By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Former WWE wrestler Carlito Colon says he was miserable and depressed at the end of his WWE run before the company released him in May. He says being released was the best thing that's happened to him in three years.

"I had been asking for my release for a long time. I tried to finish up my contract, which I think was up in August. I had been trying to leave for about three years. For the last year, I was just miserable. I wasn't even myself. I was dying just to get away," Carlito said on the Right After Wrestling Sirius satellite radio show on Monday.

WWE's stated reason for releasing Carlito was a violation of the Wellness Policy. WWE also said Carlito refused to enter rehab. Carlito claims he didn't have a problem and was simply depressed working in WWE.

"I wouldn't say I got myself fired on purpose, but in that last year, I really didn't care. I wanted to get away," Carlito said.

"They wanted me to go to rehab. My opinion was I didn't need it. I'm not addicted to pills. I think what happened is I was depressed. That thing just creeps up on you. I have scripts (for pain medication); I have legit reasons for using them. I think I was abusing them as anti-depressants instead. I remember other people not in WWE would tell me to go to rehab because it looks good on paper. I said, 'One, I don't want to keep my job. Two, I'm not going to admit to a problem I don't have.'"

Also in the interview, Carlito vented considerably about the political mind games he felt WWE was constantly playing with him. Carlito used the satellite radio format to vent about feeling like he wasn't being used properly on TV.

"I was always grinding. I was always working. Mainly, I think - this is satellite radio, right? Mainly, my big problem was I thought they were f----- with me. I didn't like the mind games and all the bulls--- they were putting me through," Carlito said. "Maybe it was all in my head, but I just felt that's what they were doing with me. I could never get a straight answer. I get sometimes you have to take a backseat, but how long am I supposed to sit in the back?"

Carlito also addressed the reports that he gained a reputation for being lazy. He says he was frustrated when WWE tried to turn him babyface because he prefers playing heel and he didn't want to play political games, which created a perception that he didn't care about his job.

"They turned me babyface and I refused to be a babyface. It wasn't that I was being lazy, but it wasn't just me," Carlito said. "I'm a little disgruntled with the business. I actually have a lot of passion for the business, but I get to the point where I'm very frustrated with certain things. I'm a very vocal person. I don't keep my mouth shut. I don't kiss anybody's ass. I like to give input and if I don't agree with something, I'm not going to just stand by and keep my mouth shut."

Besides feeling depressed, Carlito says one of the main reasons why he was trying to leave WWE was because he felt he was wasting his prime earning years in WWE. Asked about whether he'll go to TNA, Carlito said he's open to whatever is available.

"I'm open to whatever. I'm listening to offers. The main problem I had with WWE is I didn't want to spend my prime years doing nothing. It was ridiculous what they were doing with me. I refuse to spend my good years doing stupidity. I don't want to be that old guy always looking for his chance to keep the young guys down. I want to have my run and give back to the business," Carlito said.

"I remember people would tell me to just play the game. I can't. I can't just play the game. I can't be fake. ... I love the business; I just don't like the politics. I want to be able to help out and give back in somehow. In WWE, I wasn't doing any of that."

Some other highlights of Carlito's interview:

-- On his brother, Primo: "I try not to influence him and let him have his own perspective. He's young and enjoying it. Right now, he's having a ball. I wish him the best. I don't try to put all my negativity on him. At the end, I was just bitter and miserable. It wasn't me. I was just going off on people and I was just so friggen' frustrated."

-- On what he would like to say to WWE fans: "My main thing is I just want to have fun again. I also felt I was gypping the people (in WWE) putting in three-minute matches that didn't mean anything. It just breaks your heart when you can give so much more."

-- On doing independent shows post-WWE: "This is all I know. I think I'll get my business back. Doing independent shows is fun for me. That's what the business is for me - just going out there entertaining people."

-- Carlito's final words in the interview: "I would just like to apologize for the past friggen' three years. And also I would like to apologize - because I disrespected a lot of people. I was just bitter and miserable. I was in a dark place."

"I'm still just bitter. I'm holding so much in. I'm glad I've had some time and I'm trying to take the high road. I put all the blame on me. I don't care."

Link: Listen to Carlito's entire must-listen-to interview on "Right After Wrestling," available for download on hardcoresportsradio.com.

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