WWE Superstar Raquel Rodriguez recently shared intimate details about her challenging and ongoing battle with a debilitating illness, identified likely as Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), during an appearance on “INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet.” Rodriguez opened up about the confusing diagnosis, the severe physical symptoms, and the significant mental health struggles she faced, particularly during her time away from the ring.
Rodriguez explained the difficulty in pinpointing her condition. “So I never really got a full diagnosis to be honest with you,” she admitted. “They said it was mast cell activation syndrome, but I got tested and that didn’t come out positive.” She described MCAS for listeners: “…it just means your body is having a constant allergic reaction to everything, like things you were never allergic to before. Your body is just so confused… now you just have a sensitive nervous system, and your body is just reacting to anything, like auto-immune.”
While she has a history of eczema, the symptoms escalated significantly. “I started seeing a little bit of eczema pop up on my face… Maybe it could be some of the makeup,” she initially thought. However, the condition worsened, often triggered unpredictably by factors like stress or lack of sleep. “It’s a puzzle. I’m still trying to figure it out… I think I have a little bit of mast cell, even though I wasn’t tested for it… my body just reacts at random times.”
The physical manifestations became severe, leading to a profound impact on her mental state. “A year ago I was swelling up. It was to the point where I was unrecognizable to myself,” Rodriguez shared. “I avoided mirrors. I avoided cameras. I avoided phones… I was just in such a dark place physically… taking such a big toll on me mentally.”
Despite the hardship, Rodriguez focused on maintaining a positive mindset. “I told myself I cannot stay here… this isn’t forever. I have to tell myself that it’s gonna get better,” she recalled. She credited her strong support system, including family and friends like Liv Morgan, for helping her through. “My six-year-old niece is praying for God to take the redness away… Liv constantly checking on me… Just really, really amazing people… but it was something I had to get through by myself, for sure.”
The illness also brought fears about her career. “I felt like it was getting taken away from me,” she confessed, recalling the difficulty of competing at Elimination Chamber while suffering symptoms. “I just started bawling again because I remember being in that moment… face swollen… having to take a steroid shot… I just felt weak. I just felt so helpless and so weak… deep down, it was really, really hard for me.” Rodriguez’s candid interview sheds light on the often-invisible battles athletes face beyond the ring.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Chris Van Vliet with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
