One long-sidelined AEW star has finally undergone back fusion surgery.
The Blade, otherwise known as Pepper Parks, has been out of action since February of 2024 with a lower back injury. His last appearance on AEW television took place on the January 5th episode of Rampage, where he teamed with The Butcher and Kip Sabian in a loss to The Hardys and Mark Briscoe.
Back in June, The Blade made it clear that he was still with All Elite Wrestling and disclosed the extent of his back injuries, indicating that he has two bulging discs (L2 L3 and L4 L5) and two ruptured discs (L3 L4 and L5 S1). He emphasized the role of physical therapy in aiding his recovery and staying on track.
Now, the star has taken to social media that he recently underwent back fusion surgery. Sharing a video of himself walking post-surgery along with photos of himself in the hospital, Blade wrote:
Back fusion was a success 👍 Thank you to everyone for your continued support ❤️ Means a lot to this Grizzled Vet Utility Brother
AEW Producer Sonjay Dutt Also Underwent Surgery Recently
The Blade isn’t the only All Elite star to undergo major surgery this week. Sonjay Dutt, who works as a producer backstage and a manager onscreen, told fans on September 10th that he’d finally had surgery to correct longtime shoulder issues. Dutt wrote:
After dealing with a myriad of shoulder issues for the better part of the last 2 decades, I started my journey to get fixed. Last wk, I underwent surgery, receiving a reverse total shoulder replacement. Been extremely taxing mentally/physically, but I’m so excited for my future!
After dealing with a myriad of shoulder issues for the better part of the last 2 decades, I started my journey to get fixed. Last wk, I underwent surgery, receiving a reverse total shoulder replacement. Been extremely taxing mentally/physically, but I’m so excited for my future!
— SONJAY (@sonjaydutterson) September 10, 2024
In recent news, the number one contendership for the AEW World Championship is on the line at Dynamite Grand Slam.