Swerve Strickland was written off AEW television following an attack at Forbidden Door 2025. After losing a hard-fought AEW Unified Championship match to Kazuchika Okada at the O2 Arena, Okada continued to assault Strickland post-match, targeting his knee with a steel chair. The beatdown escalated when Wardlow appeared and attacked Strickland, which made his exit from television all too clear. Strickland was injured, and that was not great news for his fans.
Swerve Strickland may have gone through successful surgery, but he will still need a good amount of time on the sidelines. Now we have a bit of an update on his status.
Tony Khan provided an update on Kota Ibushi and Swerve Strickland during a recent media call for AEW WrestleDream. This was a much-needed update for two of AEWs most talented stars.
Regarding Swerve Strickland, Tony Khan said they are monitoring his recovery and expect him to return before Ibushi. He stated that Stricklands absence will not last a full year, and used the phrase sooner rather than later to describe the expected timeline for his return.
When it comes to Kota Ibushi, who suffered a terrible injury during a recent episode of Collision, Tony Khan said Ibushi was originally scheduled to compete at WrestleDream and had been planned for a key role in AEW this year. Khan mentioned visiting Ibushi recently and said he appeared to be in good spirits. He added that Ibushi wants to return, and AEW will welcome him back when he is ready. Khan also noted how meaningful it was to share time with both Ibushi and Kenny Omega in his office, calling it a dream come true. He briefly acknowledged Omegas birthday and expressed his sadness over Ibushis injury.
We will have to see what Swerve Strickland and Kota Ibushi are able to do when they come back. Swerve certainly has a lot to prove, as he wants to get back to the top of AEWs mountaintop. In the meantime, fans will be patiently waiting for them both to recover.
Whats your take on these injuries in the AEW locker room? Do you believe that they should come back hotter than ever? Let us know what you think in the comments section!
