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AEW News

Wardlow Opens Up About Past Battles With Drugs And Depression

By James Holder. Published 16th September 2022.
Wardlow

Wardlow might be one of the most dominant stars in AEW in 2022, but Mr Mayhem has now lifted the lid on the struggles he faced to get there.

When Wardlow stood over the broken body of MJF at Double or Nothing after delivering ten Powerbombs to his former boss, it was clear that the Ohio native was one of the most popular stars in AEW.

Shortly after Mr Mayhem claimed the TNT Championship and his star was firmly in the ascendancy. Although he hasn’t quite reached the main event at time of writing, the former enforcer for The Pinnacle still gets monster reactions from crowds up and down the United States.

However, while Wardlow appears to have the world at his feet, it hasn’t always been that way. Speaking during an appearance on the Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, the star opened up about struggles with drugs and depression shortly after he left high school.

The TNT Champion explained that he went down a “real bad path” before finally pulling himself back from the brink.

“I mean, how much wrestling I watched growing up and how much I obsessed with it, and how far off track I got after high school from a while seemingly ruining my life and my dreams. I mean I went down a real bad path for a while with drugs and alcohol and depression and so to finally make it and be in this company, not AEW company, but the company of the likes of Matt, Jeff and so forth, it is a beautiful thing, it is overwhelming.

It’s overwhelming on a daily basis, how much damage I did to my life and to be able to get it all back and fight for it back and be here and be sitting next to this man. It’s like, no matter how much wrong I did in life, it’s moments like these that make me realise everything was done right. Everything happened for a reason, and this is absolutely the path that I’m supposed to be on. And I’m absolutely exactly where I’m supposed to be.”

There have been suggestions from some that Wardlow’s progress has stalled in recent weeks, the star recently fired back at his critics with a passionate promo on Dynamite. Speaking in a further interview, he told fans to expect some changes as he entered a new phase of his life.

If you use any of the quotes from this article please give a h/t and link back to Inside The Ropes.

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