Rich Swann gets candid about why he’s no longer with TNA Wrestling.
Former TNA Wrestling star Rich Swann was a recent guest on K100. When asked about his release from TNA, Swann clarified that he wasn’t released and went in depth with the process of what happened behind the scenes.
“So this is the thing, I wasn’t released,” Rich Swann began. “The thing was I got suspended and everything like that, and afterwards, I didn’t hear anything from the management, but what I had found out was, you know, later, basically the management was being shuffled around and the guys that I had dealt with.
“When they told me the 30-day suspension and afterwards, we would talk about my contract because it was coming up at the end of that December and it was going to be a rollover decision on if they would want to keep me for one more year or, you know, if I wanted to leave or anything like that, and it was gonna be a bump in pay.
“But the one thing that I was told by the person that was released from IMPACT was that they were switching the way that they were doing their business and their contracts, and models, and they didn’t want to have anybody on a guaranteed contract. At the same token, I’m somebody that’s going to take responsibility for my actions and for myself. As a company, you don’t wanna have somebody that has on their — as a stain. Oh, he’s being arrested. The alcohol and everything…”
What led to Rich Swann’s suspension…?
Swann would go on to detail the arrest that led to his suspension with TNA. In hindsight, the arrest has led to Swann being sober for almost a year, which is a wonderful thing.
“Oh, so no, I did not drive… Literally what happened, I was coming back from a party and I went into my next — I tried to get into what I thought was my house, but it was my next-door neighbor’s house,” Rich Swanna said. “We’d done that multiple times.
“My neighbor pulled out the gun on me… He did, he did (recognize me). I’m trying to get into the house. Yeah, yeah (he thinks I’m breaking in) and I don’t hear anybody from the other side and then as soon as they opened up the door, he’s got it to my dome. He’s like, ‘Oh! Rich!? Oh man, you’re hammered.’
“So, what had happened beforehand, I get dropped off at the apartment complex that I lived in. It was gated. So, the Uber just dropped me off at the gate. I was looking for my keys, I’m doing the whole gimmick, and I finally find my key for that gate and when I open up that gate.
The greatest thing that could have ever happened
“But as I’m looking for my keys, there’s some lady in the neighborhood, and at the time, you know what I’m saying? I’m slobbering, I’m all hammered, I got my dreads all up my (inaudible) and everything like that. It’s at night and this lady, she thinks that I don’t live in the neighborhood, so she calls the cops. She calls the cops and freakin’ — and then it doesn’t look good on me and I’m trying to get into another house. But it’s right next to my apartment.
“The officer comes in and says, I know you’re right by your door. But we gotta arrest you for intoxication in public. That’s life, but I’m here to say that was the greatest thing that could have ever happened to me because I’m now, almost next month will be a year I’ll be sober. I’m in the best shape of my life.” [H/T: Fightful]
READ MORE: Rich Swann Was Elated After IMPACT World Title Win, Proved Doubters And Naysayers Wrong
What do you make of Rich Swann’s comments? Are you happy to hear he’s almost a year sober? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.
