Published: 8 seconds ago by Sanchez Taylor | Last Updated: 8 seconds ago by Sanchez Taylor
Sanchez has over six years of pro-wrestling news writing experience, covering the biggest news stories in WWE, NXT, AEW, TNA Wrestling and more. He has personally interviewed a number of top stars, producing exclusive content with the likes of AEW’s Swerve Strickland and WWE’s Nick Aldis.
AEW
An update has emerged on AEW star Buddy Matthews’ status and potential wrestling return, after over a year away from the ring.
Buddy Matthews has been out of action since February 2025, having suffered an ankle injury during his match against Kazuchika Okada at that year’s AEW Grand Slam Australia event.
With Matthews’ recent appearances, and Rhea Ripley stating that he has been working towards an in-ring return in recent months, there has been a lot of speculation about his current status.
Per Dave Meltzer in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Buddy Matthews has been cleared to return to in-ring action.
Buddy Matthews had previously hinted that he had been cleared to compete, taking to Instagram earlier this week to write:
“The Devil signed the clearance. Hell stamped its approval. No more barriers. Only timing.”
Matthews’ actual return date hasn’t yet been announced.
The AEW star noted in an interview in April 2025 that he was dealing with a partial ligament tear and cartilage damage. At this point, he was walking, but hadn’t ran, jumped or done much cardio training.
After stating that June that his ankle wasn’t recovering as well as they thought it would be, Matthews revealed in August that he was having surgery to repair his ankle.
With Brody King briefly addressing his partnership with Buddy Matthews during his AEW World Tag Team Championship reign that same month, it will be interesting to see Matthews’ dynamics with members of the AEW roster once he returns to action.
With All In London just over a month away, Matthews has been cleared in what could be considered AEW’s most exciting period of the year.
WWE has now announced a special which will run head-to-head against All Out in September, in an arena just 20 miles away.
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