Braun Strowman unveils body transformation ahead of WrestleMania - WWE star goes from 29 stone to lo

WWE star Braun Strowman has revealed his stunning body transformation helped him battle through a period of depression.

The 39-year-old, real name Adam Scherr, is making the most of his second run with the company with a high-profile match at WrestleMania 39.

Strowman, who only returned to WWE in September, originally made his name as Vince McMahon's de facto successor to the Big Show.

Standing at an imposing 6ft8 and billed at almost 28 stone upon his 2015 debut, the Monster Among Men originally tore through the roster.

Yet Strowman, who famously battled WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury during the Gypsy King's WWE debut, was among the wrestlers released as part of coronavirus cuts in June 2021.

During an interview with talkSPORT, which you can watch in its entirety at the bottom, the former bodybuilder revealed he struggled with his own mental health during this period.

Strowman then decided to overhaul his lifestyle to slim down into his now toned, muscular physique.

He told talkSPORT’s talkWRESTLING podcast: "It used to be like the 'Mania shape, now this is my lifestyle, this is how I am.

"It’s one of the things where I went through this really bad phase of mental illness that I had where I was depressed and suicidal.

"One of the things that I could control in my life at times where I was out of control was my diet, and that’s what pushed me so hard to change my physical appearance.

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"It was something that I didn’t realise at the time when I started working on my physical appearance was how much it helped with my mental appearance.

"Now, dude let’s be real, I jump out of the shower and I look at myself and I stand in front of the mirror butt naked, sometimes I baby elephant myself, and you know, dammit, I did this.

"I get crap from the guys at work because I walk around with no shirt on and they’re like 'put a shirt on', I said 'nope'.

"I worked too damn hard to look like this, it’d be a shame to put a shirt on it and people ain’t paying money to see me in clothes!"

Strowman will have a chance to showcase his new body this weekend as he competes alongside Ricochet at the Men's WrestleMania Showcase fatal four-way tag team match.

As part of the sacrifice it took to sport his new physique the American had to completely change his diet.

And although Strowman is relishing returning to the Show of Shows, he's equally looking forward to his post-fight feast.

He told talkSPORT: "I’m really looking forward to honestly getting the weekend over so I can eat.

"I’ve been dieting for ten weeks, I want some carbs, I want some fats, I want some tacos, I want some pizza, I want some ice cream.

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"All in all it’s a great one to be home, to be back in WWE, to be back where I belong now walking into Wrestlemania, the showcase of the immortals doing something different, working with Ricochet, a guy that I’ve respected for many many years.

"Formed a great friendship behind the scenes and now having an opportunity to go out and show the world what we’re capable of."


Showdown Saturday on talkSPORT

On Saturday 1 April, it's all kicking off on talkSPORT.

12:30pm: Starting the day, Man City host Liverpool in a key Premier League game.

3pm: Crystal Palace vs Leicester sees the return of Roy Hodgson to the Selhurst Park dugout.

7pm: Build-up begins for the heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin as AJ starts his route back to the top.

What. A. Day.

You can tune in to talkSPORT via our free online streaming service at talkSPORT.com, DAB digital radio, download the talkSPORT app, or ask your smart speaker to play talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2. talkSPORT is also widely available across the UK on 1089 or 1053 AM.

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