Chuck Taylor Undergoes Neck Surgery After Lengthy AEW Absence

Chuck Taylor just gave fans a major update on his long road to recovery — and it involves surgery that literally took him out at the neck.

The AEW veteran took to Instagram with a series of photos showing off fresh neck scars, X-rays, and a hospital bed selfie — all confirming he recently underwent neck surgery after well over a year of being away from in-ring action. In one photo, he was seen wearing a neck brace, and in the caption, Chuck kept it darkly humorous: “Got my neck cut off.”

Taylor has been out of the ring since April 2024. His last match was a brutal Parking Lot Fight against longtime partner Trent Beretta on AEW Rampage, where he took the loss. Just days later on AEW Dynamite, Orange Cassidy delivered an ominous message to fans, saying Chuck Taylor would “never wrestle again.”

But Chuck’s issues didn’t begin there. In an earlier interview with Renee Paquette, he revealed he was already battling a significant ankle injury from late 2023.

“In October, I believe, I injured my ankle originally. My foot was down, it was in a match on Rampage, we were tagging with the Hardys. I took a dropkick in the ropes and as I was going out, I left my ankle out, and Angelo Parker fell on my ankle. It was honestly my fault.”

He was diagnosed with a bruised talus and ligament damage. After trying rehab, doctors eventually recommended surgery when things didn’t improve.

“I’ve been wrestling for 23 years and the longest I had off was the beginning of COVID. The longest I had gone without taking a bump was the five weeks when COVID started, before we came back… You never want it for an injury. It was interesting because I’m so used to, ‘Okay, time to go wrestle.’ To not do that is weird.”

Now, with this neck surgery, Chuck’s in the middle of the longest layoff of his entire wrestling career — and fans are waiting to see whether he’ll truly return or if Cassidy’s “never wrestle again” line might come true.

For now, Chuck Taylor is recovering and keeping fans in the loop the best way he knows how — with some self-deprecating humor and actual honesty.

What do you think this means for Chuck Taylor’s future in AEW? Is this truly the end of his in-ring career, or will he make a surprise return down the line? Drop your thoughts and well wishes in the comments.