JD McDonagh wont be back on WWE television for a whileand fans hoping to see him at Elimination Chamber or before WrestleMania 42 might want to temper expectations.
In a January 26, 2026 Q&A session, WrestleVotes was asked about McDonaghs recovery status and when hes expected to return. They noted that JD wont be returning until just around WrestleMania 42 in the Spring.
This update aligns with the timeline thats been building since late 2025. McDonagh revealed in December that he was stepping away from WWE to recover from nagging injuries, sharing a hospital bed photo with his right hand or wrist bandagedshowing a possible surgical procedure.
Back in November, McDonagh wrestled his last match on WWE RAW, losing to Rey Mysterio. The Judgment Day storyline covered his absence by showing Dominik Mysterio telling Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez that Finn Balor had gone to check in on him. Balor later confirmed on social media:
According to Dave Meltzer, WWE gave a handful of Superstars time off ahead of Royal Rumble and WrestleMania season to heal properly. McDonagh was among those named, with Meltzer noting he appeared to be post-surgery.
Now, with confirmation that he wont be back until after Elimination Chamber and likely not before WrestleMania, fans may have to wait until Spring to see McDonagh back in Judgment Day action.
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