Here’s How Alexa Bliss Became a Successful Bodybuilder to Combat Her Eating Disorder

Published 02/05/2021, 7:00 AM EST

In the past, many stars from other sports have made the switch to wrestling. Athletes from boxing and bodybuilding find it easier to make the switch, be it WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry or the ‘Goddess’ Alexa Bliss.

Judging from her small frame, not many people would think Bliss was a professional bodybuilder and even took part in the Arnold Classic. However, for Bliss, bodybuilding was more than a hobby; it saved her life.

Article continues below this ad

A 15-year-old Alexa was rushed to the hospital after she fell unconscious. When the results came, they showed that she was suffering from a severe eating disorder. She could have died if she did not recover.

Bliss underwent various treatments to cure this affliction but with limited success.

“I would look at food and just cry,” she said. “I was in and out of the hospital until I came to terms with who I was. Now I know there are more important things than the scale,” Bliss told Muscle and Fitness magazine.

How did Alexa Bliss get into bodybuilding?

During her recovery period, Bliss’ parents got her in touch with trainers Mike Davies and Natalie Calland. They gave Bliss a deadline of six weeks to prepare for a bodybuilding competition.

“That was kind of the kick in the butt. Their diets got me comfortable eating food again. It was a very, very long process because this was like a four or five-year battle,” Bliss told New York Post. “I was training nearly every day and taking posing classes. It was grueling, but I went on to become one of the youngest people to get a pro card [at age 20].”

After a year of competing in the IFBB (being sixth in the Pittsburgh Pro), Bliss heard there were some tryouts for WWE. Bliss had been a lifelong fan of wrestling and wanted to try it out.

“I’d heard there was a [WWE] tryout, so I made a video and sent it in,” she says. “I got a callback, went to L.A., and was signed shortly thereafter,” she revealed.

Article continues below this ad

After some initial setbacks, Bliss embraced her heel persona and became the ‘Goddess of WWE’. In a few years, she became the first woman to hold both RAW and SmackDown Women’s Championships and many other accolades.

Her current storyline with Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton is one of the most interesting storylines in WWE right now.

Article continues below this ad

Instead of hiding her insecurities, Alexa is very vocal about eating disorders and how they affect us. She hopes that her struggles and stories will help others to overcome their struggles.

WATCH: The Time Sting Made a Life Threatening Entrance by Dropping Down From a Helicopter

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Angana Roy is a WWE and AEW author for EssentiallySports, having published more than 800 professional wrestling articles. She is currently pursuing higher studies in English language and literature from the University of Calcutta and has over three years of experience in journalism. As a life-long fan of the sports entertainment brand of pro-wrestling, her work consists of live coverage of weekly shows, PPVs, speculating the future course of storylines and everything in between.

Here’s How Alexa Bliss Became a Successful Bodybuilder to Combat Her Eating Disorder

How did Alexa Bliss get into bodybuilding?

Trending

“Ricky Starks and”: Triple H’s WWE Backed to Sign Three Top AEW Talents From Tony Khan Following Dynasty

Brock Lesnar to Return Soon? Former WWE World Champion Uploads Cryptic Instagram Post

“Men Like It”: Sexual Connotation in Rhea Ripley’s Replacement Angle With Dominik Mysterio Highlighted After Major Raw Moment

Jey Uso Teases New Alliance With Roman Reigns & Bloodline After Unscripted Matching Gifts Emerge

Will Brock Lesnar Return at WWE Draft? Potential Spoiler Spotted Days Before Roster Selection