5 AEW stars who overcame a difficult childhood to make it big

#3 AEW star Cash Wheeler came from a family of addicts

AEW star Cash Wheeler did not have anyone to guide him in the right direction while growing up. Recently, the FTR member revealed that he came from a family of addicts, and if it wasn't for pro wrestling, he could have ended up on a similar path:

"I feel like we owe wrestling so much. We had nothing growing up. I can tell you now that if it wasn’t for wrestling – I come from a family of addicts and I would have went that path. It was the easiest path and the one that I knew other than wrestling. If I didn’t have something to hold onto and grasp at to lead me in a different direction I would be… not good. I know that for a fact, because one of my best friends is not here with us anymore because of something like that. I was going in that same direction," Cash Wheeler said.

Cash Wheeler and his family often lived at their friend's house, which explains the gravity of their situation back then. However, the AEW star tried his luck in the wrestling business and changed his fortune.

He took inspiration from legendary stars like Bret Hart and believes he owes a lot to this business.

---

#2 AEW's Lio Rush had family issues growing up

AEW star Lio Rush had ups and downs throughout his life. The Man of the Hour wasn't fortunate enough to have a good upbringing. In an interview with Renee Paquette, Rush revealed that he spent his childhood wandering, searching for a home, and at times was raised in group homes:

"When I was 14, I went through some pretty heavy things in my teenage years with, you know, going back and forth, in and out of the house. Being homeless. When not homeless, but group homes," Rush said.

Aside from being poor, his parents weren't getting along on the same page and had issues escalated to the court. The AEW star chose his mom over his father, which led to a distance between them:

"Like every family, they have their ups and downs, but you know my situation took a turn for the worst and, you know, the court system was getting involved, and I would go to court to try to be on my mom's side and, you know, me being a kid, I don't know what's going on. I just see my mom crying. I don't see my dad crying so, so I don't really know what's happening. I'm just picking my mom's side, but it just comes down to, you know, I was the only son. So I kind of gravitated more towards my mom, and that created issues with my dad," Lio Rush recalled.

Without proper support, be it financial or emotional, Lio Rush pursued pro wrestling. Even after rising through the ranks, the former WWE Superstar had a roller-coaster ride. His terrible past may have affected his happiness, which made him depressed at times.

Regardless of his suffering, Lio Rush is now keen to make a better future for himself and his family as AEW recently came knocking on his door.