Velveteen Dream Says He ‘Probably Would Have Died’ from Drug Usage If WWE Didn’t Release Him

Patrick Clark—better known to WWE fans as Velveteen Dream—is finally speaking out in a raw and personal interview about his WWE departure, the pressure that came with fame, and the drug use that nearly killed him.

Once one of NXT’s fastest-rising stars, Clark’s sudden WWE release in May 2021 shocked the wrestling world. Rumors, accusations, and online backlash consumed his career. But according to Clark, his release wasn’t about his performance in the ring—it was about public perception.

While reflecting on WWE’s decision to part ways during a conversation with LiMPiN AiNT EASY w/ Timmy Baltimore, Clark made it clear he believes talent had nothing to do with it.

“I tell people all the time, I didn’t lose my job because I sucked. I did not lose my job because I was not good at it.”

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Clark said WWE was still preparing creative plans for him, including a cinematic-style brawl with Adam Cole to write him off TV ahead of the NXT 2.0 relaunch. But the pressure from the online campaign to remove him proved too much for the company.

“They tried their best. That’s why I don’t have any ill will toward WWE. They used me for a whole year. They tried to make it work. They couldn’t get past the Fire Velveteen Dream hashtag. So, they had to make a business decision. Don’t take it personal. It’s a business.”

But things were unraveling behind the scenes. Clark admitted that during his WWE run, he spiraled into heavy drug use. He said he was under constant pressure to succeed, and the expectation to stay active on social media—even in private messages—only worsened his state of mind.

“I got into drugs pretty heavily in my time down there. A lot of that time is a blur… I wasn’t enjoying it because I needed to work. I needed to be successful.”

He continued, sharing that even opening his inbox felt dangerous.

“Opening my DMs, that was an effect of pressure… everyone doesn’t have your best interest in mind.”

Clark’s most sobering moment came when he addressed how far the situation could’ve gone if WWE hadn’t cut ties when they did.

“I probably would have died with the amount of drugs that I was consuming.”

Velveteen Dream’s fall is still one of the most divisive stories in recent wrestling memory. From being seen as the future of NXT to being erased from WWE programming, Clark’s story is a cautionary tale of fame, fallout, and what happens when public perception outweighs private struggle.

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