On the May 10th episode of Dynamite, Thunder Rosa made her on-screen return to AEW.
Although the star has been working at the Spanish commentary desk in recent months, she hasn’t wrestled since August 2022. While the exact details of her injury are unknown, the star has said that it’s a back issue that got progressively worse, and she was trying to avoid surgery.
Even as recently as April, Rosa said that she was still in pain when she gets in the ring and didn’t expect to be cleared “any time soon.”
Despite this, she appeared backstage on Dynamite heading to meet Tony Khan, shortly after Miro had made his own return to do the same. It has since been reported by Fightful Select that these returns are directly tied to the impending launch of AEW Collision.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer commented on the returns, admitting that he was surprised to see Rosa given her back is still “really bad.”
“Miro doesn’t surprise me because he’s been on the shelf for a while and so he could be one of the new stars for the Saturday show.
And then Rosa – Rosa’s back is really bad, I was kinda surprised. She’s been at the tapings every week and I know that when she’s trained in the ring… they showed one of them on All Access and granted that was months ago, but I’ve heard still, when she’s training, she’s hurting a lot. Her back is not better.
They reintroduced her, so I don’t know what the role would be. I didn’t get the impression she was ready to return so quickly.”
It's a good night to talk to @TonyKhan! @thunderrosa22#AEWDynamite is LIVE on TBS! pic.twitter.com/ZBaBoX7Acf
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 11, 2023
Thunder Rosa Wanted To Drop AEW Women’s Title
When Thunder Rosa announced that she wouldn’t be able to compete at All Out in 2022, she kept hold of the AEW Women’s World Title despite many expecting her to vacate the gold. Rosa held the title all the way until November with Toni Storm and Jamie Hayter becoming Interim Champion.
This led to the star coming in for a great deal of criticism from fans and those in the locker room. However, Rosa recently stated that she offered to drop the title as soon as the injury became apparent.
H/t to Wrestle Talk