Folks, where in the world is Wardlow?
That’s been the million-dollar question for AEW fans, as the former TNT Champion has been MIA for nearly a year, last competing against Samoa Joe for the AEW World Title in March 2024. Since then, rumors have been flying about injuries, contract issues, and whether or not he got lost in Tony Khan’s Forbidden Door multiverse.
But according to the latest reports, Wardlow is still under AEW contract—and now, he’s popped up in Los Angeles, just in time for AEW Revolution.
Wardlow Is NOT Injured—So Where’s He Been?
For months, the prevailing theory was that Wardlow was sidelined with an injury, which would explain why a man who looks like a walking action figure hasn’t been body-slamming people on national television.
But according to Dave Meltzer, that’s not the case anymore.
In fact, Wardlow is set to wrestle over WrestleMania weekend at an independent event, meaning he’s clearly ring-ready—he just hasn’t been booked on AEW programming.
Is Wardlow Leaving AEW?
Rumors of Wardlow’s AEW exit started swirling when it was reported that most top AEW stars were told not to work WrestleMania weekend indie shows.
Yet Wardlow is booked—which led to speculation that he might be wrapping up his time with AEW.
However, Fightful Select has confirmed he’s still under contract, meaning Wardlow’s absence isn’t because he’s leaving—it’s because AEW just hasn’t used him.
Why Is Wardlow in Los Angeles?
Adding fuel to the fire, Wardlow was spotted in Los Angeles—the site of AEW Revolution.
- Is he returning at the pay-per-view? ❌ Probably not.
- Is he backstage at Crypto.com Arena? ✅ Yes.
- Is he there for an undisclosed project? 🤔 Seems likely.
Even though it doesn’t seem like AEW has pitched anything for him at Revolution, his presence raises questions about when, where, and how he’ll make his return.
What’s Next for Wardlow?
Before disappearing, Wardlow was aligned with the Undisputed Kingdom, meaning there’s still unfinished business with Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, and Mike Bennett.
And given that AEW has a habit of surprise returns and shocking angles, it might not be long before Wardlow reminds everyone why he was once the most dominant force in the company.