Wardlow torn pectoral delays All Out main event Page vs Fletcher

Wardlow suffered a suspected torn pectoral muscle shortly after his high-profile return at the late-August AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view, wrestling insiders said, a setback that has forced last-minute changes to the promotion's plans for the September 20 All Out pay-per-view in Toronto. The injury occurred during the return angle and was severe enough that medical sources and commentators estimate he could miss months of action.

Accounts differ on how the injury happened. Several reports say the muscle was torn while Wardlow delivered a lariat or clothesline as part of the return segment, but witnesses disagree on which opponent was involved. One version identifies Prince Nana as the recipient, while another names Stokely Hathaway. Those discrepancies have not been reconciled publicly by the promotion. Observers noted Wardlow made a brief appearance on the following Dynamite episode before vanishing from television.

Analysts and insiders assessing the injury said a torn pectoral muscle often requires surgery and a recovery window of six to eight months or longer. One commentator said even a partial tear frequently ends up needing surgical repair, which pushes timetables...