Former WWE Superstar Maven opens up about struggles after 2012 arrest.
In April 2012, Maven was arrested in Florida for doctor shopping to obtain extra prescription pills. On The Ariel Helwani Show, he admitted he misspoke in a video about Raja Jackson, calling an assault “borderline.” Maven later clarified it was assault, accepted responsibility, and said his apology was for himself, not others.
Reflecting on his own bad times, Maven admitted he couldn’t stand looking at himself in the mirror. “For the early part of the 2000s, I mean, I had everything going in my favor, in my way, and again, to no fault to anybody but me, I messed it all up. And I had taken opportunity and I had squandered it.”
“And there for a while, I was wondering, maybe I’m not, maybe I don’t have what I think I have to offer. And I mean, I went from being on live television to being out in a bar at 3:00 in the morning, you know, taking people’s IDs, you know, doing security. I mean, that’s a, that’s quite a step.”
He said the experience humbled him but also left him embarrassed, especially when people recognized him. “It humbled me.” After his 2012 arrest, Maven and his partner moved from Florida back to New York to start over.
Maven says starting over in his 30s was the toughest challenge
Reflecting on his life in New York to start over, Maven said, “When people say that they’re starting from scratch, I lost two houses and every possession I had fit in the back of my truck. Now, that’s starting from scratch. And when you’re in your 30s and you’re trying to start fresh, trying to start new, it’s tough to stand out with a business resume, you know, because most people want to hire entry-level, and entry-level means you’re in your early 20s and not in your late 30s.”
“So, it was tough. It was tough to stand out, and I needed money to come in, and you know, doing security work was at least easy money night in and night out. But yeah, occasionally I would get noticed, and it was tough. I’m not going to lie. It was embarrassing every time I got. People would want to take pictures. I would do it, but I certainly wasn’t having the candid conversation with them that you and I are having.”
He then shared that his first job in New York was at Sutton Place in Midtown, followed by Vivid Cabaret. His friends helped him financially when he moved. When if he was recognize in the city. He said, “Yes, I would joke with him. I’d be like, “Ah, that’s my brother.” He’s a jerk. But I no, I never tried to run away or hide from who I was. I just hoped people wouldn’t recognize.”
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