Mike Kanellis Comes Clean About Past Painkiller Addiction

Alex PawlowskiAugust 15, 2017, 2:00 pm

SmackDown superstar Mike Kanellis (formerly Mike Bennett in ROH and TNA) posted to Instagram last night, admitting to an addiction to prescription drugs–an addiction that he was able to kick recently. He says that he kept it secret for three years, hiding it even from his wife, Maria Kanellis.

He ends the post by saying "If you are struggling, please don't give up hope. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, you are not alone. I have your back."

This picture was taken this year. It symbolizes my decision to get clean from an addiction to prescription drugs. A problem I kept hidden from my wife, my family, my friends, everyone. It has haunted me for almost 3 years, ever since I dislocated my knee cap. It really started to spiral out of control this past year and a half. I almost lost everything. Finally I decided I couldn't keep hurting my wife or myself this way and I was going to get my life back. This picture was my way of making my beautiful wife laugh, during one of the most difficult times in our life. Without her, I would be lost. She is the strongest, toughest woman I know. She has been my rock and my reason for fighting. She has been with me every step of the way and I'll say it again, I would truly be lost without her. It feels so incredibly wonderful to have my life back and to focus on what truly matters. Life has never been better, and everyday is a blessing. I wanted to write this as a symbol of hope, to anyone who is battling addiction. It can strike anybody, in any place, at any time. It does not discriminate. It can and will take everything from you. If you are struggling, please don't give up hope. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, you are not alone. I have your back. #thereisalwayshope

A post shared by Mike Kanellis (@therealmichaelbennett) on Aug 14, 2017 at 10:33pm PDT

This picture was taken this year. It symbolizes my decision to get clean from an addiction to prescription drugs. A problem I kept hidden from my wife, my family, my friends, everyone.

It has haunted me for almost 3 years, ever since I dislocated my knee cap. It really started to spiral out of control this past year and a half. I almost lost everything. Finally, I decided I couldn't keep hurting my wife or myself this way and I was going to get my life back.

This picture was my way of making my beautiful wife laugh, during one of the most difficult times in our life. Without her, I would be lost. She is the strongest, toughest woman I know. She has been my rock and my reason for fighting. She has been with me every step of the way and I'll say it again, I would truly be lost without her. It feels so incredibly wonderful to have my life back and to focus on what truly matters. Life has never been better, and every day is a blessing.

I wanted to write this as a symbol of hope, to anyone who is battling addiction. It can strike anybody, in any place, at any time. It does not discriminate. It can and will take everything from you. If you are struggling, please don't give up hope. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, you are not alone. I have your back. #thereisalwayshope

Mike's wife Maria also came to WWE after a year with Impact Wrestling. They debuted at Money In The Bank back in June, and Mike has been running a feud agianst Sami Zayn, including a PPV match at Battleground last month.