Big Bill: I Was Drinking Myself to Death In 2019. Wrestling Helped Save Me

Originally posted on SE Scoops | By Thomas Lowson | Last updated 11/19/23

AEW World Tag Team Champion Big Bill has credited professional wrestling for helping to save him from his addiction and an early grave.

In 2018, Bill, known as Big Cass at the time, was released from WWE after going off-script in an angle with fellow future AEW star Daniel Bryan. The following year, Bill would cite depression, anxiety, and alcohol addiction as other major factors behind his exit. Bill would continue to make headlines for all the wrong reasons in the following years, including for having an altercation with Joey Janela at an independent event.

Big Bill On His Addiction & Recovery

In recent years, Big Bill has been able to get sober, overcome his addictions, and turn his life around as an AEW wrestler. Speaking on the post-Full Gear media scrum, Bill shared just how difficult things became for him.

"In 2018, 2019, I was at the lowest point in my life. My addiction was in full force. I didn't leave my apartment, I was drinking all day from sun-up to sundown. And I never thought I'd be back in professional wrestling. I just thought I'd keep existing a miserable existence like I was, staring at my apartment window at the sun setting every day as I just drank myself to death."

Bill made it clear that wrestling played a major role in his journey out of this destructive pattern.

"I guess, the lightbulb went off and I think wrestling was a big part of how I got sober. My first love in life has always been professional wrestling. From the time I was going to Madison Square Garden, I was a very young kid. There came a moment when I actually believed if I got back on track, I could make it back into the world of professional wrestling and I could make it to the top of professional wrestling. And I really believe that in my heart.

"I know a lot of people say things like 'I believe I'm going to be the man' or 'I believe I'm going to be the World Champion' but you can tell when you look in their eyes, they don't actually believe it. I really believe it."

Bill is currently in his first reign as an AEW World Tag Team Champion. He and Ricky Starks squashed FTR during the October 7, 2023, edition of AEW Collision.

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This article first appeared on SE Scoops and was syndicated with permission.

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