Backstage Update On Wardlow’s AEW Status As Absence Reaches One-Year Mark (AEW News)
When will Wardlow return to Dynamite?
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.
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
Wardlow: fumbled or not fumbled?
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.
Since Wardlow was essentially a day one guy - and Jon Moxley needs a new challenge yesterday - that could be a feud with exploring.