Buddy Matthews Provides Unfortunate Update on AEW Return After 10-Month Absence

Buddy Matthews just gave fans an unfortunate update—and it sounds like his return to the ring is still a ways off.

The AEW star took to his Instagram story to speak frankly about his recovery process following ankle surgery in August 2025. While Matthews has been grinding through rehab for months, he now admits things haven’t gone as smoothly as hoped.

“It’s been a long process. I’m still having nerve issues with a lot of numbness,” he wrote. “But I’ve accepted that it’s going to take time. I really thought I’d have returned to the ring by now, but I can only control what I can.”

This update comes after Matthews previously shared that he had finally hit a post-surgery milestone—being able to do hack squats again, despite ongoing mobility issues and swelling. At the time, he remained optimistic but cautious.

“Still very restricted with ankle mobility… numbness is still a factor but hopefully subsides in the near future,” he said in an earlier post.

Matthews was injured during his entrance at AEW Grand Slam: Australia in February 2025 before his match with Kazuchika Okada even began. After months of pushing through pain and delayed healing, he opted for surgery—and has been in recovery ever since.

Fans hoping for a Buddy Matthews return in early 2026 might need to stay patient. The nerve issues and numbness suggest there’s no firm timeline yet, leaving his in-ring future uncertain for now.

Do you think Buddy Matthews should hold off on returning until he’s 100%, or is a surprise comeback worth the risk? Drop your thoughts in the comments—we want to hear from you!