Wardlow was backstage at the AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view, but fans waiting for his big return didn’t get it.
According to PWInsider, Wardlow was backstage during the pay-per-view at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York. However, he did not appear on the show, meaning his AEW comeback remains on hold for now.
This comes after Fightful Select noted that the former AEW TNT Champion was already in New York ahead of Double or Nothing weekend. At the time, there was no confirmation that he would actually appear on the pay-per-view, even though his presence immediately sparked speculation.
Wardlow has not wrestled for AEW since March 2024 and has spent a long stretch away from television while recovering from multiple injuries. He briefly returned on-screen during the 2025 Forbidden Door event before later confirming that he suffered a torn pectoral muscle around that period.
During an interview earlier this year with BCP+, Wardlow also revealed that he fully tore his left bicep before filming Amazon Prime’s American Gladiator reboot. He said he decided not to undergo surgery and instead wore a sleeve during filming to cover discoloration in his arm.
Fightful also noted that Wardlow has quietly been backstage at several recent AEW shows while working toward medical clearance. His Double or Nothing presence now fits that pattern, but AEW clearly did not pull the trigger on bringing him back during the event.
For now, Wardlow’s return remains a waiting game. He was in the building for one of AEW’s biggest shows of the year, but the former TNT Champion stayed off-camera as speculation about his comeback continues.
Do you think AEW should bring Wardlow back soon, or wait until he is fully ready for a major storyline? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comments.