10 Mind-Blowing Real-Life Wrestling Reinventions
7. Sean Waltman
Sean Waltman survived two decades of drug and alcohol abuse, having flown dangerously close to the wind throughout his runs with WWE, WCW, TNA and on the independent circuit.
The former 1-2-3 Kid was a known offender back in WWE's soma-heavy mid-90s period, particularly alongside Kliq buddies Shawn Michaels and Scott Hall.
Despite keeping employment with major organisations between 1993 and 2002, Waltman was unravelling by the time of his summer release from WWE, and later admitted to injecting methamphetamine immediately before a match against AJ Styles during the early days of TNA.
Following a toxic relationship with the late Joanie 'Chyna' Laurer that infamously lead to the distribution of a sex tape from the couple, his problems would worsen during time spent in Mexico alongside new girlfriend Alicia 'Ryan Shamrock' Webb.
Drinking heavily thanks to an anti-marijuana sentiment from his employers in AAA, a row between the two escalated to such an extent that Waltman struck her, knocking her clean across the room in sight of her young son. Enslaved by his guilt, he attempted to commit suicide by overdosing on valium and rum and hanging himself with a garden hose.
Though that attempt failed, he'd later continue to battle his addictions with the help of repeated stints in rehab at WWE's expense, eventually getting clean and showing off an incredible new physique as he continues to work regular independent dates.