wrestling (JAPW) in 2004 and became a member of The Strong Style Thugs with Homicide and Low Ki. He won the JAPW Tag Team Championship twice with Homicide and once with Jack Evans. He also feuded with Jay Lethal, Rhino, Samoa Joe, and others until he left JAPW in 2007.
Return to WWE (2005, 2006-2007)
Hart made a brief return to WWE in 2005 as part of the revived ECW brand, but he did not appear on television and only worked dark matches and house shows. He was released again in August 2005 after failing a drug test. He re-signed with WWE in October 2006 and reported to Deep South Wrestling (DSW), one of WWE’s developmental territories at the time. He was suspended for 30 days in January 2007 for violating WWE’s Wellness Policy. He was released for the third time in April 2007 after not showing several DSW events.
Independent Circuit (2006-2012)
Hart continued to wrestle on the independent circuit after leaving WWE for various promotions such as Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), Chikara, Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), Dragon Gate USA (DGUSA), Evolve, Full Impact Pro (FIP), International Wrestling Association Puerto Rico (IWA PR), and others. He won several championships, including the PWG World Championship, the CZW World Junior Heavyweight Championship, the FIP Tag Team Championship, and the IWA PR World Junior Heavyweight Championship. He also formed a tag team with Jack Evans called The Hart Breakers.
Wrestling Society X (2006-2007)
Hart was part of the short-lived Wrestling Society X (WSX) promotion that aired on MTV in 2006 and 2007. He teamed with Matt Sydal and competed in the WSX Rumble match, but he was eliminated by Vampiro. He also faced 6-Pac in a singles match, but he lost by disqualification.
Return to JAPW (2007-2008)
Hart returned to JAPW in 2007 and reformed The New Hart Foundation with Harry Smith and Jack Evans. He also won the JAPW Heavyweight Championship by defeating Low Ki in December 2007. He lost the title to Kenny Omega in February 2008 and left JAPW shortly after.
Return to ROH (2009)
Hart made a surprise return to ROH in 2009 and aligned himself with Austin Aries, Kenny King, and Rhett Titus. He also challenged Jerry Lynn for the ROH World Championship, but he failed to win the title. He left ROH again in June 2009 after a backstage confrontation with Jim Cornette, who was the executive producer of ROH at the time.
AAA (Various years)
Hart made his debut for the Mexican promotion AAA on their Guerra de Titanes show on November 30, 2007. He joined La Legión Extranjera, a faction of foreign wrestlers led by Konnan. He won the AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship twice with Faby Apache and once with Sexy Star. He also competed in the Rey de Reyes tournament in 2010 and 2012, but he did not win either time. He left AAA in 2012 after a falling out with Konnan.
Return to the Independent Circuit (2014-present)
Hart resumed wrestling on the independent circuit in 2014 and worked for promotions such as All American Wrestling (AAW), Beyond Wrestling, House of Hardcore (HOH), Lucha Underground, Pro Wrestling Syndicate (PWS), and others. He won several championships, including the AAW Heritage Championship, the HOH Television Championship, the PWS Suicidal Six Way Championship, and the Lucha Underground Trios Championship with Jack Evans and PJ Black. He also formed a stable called The New Era Hart Foundation with Brian Pillman Jr., Davey Boy Smith Jr., and Harry Smith.
Return to Major League Wrestling (2017-2019)
Hart returned to MLW in 2017 and became the leader of The Hart Foundation, a faction that included Brian Pillman Jr., Davey Boy Smith Jr., Harry Smith, and Low Ki. He won the MLW World Middleweight Championship by defeating Joey Ryan in October 2018. He also won the MLW World Tag Team Championship twice with Davey Boy Smith Jr. He defended his titles against various opponents until he was released by MLW in December 2019 amid renewed allegations that he was involved in the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend Samantha Fiddler in 2016.
Second return to AAA (2018)
Hart made his second return to AAA in 2018 and joined MAD, a faction of rebel wrestlers led by Juventud Guerrera. He participated in the Lucha Capital tournament, but he was eliminated by Psycho Clown in the semifinals. He left AAA again in 2019 after a backstage altercation with Vampiro, who was the director of talent at AAA at the time.
Other Media
Hart has appeared in several documentaries about professional wrestling, such as Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows (1998), Forever Hardcore: The Documentary (2005), Bloodstained Memoirs (2009), Hart & Soul: The Hart Family Anthology (2010), Surviving The Dungeon: The Legacy Of Stu Hart (2015), and Dangerous Breed: Crime. Cons. Cats. (2022).
Teddy Hart’s Personal Life and Legal Troubles
Hart was born in Calgary on February 2, 1980, the son of B.J. Annis and Georgia Hart. Georgia was the daughter of Stu and Helen Hart, founders of the Hart wrestling family. Hart had three siblings: Matthew, Annie, and Angela. He was the nephew of famous wrestlers like Bret and Owen Hart.
Hart married twice. His first wife was Nattie Neidhart, his cousin and a wrestler. They wed in 2001 and divorced in 2007. His second wife was model and singer Fayte Ihaia. They married in 2014 and divorced in 2016.
Hart had legal issues. In 2003, he was charged with assault but acquitted in 2004. In 2007, he pleaded guilty to assaulting officers. In 2009, he pleaded guilty to DUI and steroid possession. In 2014, he pleaded guilty to assaulting Ihaia.
Hart dated Samantha Fiddler, a wrestler, in 2015. She went missing in November 2016 after saying she was going to Mexico with Hart. Fiddler’s family accused Hart of abuse and forcing her into sex work. He denied involvement in her disappearance, but her family alleged he obstructed the investigation. Fiddler’s case remains unsolved.
Teddy Hart’s Recent Arrests and Charges
Hart’s legal troubles have continued in recent years as he has been arrested multiple times in Florida, USA on various charges.
Drug Possession Charges in Florida (2023)
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested Hart on January 15, 2023, for possession of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, ecstasy, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. Driving with a suspended license and resisting arrest without violence were also prosecuted.
A deputy stopped Hart for speeding on Interstate 75 near Tampa Bay at 3:15 a.m., according to the arrest record. The deputy saw Hart’s bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and alcoholic breath.
The deputy reportedly saw Hart with many narcotics bags on his lap and in his vehicle. The deputy requested Hart to exit the vehicle for a field sobriety test, but Hart drove away. The deputy arrested Hart after a short struggle.
The deputy located additional narcotics in Hart’s car’s compartments and containers. The deputy discovered a digital scale, glass pipe, syringe, and razor blade. To prove it, the deputy confiscated all the narcotics and gear.
Hart was jailed on a $50,000 bail in Hillsborough County. In court on January 16, 2023, he pled not guilty to all allegations. He was appointed a public lawyer and had a pretrial hearing on February 14, 2023.
Incarceration and Additional Charges
Hart was held in Hillsborough County Jail until his pretrial hearing on February 14, 2023. Hart was notified of further assault and battery allegations against a fellow prisoner before the hearing.
Hart and Michael Jones fought at 10:30 p.m. on February 13, 2023, according to the detention report. Hart hit Jones in the face and kicked him in the ribs while fighting over a phone in their cell block, according to the report. Jones was attacked and broke his nose, rib, and concussion. Jones was treated at the hospital and returned to prison. Hart was charged with assault and violence and sent in isolation.
The additional accusations delayed Hart’s pretrial hearing until March 14, 2023. Hart’s bail was raised to $100,000 and he was jailed until his court hearing. Hart’s public defender sought a mental health examination due to his drug usage and unpredictable conduct. The court allowed Hart’s request for a licensed psychological evaluation.
Hart risks a jail term if convicted on any of the charges. Hart has not commented on his arrests or charges. His family and friends are disappointed with him and have advised him to get treatment. Hart’s supporters have shown compassion, support, rage, and criticism.
Due to his notoriety and legal difficulties, most major companies have banned Hart, making his wrestling career questionable. Hart has not fought since MLW fired him in December 2019. Due to his arrests and charges, Hart lost several endorsements and partnerships.
Hart’s actions and blunders damaged his career and personal life. His actions have injured himself and others and squandered his wrestling skills. He is a cautionary story of narcotics, violence, and criminality.
