Buddy Matthews AEW return plans: Four potential directions for the former World Trios Champion’s comeback after almost two years away

AEW

Buddy Matthews has been out of action for 20 months now, having last wrestled at the February 2025 AEW Grand Slam Australia pay-per-view.

While Matthews’ absence was due to an injury, the former House of Black member announced in July that he was in the process of getting cleared to compete, and that he expected to be officially cleared in October.

Matthews hasn’t yet returned to the ring in AEW, but has recently fuelled speculation about his potential comeback, sharing a video on Instagram with an hourglass emoji as the caption.

Buddy Matthews' latest post, amid his AEW absence 👀 pic.twitter.com/iN6IOfoSN8

— WrestleTalk (@WrestleTalk_TV) October 18, 2026

Here are four potential directions for Buddy Matthews’ AEW return, following his latest tease.

Kazuchika Okada rematch

Buddy Matthews’ most recent match saw him challenge for Kazuchika Okada’s Continental Championship at AEW Grand Slam Australia in February 2025.

With Matthews suffering an ankle injury during this appearance, it is unfortunately a bout which is mainly remembered for all the wrong reasons.

With Okada currently holding the International Championship, it’d be a full-circle moment for Buddy Matthews to be the Rainmaker’s next challenger.

Joining the United Empire

With Malakai Black no longer with AEW and Brody King holding the AEW World Trios Championship with Bandido & Hangman Page, Buddy Matthews is in need of some new allies.

With there currently being a lot of uncertainty surrounding the future of the United Empire, Matthews’ addition to the AEW wing of the faction could help to make things even more chaotic.

With Will Ospreay, Andrade El Idolo, Mike Bailey and the Brawling Birds currently representing the United Empire in AEW, Matthews has history with many of the stars he could soon call allies.

Tensions seem to be boiling over between Will Ospreay and NJPW’s Callum Newman, so there could soon be a vacancy in the group anyway.

Ilja Dragunov rivalry

Ilja Dragunov was revealed to be the latest AEW signing at WrestleDream, with the Mad Dragon confirming that he’s now All Elite.

Amid speculation about the former WWE US Champion’s first rivalry in the company, it’d be an interesting turn of events to see Buddy Matthews step up to Dragunov.

With Dragunov and Matthews both establishing themselves as exciting in-ring workers, a series of matches would allow both stars to show the current AEW audience what they’re capable of.

With these two stars having yet to share the ring, this would be an entertaining first-time match-up for the newest AEW star.

Will Ospreay AEW World Championship feud

Will Ospreay remains the AEW World Champion after WrestleDream, with the star defending his gold in an eight-man Clockwork Carnage bout.

While there are several stars who could be next to challenge for Ospreay’s gold, Buddy Matthews stepping up to the Aerial Assassin would give the absent star the opportunity to hit the ground running following his return.

Ospreay and Matthews have shared the ring just once, with Ospreay picking on the victory during the January 8, 2025 edition of Dynamite.

A lot has happened since then, so it’d be interesting to see what the two stars could do in a rematch.

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• Return
• AEW
• BUDDY MATTHEWS

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