It’s been over a year since "The Mad King" Eddie Kingston last appeared on AEW programming. Despite battling a series of serious injuries — including a broken tibia, a torn ACL, and a torn meniscus — Kingston’s resilient spirit remains strong. While rehabbing alongside fellow wrestler Cesar Bononi, Kingston shared some promising updates about his return to the ring, although his exact comeback date is still uncertain.
Kingston explained, "I’m doing more workouts and physical therapy. I’m currently trying out in sessions and have very little left to go. I can’t reveal who’s been pushing me in training, but they were really hard on me. I aimed to last about eight minutes grappling; they said seven, but I felt I managed around six and a half minutes based on my experience. I told myself, ‘It’s okay!’"
He views the Forbidden Door event as an important tribute to wrestling legends who inspired him, like AJPW’s “Four Pillars of Heaven” — Mitsuhar Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, Toshiaki Kawada, and Akira Taue. However, Kingston seems uncertain about appearing at Forbidden Door again soon. He hopes for a different outcome but expressed his disappointment, saying, "It looks like I can’t do Forbidden Door again this time. For me, it was always the event I looked forward to the most. There are many favorites like Yuya Uemura, Shota Umino, and Taichi. I missed it last year and this year too. Hopefully, I’m wrong, and I actually get to appear at Forbidden Door."
If you quote from this article, please credit Cezar Bononi’s YouTube channel and Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Fan Take: Eddie Kingston’s recovery journey is a beacon of hope for AEW fans eagerly awaiting his return. His resilience and passion remind us that wrestling is as much about heart as it is about skill—and his comeback could inject fresh energy and storytelling into the sport.
