Lio Rush Returning To NJPW Ahead Of Wrestling Retirement
Lio Rush returns to the ring for the first time since AEW Double Or Nothing this week.
Lio Rush will return to a wrestling ring for the first time in over two months on this Friday's (13 August) episode of NJPW STRONG.
As confirmed by New Japan, Rush will team with Karl Fredericks to face Team Filthy's Tom Lawlor and Danny Limelight. This comes following Lawlor's recent decision to deny Rush a shot at his NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship, and precedes a five-on-five in which the two wrestlers will be on opposing sides at Resurgence on 14 August.
Rush last competed live at AEW Double Or Nothing 2021 on 30 May, appearing as the Joker in the show's Casino Battle Royale. The 26-year-old suffered a shoulder injury while competing in the match, however, and confirmed his plans to retire from wrestling soon after. This came attached with the caveat that he'd fulfil his New Japan obligations before stepping away entirely.
Lio has featured on several NJPW and MCW shows since getting hurt at Double Or Nothing, but these were pretaped.
Last week saw the former NXT Cruiserweight Champion confirm that he had been cleared to compete again:-
Every single day for the past 3 months I’ve been in rehab working harder than I ever have before. Happy to announce that today….I’ve been cleared.
— Lio Rush (@TheLionelGreen) August 2, 2021
There is currently no word on how long Rush's commitment to NJPW lasts.