Rhodes Opens Up About His Battle With Substance Abuse and Finding Redemption
Summary
– Dustin Rhodes credits WWE’s Wellness Program for helping him overcome addiction
– He recalls his darkest moments, including attempts to take his own life
– His daughter became his main motivation to stay clean and sober
Dustin Rhodes has lived through nearly four decades in professional wrestling, but his biggest fight happened outside the ring. Speaking on the “Unbreakable” podcast, Rhodes shared how his addiction nearly cost him everything before he finally turned his life around.
“I’m on the other side, with 16 years clean and sober, and that’s amazing to me to say that,” Rhodes said. His struggle with painkillers, alcohol, and cocaine spiraled out of control, leading him down a destructive path. “I didn’t give a s**t about anything, anybody, nothing — I didn’t give a s**t about life; I tried to kill myself twice.”
The turning point came after a three-day binge when he admitted to his wife that he needed help. With the support of WWE’s Wellness Program, Rhodes entered rehab, where he endured an intense eight-day detox. “After two weeks, I started seeing things clearly for the first time,” he recalled.
Though the rehab program encouraged him to stay longer, Rhodes refused, instead relying on the tools he learned to maintain his sobriety. He acknowledged the impact of addiction on his relationship with his daughter, stating, “My daughter’s the number one thing that keeps me clean and sober now.”
Rhodes uses his story to inspire others, reminding them that recovery is possible, even after hitting rock bottom.
