AEW may have hit a major snag with one of its returning stars. According to a new report from Fightful Select, Wardlow could be sidelined once again—this time with a feared torn pectoral muscle.
Wardlow made his surprise comeback at Forbidden Door, aligning himself with Don Callis after ambushing Prince Nana and Swerve Strickland in the aftermath of Kazuchika Okada’s successful title defense. The return was positioned as the start of a major push for the former TNT Champion, but an injury suffered either during or after the pay-per-view may have derailed those plans.
If confirmed, a torn pec would keep Wardlow out for six to nine months, a brutal timeline for someone who just fought his way back from shoulder issues tied to a past motor-vehicle accident. AEW had actually cleared him months ago, but his return was delayed so he could participate in filming the first two seasons of Amazon Prime’s upcoming American Gladiators reboot, hosted by WWE’s The Miz.
While Wardlow’s in-ring future is uncertain, the report notes AEW is open to keeping him on TV in a non-wrestling role to maintain his presence alongside Callis. Still, the news reportedly left many in the locker room “bummed,” given how long Wardlow had waited to get back on television and the string of setbacks he’s endured.
This is another tough break for the powerhouse who, not long ago, was one of AEW’s fastest-rising names. Now the question becomes: can Wardlow’s momentum survive another long layoff?
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