CJ Perry is opening up about how difficult life became after stepping away from WWE, and it wasn’t simply a matter of missing the spotlight. The former Lana says she went through years of mental health struggles while trying to adjust to life without the adrenaline rush of performing in front of massive crowds. Now, she’s explaining why walking away from that feeling became one of the biggest personal challenges of her life.
Speaking on Nick Club Wrestling Happy Hour, Perry was asked why she decided to write a fictional spy novel instead of following the traditional wrestler autobiography route. Her answer quickly turned into a much deeper discussion about how much her life has changed since leaving WWE.
Perry explained that she isn’t ready to write a memoir because she still has more of her personal story to experience. She also revealed that she and Rusev have worked through several issues in their marriage in recent years, while she has focused on becoming a different person emotionally.
“I’m so lucky and so blessed and so, so grateful to have done so many things in my life, but I just, you know, within my personal life, I still wanted I wanted to grow more, you know? And I had I’ve resolved so many things with my husband over the last couple years, and I’ve grown so much from leaving WWE till now. Like, I’m a different person.”
That’s when Perry admitted that her mental health had been particularly difficult to manage during certain periods of her life.
“I’m really, really a different person. I’ve really focused on my mental health. I There were a couple years that I was very manic with my mental health, and I was really struggling.”
Perry explained that one of the hardest things about leaving WWE was losing the feeling that came with performing live. She described the rush of appearing in front of enormous crowds as something that was almost impossible to recreate outside professional wrestling.
“Uh I feel like as a performer, you know, there’s no greater high that you get, no greater adrenaline rush and dopamine hit that you get than when you’re performing live.”
She went further, explaining that WWE provided an experience so intense that she still gets goosebumps just thinking about it.
“And I To be able to do it at such a high level in WWE, there’s There’s really no higher level, you know? You’re performing in front of 100,000 people, and they’re either booing you or cheering you, and that’s like Just thinking about I get goosebumps. And it’s just an instant adrenaline rush that really no drug will ever satisfy.”
However, Perry eventually realized that constantly chasing that feeling wasn’t necessarily healthy for her. She had to find a way to build a fulfilling life without depending on the excitement of performing inside a WWE ring.
“And so, I really had to go on a journey to find happiness without it. Because you know, it’s kind of it’s truly like chasing a drug. And so, if you’re going to keep on chasing and chasing it, like maybe your time has just that chapter is over.”
Perry explained that her goal became appreciating what she had accomplished instead of allowing the desire for more to consume her. She wanted to remember her WWE career with gratitude rather than frustration over what she no longer had.
“And what a beautiful thing that I was able to experience such wonderful things in a decade of my life. And I wanted to be able to remember that time fondly instead of like, ‘No, I want more. I want more. I want more.’”
She also discussed the importance of accepting that certain chapters eventually end, even when someone still has ambitions and dreams they haven’t accomplished.
“And I wanted to look back on that time fondly and gratefully and gracefully evolve into the next chapter.”
Perry’s personal changes have extended beyond her wrestling career. She discussed her journey toward having children with Rusev, her focus on mental health, and how sobriety has helped her feel more comfortable attending Hollywood parties and industry events without drinking.
“And then even in my journey of sobriety. And it’s so fun to be able to go to any parties in Hollywood and be sober and have a great time. Like that took me a second there, you know?”
She said she recently attended several events and realized how much more comfortable she had become with her new lifestyle.
“Man, I’m so grateful. I’m so present. I’m having such a good time being sober and showing up as my best self and being present.”
As Ringside News previously covered, Perry opened up about her sobriety in November 2025, when she revealed that she had stopped drinking and was focusing on her mental health. She has also discussed how overcoming codependency and working on herself helped rebuild her relationship with Rusev.
Looking back, Perry believes she’s made significant progress compared to where she was even a year ago. She acknowledged that she previously experienced frequent mood swings but now feels better equipped to manage her emotions.
“And also like no, I don’t have as many mood swings. I was such a moody person. And that’s normal. I’m an artist. But to be able to have a handle on my emotions and just I’m very thankful for.”
Perry might still be interested in returning to WWE someday, but she’s no longer treating professional wrestling as the only thing capable of making her happy. After years of chasing the adrenaline of performing, she’s finding satisfaction in a different kind of life. And judging by everything she shared, learning to appreciate what she already experienced has been just as important as figuring out what comes next.
What do you think about CJ Perry’s experience adjusting to life after WWE, and should more wrestlers speak openly about the emotional challenges that come with leaving the business? Let us know in the comments.
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