Velveteen Dream Explains Why He Needed to Be in Jail

Former WWE Superstar Velveteen Dream has now explained why he believes he needed to be in jail.

While speaking on Limping Ain’t Easy, Velveteen Dream talked about going to jail twice. The first time was for drug possession, which led to a court case and probation. As part of his sentence, he had to complete a 16-week 12-step program and do 50 hours of community service. He had reached week 14 of the program and decided to start his community service.

During that time, Velveteen Dream got into a fight. The police got involved, which led to a violation of his probation. Because of that, he was arrested again and held in jail without an immediate bond. He spent 18 days in jail, which he described as a terrible experience, but one that he ultimately needed.

“When I went to jail, I went to jail twice. And the first time I went to jail, I was caught with a drug possession. And I went to court for that. I was given probation. Had to do that 12-step class—yeah, it was 16 weeks. I was on week 14 of the 12-step class. I also had to do 50 hours of community service.

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So I said, with two weeks left, let me get on my community service. When I was coming home, I got arrested a second time because, within that week, I got into a fight. The police got involved, and because the police were involved, it was a violation of my probation—VOP. So it’s a VOP, violation of probation. That means you sit in jail with no immediate bond. So I sat in jail for 18 days. It was terrible. I needed it.”

Looking back, Velveteen Dream said that time became an important turning point in his life. With nothing around him except his thoughts and reality, he began reading the Bible. He did not read the whole thing but got through the first five books and made a promise to God.

Being in jail changed how he saw the world. It made him reflect and ask for another chance to do better. Not to be perfect, but simply to improve. Over time, Dream came to understand the kind of influence he had as a professional wrestler and how many people he had reached through his work.

“In hindsight, that was such an important part of my life. I had nothing but myself and reality. And I read the Bible. I didn’t read the whole Bible—I read like the first five books. I made a covenant with God. I was like, ‘If you ever let me touch grass again…’ You know, you see things differently when you’re in jail. Everything’s like bleh. There’s no place for life.

And I was just like, ‘If you ever let me get out of here, I’ll do better.’ Not going to say I’m going to be perfect. I tried that. I said, ‘I’ll just do better.’ Like Maya Angelou said—when you know better, you do better.

And now I see what I didn’t see back then. I understand the influence. Professional wrestler influence. The influence I had on such a wide audience.”

In August 2022, Velveteen Dream was arrested twice in Orlando, Florida. The first arrest happened on August 20, when he was charged with first-degree battery and trespassing after reportedly biting and punching a gym worker at Club Orlando. Just six days later, on August 26, he was arrested again, this time for having drug paraphernalia.

At the time, Dream was already on a 12-month probation from a previous arrest in November 2021 for cocaine possession. He ended up spending 25 days in Seminole County Jail before being released on September 13, 2022.

For now, Velveteen Dream has been keeping himself busy by competing in the independent circuit. Dream has ultimately turned his life around for the better despite all the hardships he went through and some fans really do respect him for that now.

What do you think about Velveteen Dream’s story of redemption? Sound off in the comments.

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