Wardlow was last seen in March 2024 when he unsuccessfully challenged Samoa Joe for the AEW World Championship during “AEW Dynamite: Big Business.” The next month, he made an appearance interfering during Roderick Strong’s international championship defense in the stable known as The Kingdom. Recent reports have now shed light on his current situation.
According to Fightful Select, Wardlow initially suffered what was thought to be a lip injury in spring 2024. However, during this time, he was involved in a car accident that reportedly worsened this existing injury. Moving into early 2025, Wardlow has reportedly taken on a “very appropriate and special” role on television outside of AEW. Despite this, both Wardlow and AEW CEO Tony Khan confirm there has been no official decision or announcement regarding his ongoing absence related to these external TV commitments. Furthermore, Wardlow’s AEW contract still has a significant duration remaining.
Back in March, it was reported that Wardlow was in Los Angeles working on a new project, though it remains unclear if this is connected to the television role he took earlier in the year. Additionally, he was recently seen behind the scenes at the 2025 Revolution pay-per-view held at Crypto.com Arena in LA. Wardlow joined AEW in 2019 and held the TNT Championship multiple times, with his final reign ending in June 2023 after 59 days before losing the title to Luchasaurus.
Fan Take: This update on Wardlow is crucial for AEW fans as it clarifies his absence and hints at bigger opportunities outside the ring, which could elevate his status and bring fresh storylines to AEW upon his return. Watching Wardlow balance his expanding career might signal a new era where AEW talent diversifies their presence in mainstream media, potentially attracting a broader audience to the sport.
