Wardlow seems poised to make his return to AEW, as a promotional video teasing his comeback was shown during Saturday’s All Out pay-per-view event at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. However, the clip did not specify when he would be returning.
Wardlow has been absent from AEW programming since August 24, 2025, when he made a surprise appearance at Forbidden Door in London after more than a year away. Following Kazuchika Okada’s successful defense of the AEW Unified Championship against Swerve Strickland, Wardlow attacked Prince Nana and Strickland, then joined Don Callis and the Don Callis Family on stage.
On September 8, 2025, reports emerged that Wardlow suffered a torn pectoral muscle during that segment, likely caused by clothlining Prince Nana. Sources confirmed that the injury occurred during this encounter and that Wardlow had been scheduled for a major push, including a World Championship match against “Hangman” Adam Page later that year.
The hype video aired over two and a half years after Wardlow’s last AEW match, which was a loss to Samoa Joe for the AEW World Title at Dynamite Big Business on March 13, 2024.
According to Fightful in August 2025, Wardlow had been sidelined after that match with a shoulder injury aggravated by a car accident, but was medically cleared earlier in 2025. AEW chose to delay his return, allowing him to focus on filming two seasons of the American Gladiators reboot for Prime Video, so he wouldn’t need to be written off TV shortly after coming back. The show, hosted by The Miz, premiered on April 17, 2026.
In an April interview with BCP+, Wardlow shared a more personal perspective on his hiatus, revealing that the pectoral injury was the first in his career to force him out. He described a difficult period where he lost many things important to him simultaneously, including a friend, his dog, wrestling, and his ability to train.
He expressed his deep longing for wrestling and apologized to fans for disappearing from social media and the ring. Wardlow stated he was very close to being ready for his return and vowed never to be absent again. He expressed excitement about performing live again, noting he didn’t care if the audience cheered or booed him.
By May, Wardlow had been seen backstage at multiple AEW events. He is a three-time TNT Champion, first winning the title from Scorpio Sky in a street fight on July 6, 2022, and held it until June 2023.
AEW has yet to reveal the official date for Wardlow’s return.
Fan Take: Wardlow’s comeback is highly anticipated and could inject fresh energy into AEW’s roster, especially given his history of intense matches and championship runs. His return not only lifts a fan favorite back into the spotlight but also signals a potential shift in storylines that might elevate the competitive level and excitement within pro wrestling.
Source: wrestlingnews.co
