10 Things We Learned From Dark Side Of The Ring: Big Boss Man
7. When His Addiction Issues Started
Big Boss Man returned to the WWF in 1998 as Vince McMahon's bodyguard in The Corporation. It was a fab spot for Ray, but his body was already ravaged by pain after years of punishing bumps and travel. On camera, he was a total badass, but it was a different story back home. Everything was taking its toll on Traylor.
Lacy recalls bringing her dad ice packs “around the clock” whenever he was home during the ‘Attitude Era’. Meanwhile, Angela says he was in immense amounts of pain, but figured out he could still work if he “had medicine”. That's when ex-WCW and WWE referee Nick Patrick popped up to deliver a chilling line about somas: “They don’t make you stop hurting, they just make you not care”.
Eek.
Jim Cornette chimed in as a talking head to say that Boss Man “wasn’t a party guy”, so it surprised him that his friend was hooked on pills. What he told Lacy during a heart to heart conversation with his daughter is really sad too: “Look, I’m sorry, but I’m in pain”. Ray's back was blown out, his knees were hurting and he was in terrible shape, but he still felt like he needed to work and provide for his family.
Boss Man didn't get to enjoy any time off the road during the 'Attitude' days between his 1998 comeback and 2003 departure. Everything hurt, and all he could do was try to recover as best he could in between flights to the next town.