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A debut turn as a guest referee in the main event of TNA’s Bound For Glory was as much as he's had in a ring since a bike accident in May left him with leg injuries.

Today, he speaks exclusively to FT about the impact the serious accident had, and the ramifications for his future career.

The former World Champion says that his initial injury, a break in his tibia, was surgically repaired, but there was more bad news to come.

He tells me: “I have a torn PCL [posterior cruciate ligament] in my right knee and it’s been torn ever since I broke my tibia.

“They put a rod in my tibia, so after all the swelling went down I knew something was wrong with my knee.

“I finally went to the doctor, and I had an MRI, and found out it was a torn PCL.

“I just started physical therapy last week, it’s been really tough. Hopefully that is going to work and I can avoid surgery. Fingers crossed.”

There is no timeframe for a return, Jeff says, but he is working as hard as he possibly can to get back to doing what he loves, and what fans the world over love to see.

There has been some speculation that Jeff might be tempted to head back to WWE, but it sounds as though he is facing the most serious injury of his life. And his recovery is what he is concentrating on first and foremost.

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He says: “My number one right now is getting better. I’m kind of afraid, because my knee is so unstable. It’s freaking me out a little, I’m not gonna lie.

“Right now I’m mostly concerned about getting better. This is the first serious injury I’ve had in my entire life. This is very new for me. I realise how much I love wrestling now, because I miss it so bad. The 38-year-old continues,

“Just being at the shows and watching the guys go out there and go hard and have great matches, it just makes me feel kinda, I want to say, weak.

“I know what it’s like, because I’ve had so many friends who have dealt with surgical issues and have been out for long periods of time.

“Now I’m in that boat, I just want to get better, and continue to help TNA improve.”

Jeff’s style is one of the cornerstones of his “Enigmatic Charisma” persona, and he concedes that the injury might mean that he has to amend his high-flying moves in the ring.

He tells me: “I think a lot of it is psychological. The thing is, my style, I’m the kinda guy who if I feel I can’t wrestle the style that I always have, then I’m not going to want to wrestle at all.

“Then there’a a part of me that thinks, ‘Jeff, you can still be great and modify your style’. I think that’s what my future is going to be like, maybe not as insane!”

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Another frustrating year has passed for TNA, with tribulations over US television contracts and another period of stagnation, despite some very good wrestling on occasion in the ring.

Jeff admits it has been hard for all concerned, and does not understand why more people are not invested in the product.

Jeff argues that TNA will continue to fight hard for success, concluding: “I just don’t understand it and I never will because I’ve watched so many TNA shows that are just great.

“Drew Galloway is awesome. I love watching him wrestle, and cut promos.

“EC3 is right there, he is the top dog.

“Yeah, it’s frustrating to wonder why, and understand why it has not taken off like it rightfully should have.”