The path to redemption is as tough as the day is long.
Based solely on watching WWE television, a casual fan could get the impression that the wrestlers (nevermind the setup crew and the WWE personnel) work one day, maybe two days per week. But that's doesn't include non-televised house shows, press engagements, promotional events, non-profit work, pre-taped video segments, and other miscellaneous micro-tasks. It doesn't include workouts or rehearsals for the matches. It doesn't include travel; even midcard and main event stars are typically responsible for their own travel, and drive themselves from town to town.
And while all this is happening, the wrestlers are taking a physical beating for their troubles. They have short careers, and if they don't save or invest their money, they could end up broke and up to their necks in medical bills. There's a reason professional wrestlers so frequently and sadly die young.
But there are some standout survivors among the fallen. Even the most severe addict or the most dire medical case can recover with the right support system, the proper treatment, and a little bit of luck. Here are seven WWE Superstars who did just that.
Jake "The Snake" Roberts
The inventor of the DDT and one of the most psychologically intimidating wrestlers in the business, Jake "The Snake" Roberts had a lot of demons in his past. According to Roberts, he was born out of rape; his father, former wrestler Grizzly Smith, raped his mother, who was 13 years old at the time. Smith abused Roberts and molested his sister (former WWE wrestler Rockin' Robin, who has gone on record about her experience). Roberts has also claimed that his stepmother physically and sexually abused him, and he traces his drinking and substance abuse problems back to these formative traumas.
His downward spiral was extensively documented. He was featured in the behind-the-scenes wrestling documentary Beyond the Mat (1999), which recounted his drug addiction, splintered family relationships, and desperation; the former title contender was reduced to wrestling in small-town venues instead of the massive arenas he once commanded. The same year, Roberts took part in a nostalgic Heroes of Wrestling pay-per-view, where Roberts visibly slurred his words and was too drunk to work a match.
After several unsuccessful attempts at rehab, Roberts moved in with WWE Hall of Famer Diamond Dallas Page, and undertook a 'DDP Yoga' regiment that helped him get healthy, this time for good. He made his triumphant return to Raw in 2014, and would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame later that year.
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
In late 2006, WWE legend "Rowdy" Roddy Piper was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, after doctors found cancer on one of his spinal discs.
Piper was receiving a checkup after Cyber Sunday, a PPV where fans voted online for the matchups they wanted to see. Had he not been voted as Ric Flair's tag partner (instead of Dusty Rhodes, who was favored), it is unlikely anyone would have found out about the cancer before it was too late. He underwent radiation therapy, which he completed in January 2007.
At the 2008 Royal Rumble, Piper made his return to the ring, looking a little worse for the wear, but energetic, defiant, and alive. He reignited his decades-old feud with Jimmy Snuka as the fans roared their approval. He would live for seven more years before dying in his sleep of a heart attack in 2015.
X-Pac
Sean Waltman first gained prominence as the 1-2-3 Kid, who pinned Razor Ramon in a massive upset on Monday Night Raw in 1993. But Waltman's most memorable run was as X-Pac, the crass loudmouth of D-Generation X.
After his WWE run, X-Pac never stayed in one place for too long; it seemed that every couple of years, he would move to another indie promotion. And part of the problem was that X-Pac, by his own admission, had a huge addiction to meth; bookers considered him too unreliable. X-Pac even admitted during a podcast with Steve Austin that he would shoot up before matches, such as before this particular match against AJ Styles.
Today, X-Pac is off meth, and aside from cannabis (which he's always been open about using), he is off drink and drugs. He recently appeared at the Raw 25th Anniversary show, where he reunited with the rest of DX and performed his signature spots.
Lex Luger
Back in 1993, Lex Luger came very, very close to being WWE champion. He had a patriotic "Lex Express" tour of America in the build-up to his fight against WWE champion Yokozuna at SummerSlam. It was right out of the typical "Hero American" versus "Evil Foreigner" playbook.
But for some reason, WWE didn't pull the trigger. And Luger's post-WWE years were a downward spiral of drugs and alcohol. The worst moment came in May 2003, when he got high with Miss Elizabeth (famous for being "Macho Man" Randy Savage's "lovely" valet), which led to Elizabeth's painkiller overdose and subsequent death. Luger was was charged with 13 counts of drug possession after more than 1,000 illegal pills were found in the home that Elizabeth and Luger shared.
In 2007, Luger suffered a nerve impingement in his neck, which made him a quadriplegic for months and caused him to lose 70 pounds. Today, Luger has regained some mobility, and although he's frail, he's off of drugs, which he credits to his conversion to Christianity. Luger also served as a consultant to WWE in crafting their Wellness Policy.
Bret "The Hitman" Hart
When Bret Hart told Vince McMahon he was leaving WWE in 1997, it was to wrestle in WCW, which was offering him more money than McMahon could afford. What should have been a great ride, however, quickly became a disaster. Hart was "screwed" out of the WWE title, for real, at Survivor Series. Then, when he went to WCW, he was kicked in the head by Goldberg at Starrcade (1999), which led to an early retirement due to post-concussion syndrome. He suffered the premature losses of his brother, Owen Hart, and his cousin, Davey Boy Smith.
He's also dealt with multiple, severe health issues. A bike accident in 2002 led to a stroke, which paralyzed him on half his body and required extensive rehabilitation. He was also diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016, though the surgery to remove it was successful.
In 2010, Bret made his return to WWE, an event that many thought impossible due to his bad blood with Vince McMahon. He was greeted by the WWE audience as a hero, and since then, has made multiple appearances with the company.
Jeff Hardy
Throughout his wrestling career, Jeff Hardy struggled with drug addiction, partly due to partying too much, and partly due to self-medicating his injuries. And when the police raided his house in 2009, they found 262 Vicodin pills, 180 Soma pills, 555 milliliters of anabolic steroids, and residual cocaine.
In 2011, Hardy hit rock bottom when he showed up to TNA's Victory Road PPV completely wasted. He was in no condition to fight Sting, and so Sting cinched up on Hardy for real and scored a pinfall to end the evening early.
Afterwards, Hardy got clean. He attended a 120-day outpatient rehab, and the birth of his daughter became an additional motivation to stay on the wagon. He made a triumphant return to WWE at WrestleMania 33, where he tag teamed with his brother Matt to win the Raw Tag Team Championships.
Unfortunately, on March 10, 2018, Hardy was arrested for driving under the influence in Concord, North Carolina after his car crashed on the Concord Parkway. At this time, it is unknown when Hardy will return to television.
Paige
This one is sort of bittersweet.
From 2016 to late 2017, Paige underwent a series of personal challenges that would crush the average person. She underwent neck surgery for career-threatening injuries. She was suspended twice for Wellness Policy violations. She was involved in a tumultuous relationship with Alberto del Rio that, by all accounts, was toxic. Paige's brother claimed that del Rio was physically abusive. And most humiliatingly, hackers leaked personal photos and videos, which caused Paige to consider suicide.
But against all odds, Paige returned to WWE in November 2017, backed by her very own stable: Absolution. Her first televised match was against Sasha Banks, which she won clean. It seemed that in spite of all the setbacks, Paige had finally left them behind, and WWE had given her another chance.
Unfortunately, her neck couldn't hold up to WWE's rigorous schedule, and sources report that she is done as an in-ring competitor. Paige is now confined to the role of manager. And although she can no longer perform the way she wants to, WWE can hopefully transition her into a backstage role that will make her feel happy and fulfilled.
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