Britt Baker’s long AEW absence just got another layer added to it. After Fightful previously revealed that people close to Baker claimed she took herself off the road in 2024, Sean Ross Sapp is now making it clear that does not mean she spent the next two years refusing to work.
The issue came up again during Fightful Select’s September 8 Q&A when a viewer questioned why Baker never publicly explained the situation while Tony Khan took criticism for not booking her. Sapp stood by the original story and said the information came directly from people close to Baker.
“Britt Baker took herself off the road. According to people close to Britt Baker, there was no reason to say that unless that was what was happening. There was no inspiration for these people to lie.”
Sapp then drew a major distinction between Baker initially taking herself off the road and the idea that she continued refusing to work throughout her entire absence.
“I’m not saying that she kept herself off the road. I’m saying she took herself off the road. There’s a big difference there.”
That distinction matters because Fightful’s previous update stated that Baker’s name had come up several times for a possible AEW return and that she had been open to coming back. According to Sapp, Baker was not sitting at home turning down opportunities for two years.
“I’m not saying that she sat at home for two years and refused to work. She was more than willing to return to work, which is what our story said.”
Sapp also pushed back on criticism of the original report and suggested anyone questioning it should speak directly with Baker or people in her circle. He then hinted that whatever actually happened behind the scenes between Baker and AEW may never completely come out.
“If you’re doubting the validity of the story, you can doubt the validity of the story.”
“But I don’t know that that story will ever be told in full. Yeah, I’ll just say that.”
Baker had been absent from AEW television since November 2024 before making her surprise return at All In 2026, where she appeared under a hood and cost Maya World the TBS Championship against Persephone. It was previously revealed that Baker’s name had been discussed for a return multiple times during her absence. Things picked up once the Rebel Heart edition of Dynamite was announced, and Baker had been open to coming back before then, but those earlier attempts never materialized.
So the picture is getting a little clearer. Baker may have made the initial decision to step away from the road, but Sapp is adamant that she was not refusing to return for the entire time she was gone. Exactly what happened after she stepped away, however, looks like it may remain one of AEW’s bigger backstage mysteries.
What do you think really happened during Britt Baker’s time away from AEW? Leave your thoughts and feedback in the comments.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
