Buddy Matthews Blames AEW’s Tiny Ring for Injury and Loss at Grand Slam: Australia

The controversy over AEW’s ring size at Grand Slam: Australia just took a major turn, and Buddy Matthews isn’t letting it slide.

Despite QT Marshall and others insisting that AEW used an 18×18 ring, Matthews—who actually wrestled in the match—just set the record straight, and he’s blaming the ring for both an injury and his loss.

Matthews didn’t hold back when he tweeted on February 16, 2025, airing his frustrations about what he says was a 16×16 ring that caused serious problems.

“So thoughts after #AEWGrandSlamAustralia – If it wasn’t a 16×16 SH*T wrestling ring!” he wrote. “1: Wouldn’t have destroyed my ankle on my entrance due to holes in the padding. 2: Okada wouldn’t have been able to put his foot on the rope & I’d be champion. Sh*t happens…”

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This is a pretty big deal considering AEW and its defenders have downplayed the ring situation. QT Marshall previously stated that AEW’s 20-foot ring is a unique design, and most promotions don’t have rings that size readily available. He defended the borrowed ring, saying that TNA and older ROH used 18×18 rings regularly, and questioned why fans were making a big deal about it.

But Matthews’ first-hand experience suggests otherwise, and if his claim about the faulty padding is true, AEW might have a bigger issue on its hands than just bad optics. Not only did Matthews suffer an injury on his entrance, but he also suggested that the smaller ring directly impacted the match finish, allowing Kazuchika Okada to save himself from a pin by reaching the ropes.

AEW’s decision to borrow a ring rather than shipping their own had already drawn criticism, with fans pointing out how awkward the setup looked on TV. Now, Matthews’ statement raises even more questions about whether AEW compromised wrestler safety just to cut costs.