“It Took A While To Get Back In The Ring” – AEW Star Revisits Harrowing Spine Surgery

Juice Robinson AEW

A popular AEW star has finally opened up on their recent spine surgery.

Absent from in-ring action since November 2024, Juice Robinson made his long-awaited AEW return at the recent Casino Gauntlet match on the AEW All In 2025 PPV. Despite his failure to win the match, Robinson entered the match to a roaring crowd and left behind a lasting impact.

Recently, speaking to Renee Paquette on Close Up, Juice opened up about his recent struggles with major injuries and a harrowing spine surgery.

“What made it more significant for me was the year before, I had another injury. I haven’t really went into detail about either of them, but I had spine surgery. I ruptured a disc in my lower back, and it was pressing on a nerve and I was having issues with my leg. I was having trouble using it. It was the beginning of what could have gotten much worse. It’s not only scary….we get hurt a lot, but spine, that’s like brain, heart.

I’ve broken my hands, I’ve had [Jon Moxley] bite my forehead. That’s okay. A lot of different things, but spine. You need that. Every little thing is controlled by that stack of dimes. I thought it would be a lot harder than it was. I was up moving pretty quick.

“It took a while to get back in the ring, and then when I was, I was just ready to go, and I snapped my leg. That was a lot harder than the back. I didn’t realize it, but it’s hard to sit down for four to five months. Now you’re in a walking boot and it’s a long process. A lot of internal thinking. A lot of introspection. ‘What am I doing? How long have I been doing this? Where am I at in my career?

What’s left?’ I’ve been doing this 17 years, which is crazy to think about for me because it’s not just what I want to do, this is what I do. I want to do it as long as I can. When you do the math, 17 years, I’m about halfway through. What do I want to be known for? What am I known for now? I don’t even know. A lot of mental gymnastics and trying to make sense of things and be at peace with where I am, where I want to go. It’s hard. It’s a fresh slate. Part two of a two part series.”

H/t Fightful

Before his November 2024 hiatus, Juice Robinson was also sidelined from the end of 2023 to June 2024 with an injury.

Chris Jericho Is Still Awaiting His AEW Return

Last month, a report from Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that Chris Jericho’s current Fozzy tour is over and he is currently awaiting creative directions from the promotion’s President, Tony Khan, ahead of his television return.

Last seen in action earlier this year in April, The Learning Tree has been off television since then.