Matt Sydal, the high-flying dynamo of AEW, has been dazzling fans in 2024 with electrifying bouts against the likes of Swerve Strickland, Chris Jericho, and Konosuke Takeshita. But now, his gravity-defying momentum will hit pause as he undergoes surgery to finally address a nagging foot issue that has plagued him for 12 years. Sydal took to X (formerly Twitter) to break the news: “After 12 years of suffering, I’m getting my right foot fixed today. The surgeon has to break and re-fuse three bones, and use hardware to set my toes into the joints. Thank you to @AEW and our Medical Staff for the care. Thanks to the fans who’ve stuck with me the whole time. Love you all! The best is yet to come.”
In a follow-up post that assured fans of his successful surgery, Sydal shared a picture of his foot in a hospital boot with the caption: “I got two legs now, so y’all better watch out … kicks are coming back harder than ever. Thank you for the support. Thank you @AEW.” While there’s no set timeline for his return, the wrestling world eagerly awaits his comeback.
AEW has put significant trust in Sydal this year. Notably, he was pivotal in the storyline involving the CMLL luchadores’ invasion, filling in for Wheeler Yuta in a high-stakes match after Yuta was sidelined by injury. Sydal’s resilience and dedication continue to inspire fans and peers alike.