What is the significance of the face paint that Jeff Hardy wears in WWE?

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Jeff Hardy is known for a range of face paint masks that he sports in WWE but there is a story behind it

Jeff Hardy is one of the most experienced and biggest names in WWE. The 43-year-old has had three stints in WWE and in the current one, he has held the Intercontinental title.

While Hardy has seen a change in the world of wrestling and performed on several promotions, one thing has stuck with the high-flyer, his painted face.

Jeff Hardy applies face paint before a show
Jeff Hardy applies face paint before a show (WWE)

The Charismatic Enigma has always sported face paint in his career, and there is a method to the madness.

Every week we get to see some new colours on Hardy’s face but he explained why he paints his face ahead of a Heel in a Cell match against Randy Orton (Cageside seats):

“When I am all painted up, it’s like I… I kind of feel like it’s my alien skin. What does my soul look like when it gets out of its body and I’m on a star looking back at Earth, and all these crazy thoughts.

“Will I look like an alien? All these artistic thoughts come into mind. Like it shows artistic freedom and also freedom of your soul. It’s like expression at its best.”

Hardy also explained that he felt different socially when painted and it brings out his real character too.

“I think I am more sociable when I’m all painted up. I think I feel normal, quite normal, a lot more normal than when I’m all shy and not painted. That’s Jeff Hardy, the Charismatic Enigma at his best, when he comes out with the face paint. The face painted freak, man, that’s by far a complement in my book.”

Trying to emulate a great

While this was one explanation for Hardy and why he would paint his face, another outlet quoted the star taking this up for another reason.

Jeff Hardy is the new Intercontinental Champion
Jeff Hardy after defeating AJ Styles (WWE)

Hardy claimed that he took some inspiration from Sting and the Ultimate Warrior too:

“I was a combination of Sting and the Ultimate Warrior.

Sting at the time was in NWA, or when it became WCW, and the Warrior was in WWE. The Warrior was crazy but Sting’s would be different every night when he was the blonde haired Sting, and that’s what I loved about him I was like ‘How does he come up with these ideas?’” (h/t 411Mania).

Hardy also spoke about getting to touch Sting’s shoulder during a show. He felt great seeing one of the greatest stars ever and wanted other fans to get a similar feeling when he walked down the rank.

Hardy is also known for sporting a ton of tattoos all over his body. An article from WWE highlighted that Hardy had spent around 50-60 hours sitting in a tattoo chair and getting inked.

The Charismatic Enigma also spoke about how the tattoos around his arm help him connect to the earth’s roots and more.

Jeff Hardy was arrested on last week's SmackDown
Jeff Hardy was arrested on last week’s SmackDown (WWE)

The former WWE tag team champion also mentioned that he tried to tattoo his left arm and even had purchased a tattoo kit.

Hardy remains as one of the most colour WWE stars ever too, not because of his paint and tattoos. The 43-year-old has wowed fans throughout the years with some amazing moves, and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down at all.

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