Fred Rosser, formerly known as Darren Young in WWE, has taken to social media to celebrate a major personal milestone: eight years of sobriety. In a candid and powerful post, the former WWE Tag Team Champion opened up about his struggles with alcohol during his time with the company and shared a message of hope for others.
In his tweet, Rosser reflected on his journey and how his life has changed since he stopped drinking. “This August marks 8 years alcohol-free,” he wrote. “I’m letting the sun kiss me today instead of Tito’s Vodka.” He then revealed the extent of his struggles during his WWE career.
“For years, I was a functioning alcoholic in @WWE—never sloppy, ALWAYS in control, but my memories are a blur,” Rosser stated. “Sobriety has given me clarity, freedom, and strength.”
Rosser’s WWE career spanned from 2009 to 2017. He was first introduced to the WWE Universe as a contestant on the original season of NXT in 2010 and later became a founding member of the infamous Nexus faction that debuted on the main roster that same year. He is perhaps best remembered for his successful tag team partnership with Titus O’Neil as one-half of The Prime Time Players.
The duo, formed in 2012, was a popular act in WWE’s tag team division for several years. Their run as a team culminated at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view in 2015, where they defeated The New Day to capture the WWE Tag Team Championship.
During his time with the company, Rosser also made history outside of the ring. In an interview on August 15, 2013, he publicly came out as gay, becoming the first active WWE wrestler to do so. His announcement was met with widespread support from the company and his fellow performers, and he was recognized by Pro Wrestling Illustrated as the “Inspirational Wrestler of the Year” for 2013.
Since his departure from WWE in 2017, Rosser has continued to have a successful career in professional wrestling. He signed with New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 2020, where he competes on their NJPW Strong brand in the United States and also serves as a trainer at the NJPW Academy. In 2021, won the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship, a title he held for 238 days. He has also been a prominent figure on the independent circuit, competing for various promotions, including the National Wrestling Alliance.
Rosser concluded his powerful message with words of encouragement for anyone who may be facing similar battles, emphasizing the rewards of perseverance. “If you’re fighting your own battle, know this: hard work shines brighter than any drink ever could baby YEET,” he wrote. Check out his tweet below.
This August marks 8 years alcohol-free. I’m letting the sun kiss me today instead of Tito’s Vodka. 😝
For years, I was a functioning alcoholic in @WWE—never sloppy, ALWAYS in control, but my memories are a blur. Sobriety has given me clarity, freedom, and strength.
If you’re… pic.twitter.com/3ZAaW1sUV1— nodaysoff FRED ROSSER III (@realfredrosser) August 22, 2025
