Wardlow has drawn strong fan support throughout his AEW career, whether he’s working as a babyface or a heel. The three-time TNT Champion has been in line for a main event push that has been derailed at times in the past, and now it appears a similar situation is unfolding after Wardlow was put back on the injured list.
Mr. Mayhem made his surprise return at the fourth annual AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door PPV on Sunday, August 24 in London. Wardlow had been away since the Big Business Dynamite on March 13, 2024, dealing with a shoulder injury and a knee injury, which was exacerbated by a significant car wreck.
Wardlow was medically cleared to compete earlier this year, but he met with Tony Khan to get permission for a new for an outside project. The 37-year-old then traveled to France earlier this summer to film two seasons of Amazon Prime Video’s American Gladiators reboot set to be released later this year or early 2026. Now it appears Wardlow will have plenty of time to promote the series as he’s believed to be back on the shelf with another unfortunate injury.
Wardlow Likely Injured At AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door IV
AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2025 saw Wardlow come to the ring as Kazuchika Okada was decimating Swerve Strickland with a steel chair after retaining the AEW Unified Championship. The Ohio native brutally stopped Prince Nana from making the save with a steel pipe, then beat Strickland to keep him down as security struggled to restore order.
Wardlow then exited the ring to celebrate with The Don Callis Family. There were no major physical spots or signs of an injury, but rumors and speculation began when the three-time TNT Champion appeared on Dynamite but did not wrestle in the 11-minute 8-man main event that saw the heels defeat Brodido and JetSpeed. Wardlow has not been on Dynamite or Collision with Callis since then, and now Fightful Select reports that the rising star has suffered another injury, likely in the comeback angle at Forbidden Door.
Sources noted that the injury is believed to be a torn pectoral muscle, which would put Wardlow back out of action for a lengthy period, right after returning from a year-plus hiatus. It should be reiterated how the specific injury and outlook have not been confirmed, but there is talk of keeping him on TV with The Don Callis Family as an enforcer of some sort.
Several people in the AEW locker-room are “bummed out” at the news of the injury. Wardlow is well-liked, and it was noted how he waited so long to get back into the storylines and back on TV, after battling various real-life setbacks, only to suffer a significant injury on the night he returns.
Wardlow will be joined by a few familiar faces on American Gladiators. The series also features former WWE star Rick Boogz, AEW star Kamille, and Jessie Godderz, a current OVW star and former two-time TNA champion. WWE veteran The Miz will co-host, and serve as an Executive Producer.