Real1 Discusses Former Tag Team Partner Big Bill’s Struggles With Addiction, Credits Big Bill as a Driving Force for Him Not To Give Up

Former WWE Superstar Real1, aka Enzo Amore, appeared on the No-Contest Wrestling podcast this week, speaking about his former tag team partner, Big Cass (aka Big Bill), and his past struggles with addiction and alcoholism. He praised Bill’s work in getting clean and becoming an advocate to help fight against addiction. Below are some highlights:

Real1 on Big Bill struggling with alcoholism

“And, you know, more notably, my tag team partner, who struggled with addiction, who is an advocate for it these days and and shows the world when he’s on, you know, AEW, Big Bill, that, you know, you can go through something, and I’ve seen the biggest men literally get taken out by substances. And I knew then and there that you know what he did coming back. I had to remind him when he came back on TV, it was, he had no microphone. He wasn’t advertised, and he got beat up and lost. And to me, that debut at AEW was so much bigger and better than the debut we made together in the WWE, cuz if you knew what he went through to get back on TV, I had to remind him, ‘Bro, do you remember how big of a deal it was when we got on TV? Like, it was all we ever wanted to do in our lives. And you just came back to life. You died.’ You just, this guy had a seizure. He was sitting in a hospital. He tried to cold turkey alcohol. And you just can’t do that.”

On how Big Bill is still a driving force in his life to not give up

“He was able to be, you know, a real driving force in my life as far as, like, don’t give up. You know, this thing that you love, pro wrestling, it’s not owned by one man. It’s not owned by any corporation. And God had a plan for the pendulum to swing the other way. I just felt like it needed time. I needed to grow. I needed to go through some things, and I needed to see it from a different lens. And like I was talking about, being in the desert for me that was the indies. I was able to meet people, see talent, humble myself. You know, I’ve wrestled in front of 15 people. I’ve wrestled in front of, you know, 1,500 people on the indies. And I gave it the same amount of energy. And you need to be able to do that. Especially if you want to get back, you know, to the top. And if there’s no room for me at the top, and that would be the WWE, well, damn. I’m going to make my own room, bro. I’m the realest guy in the room. So, that’s what happened.”

Big Bill is still signed with AEW and wrestles as part of the roster. As noted, Real1 is currently part of Fourth Rope Wrestling, and he’s their current Flyweight Champion. Real1 will be part of Fourth Rope’s Heels H9ve Eyes show, which is scheduled for tomorrow (Oct. 30) at Six Flags Great Adventure.

If using any of the above quotes, please credit No-Contest Wrestling, with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.