Backstage Update On Wardlow’s AEW Status As Absence Reaches One-Year Mark (AEW News)

When will Wardlow return to Dynamite?

AEW Dynamite Wardlow
AEW

Another AEW show - Revolution - has passed by without the return of a much talked-about figure.

Wardlow was in Los Angeles, the site of the pay-per-view, as reported by Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select - but not necessarily to work on creative plans ahead of any anticipated return. While Wardlow was backstage, he was already in the city working on "another project".

Wardlow last wrestled for All Elite Wrestling on March 13, 2023, in a losing effort to then-World champion Samoa Joe at the 'Big Business' televised special. He has not wrestled, nor appeared for the promotion in any capacity since. Sapp explained that every time he enquires about Wardlow's status, he is told that he is still recovering from an injury. While the nature of the injury was not disclosed in Fightful's report, AEW wrestler Matt Taven let slip back in September 2024 on the Stick To Wrestling podcast that Wardlow is dealing with an issue in his knee.

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Should Wardlow miss this week's episode of Dynamite, his absence will exceed that of a calendar year. He remains on the AEW injury list.

Opinion

AEW Collision Willie Mack Wardlow
AEW

Wardlow: fumbled or not fumbled?

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As a credible and nuanced badass, earning those comparisons to Batista, he got over in a major way in 2022. Every time he was asked to go for a not inconsiderable length of time in a straight singles match, however, he did not exactly rocket to the top of Match of the Year conversations. Is it a prerequisite to do long, intricate main events to headline in AEW?

Since it is promoted as the company 'Where The Best Wrestle', you could easily argue that it is.

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Since Wardlow was essentially a day one guy - and Jon Moxley needs a new challenge yesterday - that could be a feud with exploring.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!