Wardlow Feared to Suffer Torn Pectoral, Months-Long Rehab

Wardlow has been reported injured days after his surprise return to All Elite Wrestling, a setback that could keep the former TNT Champion out of the ring for months. People inside AEW who spoke with reporters said the 37 year old is feared to have suffered a torn pectoral muscle, an injury that commonly requires surgery and six to nine months of rehabilitation, though officials have not publicly confirmed the diagnosis.

Wardlow reappeared at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door on August 24, attacking Prince Nana after the AEW Unified Championship match between Kazuchika Okada and Swerve Strickland and revealing himself as the newest member of the Don Callis Family. The appearance marked his first television outing following an absence of roughly 17 months; he had not wrestled since the March 13, 2024 episode of Dynamite, when he challenged Samoa Joe for the AEW World Championship.

People familiar with AEW said Wardlow had been medically cleared to return several months ago but remained off television because he was filming two seasons of the rebooted American Gladiators this summer. Filming reportedly took place in France and wrapped before his Forbidden Door appearance. That project,...