In a recent episode of the “Power Alphas” podcast, Dax Harwood opened about a personal encounter with an anxiety attack a few years back, which became a turning point for him and his FTR team mate, Cash Wheeler. Influenced by this incident, both decided to re-evaluate their wrestling career approaches.
Harwood shared that he had been pushing himself to the limit to remain dedicated to his work, which gradually extracted a heavy toll on his mental health. This led the wrestling duo to a mutual decision to alter their outlook and reprioritize their career objectives.
Below are select excerpts from the captivating podcast:
Speaking about his anxiety attack in June 2021 connected to his career, Harwood stated “I was spiraling into anger at work and instead of fostering relationships with colleagues, I was alienating them. There was a point when I found a strange satisfaction in driving people away, which surely alarmed me.”
Referring to Cash Wheeler’s injury during the same period, Harwood reflected “A week after the incident, he gave me a call, tears streaming down his face. He confessed he was contemplating retirement and expressed a desire to inform Tony about his decision to give up wrestling for good. He felt unappreciated despite giving it his all. I realized we were taking this too personally… We ended up agreeing that it was time to let go of these feelings and focus more on enjoying ourselves.”
Speaking of his current mental health and the direction of AEW, he offered insight into the promotion’s growth, “We’ve had our share of hurdles along the way, but I believe we have now grown closer as a team than ever before. There’s a shared vision and camaraderie that drives us to make AEW the top-tier wrestling promotion.”
On the topic of his evolved family life, Harwood expressed, “My partner and I stand as equals. Regardless of who is the breadwinner, none of it would be feasible without her unwavering support and the work she does at home.”