Josh Alexander’s journey to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has been filled with ups and downs. At 38 years old, the wrestler known as “Walking Weapons” had already amassed 20 years of experience and held titles in promotions like TNA, PWG, and Maple Leaf Pro. However, his career faced a major setback in 2015 when he had to retire due to a neck injury—marking the second time he broke his neck. Alexander shared this story with his longtime friend RJ City on a recent episode of “Hey!ew.”
Alexander explained, “I’m back in six weeks so I’ll wait and actually rehabilitate it.” He kept the injury under wraps initially because he was about to join AEW in 2013 and didn’t want the promotion to find out. After undergoing fusion surgery on his C5 and C6 vertebrae, he continued wrestling but needed another surgery when his C4 and C5 vertebrae were also fused, with doctors advising him to retire. Despite this, Alexander admitted, “I obviously didn’t listen to much doctors… but the doctor told me I had to stop wrestling.”
He did take the doctor’s advice and retired before his second surgery. Surprisingly, the same doctor later gave him encouraging news after the operation, telling him he no longer needed additional fusion and could return to wrestling after rehabilitation. Since then, Alexander has fully rehabbed his neck and resumed wrestling full-time, though he did suffer a torn triceps injury in 2023.
Fan Take: This update is significant for AEW fans as it highlights the incredible resilience and determination of Josh Alexander, whose comeback story inspires both fans and wrestlers alike. His return not only strengthens AEW’s roster but also underscores the physical risks involved in wrestling, reminding us of the dedication behind the sport.
