Ex-WWE Star Reveals "Near Death" Battle With COVID-19
The former Mojo Rawley is looking to return to the ring after overcoming the deadly virus.
The wrestler formerly known as Mojo Rawley has hit Instagram to describe what sounds like a horrendous 19-month battle with COVID-19, claiming that the virus almost killed him.
In a video uploaded on Monday, Dean Muhtadi told his Instagram followers that he first contracted the virus while still under WWE contract. It was bad enough to send him to hospital, and for a while, he was rendered unable to speak due to the condition his lungs were in (h/t Wrestling Inc.):-
“I’ve been asked a ton about when I’m coming back to wrestling or if I’m officially retired, so let me go ahead and answer that now. About 19 months ago, I got COVID extremely badly. I had to go to the hospital, I almost died, and my lungs were just in really bad shape, so much so that in the beginning I couldn’t have any extra pressure on my lungs or else it would suffocate me. I couldn’t even speak for days on end because I couldn’t get enough air in to talk."
Continuing, Muhtadi said that his doctors didn't know what to tell him about his condition as it all happened so early in the pandemic. Nonetheless, while he isn't 100% even 19 months later, he's coming back:-
"Maybe the scariest part of the whole thing was the fact that the doctors had no idea what to say because it was so new, but fast forward 19 months later, and I’m not quite 100 percent, but I’m getting pretty close. My training has been kicked up and I’m feeling good enough to announce, officially, that I’m coming back to wrestling, baby! COVID thought it got me, but it must have forgot… I stay hyped!”
The former Hype Bro hasn't wrestled since the 15 June 2020 episode of SmackDown, on which he was defeated by Chad Gable. He then disappeared from television until he was eventually released by WWE as part of one of its rounds of "budget cuts" in April 2021. Now, finally, he is looking to get back in the ring:-
"To everyone that knew about this beforehand, thank you for your discretion and allowing me to announce on my terms. It has been an extremely up and down 19 months. There’s been days I’ve felt normal, there’s been days I couldn’t breathe. The only constant has always been that I STAY HYPED!!!! Not 100% yet but close enough to announce: I am coming back!”
All the best to Muhtadi as his recovery continues.