Message #11199

[nightrain]

FORMER WWE star Carlito has hit out at his release from the company and claimed: "I am not addicted to pills."

The Puerto Rican grappler was axed in May after failing a drug test and subsequently refusing to attend rehab.

But the 31-year-old insists he had been keen to call time on his professional wrestling career long before his dismissal.

Carlito said: "I had been trying to leave for about three years. For the last year, I was just miserable. I wasn't even myself. I was dying just to get away.

"I wouldn't say I got myself fired on purpose, but in that last year, I really didn't care. I wanted to get away.

"They wanted me to go to rehab. My opinion was I didn't need it. I'm not addicted to pills.

"I was depressed. That thing just creeps up on you. I have scripts for pain medication — I have legit reasons for using them.

"I was abusing them as anti-depressants instead. I remember other people not in WWE would tell me to go to rehab because it looks good on paper.

"I said, 'One, I don't want to keep my job. Two, I'm not going to admit to a problem I don't have.'"

Carlito exploded onto the WWE scene in 2004, winning the United States championship on his debut.

And he looked set for a bright future with Vince McMahon's company, later winning the Intercontinental and Tag Team titles.

But rumours began circulating that Carlito was a lazy and disruptive influence backstage and he failed to reach the top level within the organisation.

And he claimed being forced to ditch his heel character was one of the main reasons for his unhappiness.

Carlito added: "They turned me babyface and I refused to be a babyface. It wasn't that I was being lazy, but it wasn't just me.

"I'm a little disgruntled with the business. I actually have a lot of passion for the business, but I get to the point where I'm very frustrated with certain things.

"I'm a very vocal person. I don't keep my mouth shut. I don't kiss anybody's ass. I like to give input and if I don't agree with something, I'm not going to just stand by and keep my mouth shut.

"I would just like to apologise for the past three years because I disrespected a lot of people. I was just bitter and miserable. I was in a dark place.

"I'm still just bitter. I'm holding so much in. I'm glad I've had some time off and I'm trying to take the high road."

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/wrestling/3045035/Carlito-hits-out-at-WWE-axe-saying-hes-not-addicted-to-pills.html#ixzz0t1BZ6mOq