Ricardo Rodriguez on His Battle With Alcoholism, How Wrestling Saved His Life

– FOX43.com recently spoke to former WWE talent Ricardo Rodriguez (aka Jesus Rodriguez) on opening a wrestling academy in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, along with his own battle with addiction and alcoholism.

Rodriguez said on the downside to pro wrestling dealing with addiction, “An unfortunate downside to all the traveling and life we led was the addiction side of the ‘rock and roll lifestyle,’ of being on television, and what happens when the lights go out.” He also recalled how he once woke up on a detox center, “One day I woke up in San Antonio, Texas and I woke up in a hospital in a detox center. I don’t know how I got there. I ended up reaching out on social media, on Twitter, that I needed to get help.”

Rodriguez later sought assistance at the rehab center, Blueprints for Addiction Recovery, located in Lancaster County. His recovery also led him to opening the Three Legacies Wrestling Academy while continuing his recovery process. Rodriguez added, “Wrestling saved my life and it gave me a purpose and it gave me a sense.” He went on, “Whether as time went on, that was [to] perform in front of others or teach others how to live a certain dream they always wanted to do, and that’s professional wrestling.”

Ricardo Rodriguez was a part of WWE from 2010 to 2014. He now runs his wrestling academy in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.