ECW Original Justin Credible, also known as PJ Polaco, appeared on the “Eyes Up Here” podcast and spoke candidly about his personal struggles, his path to recovery, and recent updates on his life outside the ring.
Credible detailed his long battle with addiction, which he said began with opioids during his ECW and WWE days. He credited WWE’s rehab program in 2011 and the medication Suboxone with saving his life. “I haven’t taken an opioid since 2011,” he stated. However, he later relapsed with alcohol. “Something in me said, ‘Well, you know, it’s not that bad if I have a drink once in a while’… that led to me just being a full blown drunk, drinking day and night.”
This led to legal issues stemming from domestic incidents while intoxicated. “The first incident was with my father… I specifically said to him… ‘Oh, I’ll kill you.’ He called the cops, and that’s a threat,” Credible explained. This resulted in a protective order, which he repeatedly violated. “Every time there was a an argument or a drunken fueled debauchery, they’d come and I’m not supposed to be on the property… I spent 45 days in jail.” He noted he has been sober since December 14, the day he was incarcerated.
Credible also shared how his opioid use escalated after the Chris Benoit incident, when doctors “cut us off” from prescriptions. “One day somebody said to me, ‘Hey, you ever try heroin?’… they said, ‘Well, it’s a million times cheaper.’… So I’m like, ‘Okay.’ I was super sick, and that went down that road for a little bit… snorting it,” he recalled. “I’m lucky to be alive… I’m surprised that I’m here.”
Now 46 years old, Credible is balancing independent wrestling dates with new projects, including an AEW review podcast and another positive development he could not yet announce. He also revealed he is starting a new job outside of wrestling. “Got a new job at Chili’s starting in December.” he stated, to which host Francine replied, “no shame in that whatsoever.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Eyes Up Here with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription. You can listen to the “Eyes Up Here” podcast on iHeartRadio and other major podcast platforms.
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