In this debut episode of The Playbook with Coach Rod, we sit down with Rycklon Stephens, better known as Ezekiel Jackson, the final ECW Champion and former WWE Intercontinental Champion. But behind the titles is a powerful human story about faith, identity, sacrifice, and success.
Born in Guyana and raised without basic amenities like television, Rycklon’s first glimpse of professional wrestling came through a neighbor’s window. That small moment sparked a lifelong dream — and a journey that would take him from humble beginnings to the global stage of WWE.
Rycklon shares the highs and hidden costs of his career: navigating the physical toll of wrestling, managing impostor syndrome at the height of fame, and the critical decision to leave the spotlight to save his marriage and protect his mental health.
This conversation isn’t just about wrestling — it’s about what it means to chase greatness without losing yourself in the process. If you’re balancing ambition with responsibility, or wondering how to make a comeback on your own terms, this episode will hit home.
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