Folks, it seems like Anthony Henry can’t catch a break—literally. Fresh off a jaw injury that nearly left him without a job, Henry is now facing another crushing setback. In a twist that would make even the toughest wrestler wince, Henry has torn his bicep clean off the bone in a match against NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd. Yes, you read that right. Off the bone. Ouch.
Henry, being the stand-up guy that he is, took to Twitter to break the news, revealing that he’s heading for surgery and will be out of action “for the foreseeable future.” Translation: no flips, no kicks, and definitely no bicep curls for a while. The injury couldn’t have come at a worse time either, as Henry was just getting back into the swing of things after a jaw injury sidelined him earlier this year.
Let’s rewind to March when Henry, probably chewing his post-match snacks with great difficulty, broke his jaw at an independent event. Then, in a move that was about as popular as a three-hour commercial break, AEW released Henry from his contract on April 1. (No, it wasn’t an April Fool’s joke, though many wished it were.) But, after fans expressed their not-so-subtle displeasure, Tony Khan hit the undo button and brought Henry back into the fold. The crowd rejoiced, the Twitterverse exploded, and Henry returned to both AEW and Ring of Honor.
Henry’s comeback saw him squaring off with tough competition like former ROH Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. His tag team partner, JD Drake, took an injury-induced leave of absence, leaving Henry to fly solo—until now, when that bicep decided it had had enough.
For those unfamiliar with his journey, Henry’s wrestling saga is practically a soap opera. He wrestled as Asher Hale during his brief WWE NXT stint, then hit the independent scene before joining AEW’s Dark lineup. He’s one half of the former EVOLVE Tag Team Champions, and when he’s not getting injured (easier said than done lately), he’s been a consistent presence in both AEW and Ring of Honor.
Now, with surgery looming and a lengthy rehab process ahead, Henry is once again on the bench, sidelined from the ring. Will he make yet another heroic return? You can bet your bottom dollar on it. But for now, folks, it’s safe to say that Henry’s 2024 is not winning any “Best Year Ever” awards.