Julia Hart is officially back in AEW, but she could have returned much sooner. After suffering a torn labrum and dropping the TBS Championship to Willow Nightingale at AEW Dynasty 2024, Hart was nearly ready to go by September. However, she made the decision to wait until she was 1000% ready before stepping back into the ring.
Speaking with Zack Heydorn for The Takedown on SI, Hart explained why she chose to delay her return, even though she was medically cleared earlier.
“I think I just was doing the best that I could. I actually was pretty healthy at the end of September. I was almost 100%, but I wasn’t back to full strength. Mobility-wise, I was pretty good. But I think it was better that I took more time just to relax and to make sure I was 1000% rather than just hopping back in right away. That would have only been three months out. I’m lucky that I’m young and I fixed it now instead of down the line, having more problems. So yeah, I just worked really hard to get that strength back up and have mobility, and it paid off. I’m glad I took more time than I needed so I was 100%.”
Hart finally made her return at AEW Collision: Winter is Coming before stepping back into the ring for her first match at AEW Dynamite: Fight For The Fallen against Jamie Hayter. She admitted she felt great after her first match back and didn’t even think about her shoulder.
“I feel fine. I didn’t even think about my shoulder with the match with Jamie. I had a torn labrum in my right shoulder, and I didn’t even think about it in the match. I was just so focused on beating up Jamie. If anything, my back hurt, but that was nothing to do with my shoulder, so I felt really good.”
Hart also opened up about missing the adrenaline rush of competing and how emotional she felt stepping back into the ring.
“It felt so good. I think the one thing I craved the most was the adrenaline right before you go out. That was definitely the one thing I was dreaming about coming back. Right before the music hits, you feel like you’re gonna throw up, and then you get out there and it’s this whoosh of emotions, and you’re just so excited. The day I came back, I think you could tell I was trying so hard not to smile, but I was so happy just to be back in the ring. It was great.”
Julia Hart didn’t rush back—she made sure she was stronger than ever before stepping into the AEW ring again. Now that she’s back, she’s got unfinished business, and with the TBS Championship scene wide open, it’s only a matter of time before she makes her next move.
With the AEW women’s division heating up, will she go after the TBS Championship again, or is she setting her sights on something bigger? Drop your thoughts in the comments!