AEW’s The Blade Reveals Struggle With Depression & Anxiety

AEW star The Blade has been noticeably absent from AEW programming for almost a month. His last appearance came at the October 6 Dynamite taping where he appeared on Dark: Elevation. Fans have been wondering where the tag team specialist has been.

The Blade explained his absence on Instagram yesterday. In a lengthy post, he explained that he has been struggling with depression and anxiety. He said the pandemic made the feelings worse. He also noted that AEW has been working with him every step of the way.

“Hello, my name is Jesse Guilmette, and I struggle with anxiety, depression and confidence issues. I first noticed an extreme spike in these feelings during the pandemic, which also made me realize I’ve suffered from these issues all my life. I just didn’t recognize what they were until then. So I reached out for help from some friends and family, tried a couple therapists and thought I had it under control from self-management. Until I had another spike recently. So I took more drastic measures this time and talked to the executives at @allelitewrestling . Getting the courage to speak up to them was more difficult than it sounds, and I’d like to express a huge thank you to @docwholifts_1 , @meghalegalgirl10 , @tonyrkhan and everyone at AEW. When I’m not feeling the best, I simply remember that EVERY response I’ve received from the people I’ve opened up to has been incredibly positive and supportive.

It’s feels good to tell you this and to take off my mask. It helps to talk about my struggles instead of holding them inside, and I’m feeling more confident and comfortable around people. Thank you for listening. I’m sorry if I’ve been distant lately. I love you and I can’t wait to see you soon”

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Blade posted the note along with a photo of himself and his wife Laura, known in AEW as The Bunny and elsewhere as Allie. Scorpio Sky, Marti Belle, Eddie Kingston, Amanda Huber, Matt Cardona and a who’s who of professional wrestlers wished The Blade well in the comments section. He now has found the courage to speak up about his struggles.

The Blade has worked in Ring of Honor, Combat Zone Wrestling, and Impact. Along with The Bunny, he’s a member of the tag team The Butcher and The Blade. The team has most recently been associated with Matt Hardy’s Hardy Family Office stable. He married Allie in 2013.

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