by In an intimate look behind the curtain, AEW’s Eddie Kingston sat down, or rather worked out, with fellow wrestler and trainer Cezar Bononi for Bononi’s “Sweat Equity Fit” YouTube channel. What started as a training session quickly transformed into a candid conversation about the grueling realities of recovery, the inseparable nature of physical and mental health, and the profound sense of duty that fuels the Mad King.
Confronting Complacency and the Cycle of Laziness
For years, fans have seen Eddie Kingston as a fighter, but he opened up about a different kind of battle: one with himself. He spoke frankly about his struggles with weight and motivation, which he attributes to getting comfortable.
“I’ve always struggled with my weight,” Kingston admitted. “I’m going to be so open here, it’s going to be nuts. I struggled with my weight because I was lazy.” He explained that during his time on the independent circuit, the dream of making it to WWE seemed distant. “WWE were not hiring anyone off the indies,” he recalled, which led him to a state of complacency. “I got content.”
This contentment led to a cycle of weight fluctuations, swinging between 290, 250, and 235 pounds. He was making a living, wrestling multiple nights a week, but he wasn’t taking care of his body the way he should have been. It was a period of professional survival but personal stagnation, a cycle he knew he needed to break.
The Turning Point: Finding a Manageable Path
The catalyst for change came when he connected with Cezar Bononi. Kingston was skeptical at first, associating diets with misery. “I’m thinking now, right, diet, nothing, just nothing you want. Everything you got to eat is shit,” he confessed.
But Bononi’s plan was a revelation. When he saw a breakfast of four eggs, a peanut butter sandwich, and strawberries, followed by meals of broccoli, chicken, and white rice, his perspective shifted. “I went, ‘Oh.’ And it just made me go, ‘Ah, I can do that.’”
That simple realization was the turning point. Kingston explained how other trainers often make the process seem impossible, psyching clients out before they even begin. With Bononi, the path was clear and, most importantly, achievable. It wasn’t about a punishing, unsustainable regimen; it was about a disciplined, manageable lifestyle that he could finally commit to.
Health is Health: The Inseparable Mind and Body
As the workout intensified, so did the conversation. Kingston, who has been publicly navigating his recovery from a leg injury, spoke powerfully about how intertwined his physical and mental states are. “I hate when people divide physical health and mental health,” Kingston stated. “I think both are the same… It’s just health.”
He described his emotional struggles as a form of energy that needs an outlet. “When I get in my own mind, and I start getting down, and then I start getting angry, I’m spending all this energy up here, messing with my own mind,” he said. “Or as I like to say, I’m chasing mice. I’m not gonna catch them in my mind.”
His solution is to channel that negative energy into positive physical action. “Any kind of movement is going to be beneficial,” he asserted. This philosophy underscores his entire recovery. It’s not about perfection, but persistence. The victory is in showing up and putting in the work, even on the tough days.
The Weight of a Legacy and the Pride of Pro Wrestling
For Eddie Kingston, the pressure to perform comes from a place of deep respect and professional pride. It’s a pressure he puts on himself to honor the fans and, just as importantly, the legends who paved the way.
“When I think about pro wrestling, the pressure I put on myself to do right, not just in the ring, but backstage, is because of Funk,” he revealed, before listing a pantheon of his inspirations including the Four Pillars of All Japan Pro Wrestling, Foley, and Austin.
This sense of duty is his ultimate motivation. He knows fans spend their hard earned money and feels a profound obligation to deliver every time he steps through the ropes. “They paid to be in the audience and those fucking seats are not cheap. So of course I’m gonna kill myself, you know what I mean, out there for them. That’s my pride in my work.”
Ultimately, Kingston’s recovery is a holistic battle of mind, body, and spirit, fueled by a love for the business and a desire to make his heroes proud. By channeling his energy and embracing the grind, the Mad King is not just getting stronger; he’s getting better. And as he puts it simply, he can’t wait to get back to doing what he loves: “I like beating people up. I like chopping people. I like suplexing people.”
And wrestling fans everywhere can’t wait to see it.
