How Private Party’s Surprise AEW Return Came Together

Private Party’s return on AEW Dynamite wasn’t random — it was tightly planned and kept quiet on purpose.

After returning on the February 11, 2026 edition of AEW Dynamite following more than 13 months off television, Isiah Kassidy has now opened up about how the moment came together. Speaking on his vlog on February 15, Kassidy addressed the fan reaction and acknowledged how much support they received during their time away from television.

“I’m pretty sure y’all saw the big news. Y’all saw what happened. We came back on Dynamite on Wednesday. After over a year, your boys are back. I’ve been seeing y’all’s comments, tags, and messages—however y’all reach out to me. I just want to say your boy appreciates it. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I really appreciate y’all always checking in. ‘Yo, where’s Private Party? Yo, where are the vlogs?’”

Kassidy made it clear that fans consistently asking about Private Party played a role in how meaningful the return felt. He then explained why he went quiet online in the days leading up to Dynamite — something fans had noticed.

“I had to stay quiet so the surprise could feel even better. It could be a much better reveal when we came back to AEW. So yeah, I stayed quiet.”

Kassidy also revealed just how short the turnaround actually was. The call came less than a week before the show, as they were informed about their return on February 5.

“Today is February 5th. We just got the info that we’re coming back. I’m excited and looking forward to it. We’re the mystery opponents facing The Young Bucks and The Rascalz. It’s time.”

Since they knew about their return on short notice, the logistics, travel, and secrecy all had to move fast. Kassidy even shared footage from his travel day and explained how tight the window was before the live broadcast.

“Alright, I’m in Ontario, California. 10-hour travel day. It’s currently 11:00 p.m., so that’s 2:00 a.m. my time. But we’re here, and that means we’re only a couple hours away from the big return.”

That exhaustion didn’t dull the moment. Less than 24 hours after the return, Kassidy reflected on what it felt like stepping back into an AEW ring after more than a year away.

“It's not even 24 hours and I'm already home from the big day. Your boys are officially back. It was a crazy experience—trying to stay a surprise and then seeing all these familiar faces and everybody showing love, you know what I mean?”

Private Party competed in the #1 contenders match for the AEW Tag Team Titles against The Young Bucks and The Rascalz, with The Bucks picking up the win. But from Kassidy’s perspective, the night was about reestablishing themselves and reconnecting with the AEW audience.

Kassidy made one thing clear: the return wasn’t random, and it wasn’t dragged out. It was a tightly kept secret that moved quickly once the green light came — and now Private Party are officially back in the mix and that’s what matters in the end.

Are you glad AEW kept Private Party’s return under wraps, or would you have preferred a bigger promotional build? Let us know your thoughts below.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.