Wardlow is still absent from AEW TV, and now we’ve learned why.
Wardlow last appeared on AEW TV in March 2024 in a World Title match against Samoa Joe. One year later, Fightful Select reported that he was backstage at AEW Revolution, but wasn’t planned for the show. We’ve been able to fill in some of the gaps for his absence and why it’s been so long.
We’re told that Wardlow suffered what is believed to be a labrum injury in the Spring of 2024. At some point during his hiatus, he was also involved in a car accident. It was made clear to us that the car accident didn’t cause the injury, but made it worse.
Wardlow landed what is said to be a “very appropriate and special” television role in the earlier part of 2025. Since then he’s been cleared to return to the ring. However, upon meeting with Tony Khan, all parties agreed that it wouldn’t serve anyone well to just bring him back briefly and take him off again for the TV role.
Wardlow has a significant amount of time left on his AEW contract and will not be leaving any time soon.