AEW Star Contemplated Retirement During Injury Absence

AEW

An AEW star has revealed that they contemplated retirement during their lengthy injury absence, which will shortly come to an end.

Eddie Kingston has spent more than a year sidelined through injury, after suffering a torn ACL, torn meniscus and fractured tibia during a No Ropes Last Man Standing match with Gabe Kidd at NJPW STRONG Resurgence in May 2024.

With Kingston having recently signed a contract for his return match, it has now been confirmed he will face Big Bill at All Out on September 20.

In an interview with CBS Sports, Kingston opened up about the struggles he has undergone during his absence, revealing he considered retirement among his options, saying:

“The hardest part of anything in life is the mental game.

“Pain is whatever. I’ve had eight or nine surgeries already.”

Kingston would reveal that he was by himself for part of his recovery, with his partner dealing with her own personal matters, stating:

“I told her to get out and that I’d be alright, lying, of course.

“For two months, I was by myself. I wasn’t doing PT, sitting there days in the dark by myself.

“Thank God I don’t really drink much anymore. I coped with food, which didn’t help.”

With binge eating bringing other health challenges, Kingston would reveal that he didn’t know if an in-ring return would be possible, explaining:

“I went from beating myself up, not knowing if I’d get back in the ring, and trying to be satisfied.

“I told myself, ‘Well, I reached this goal and I reached that goal.’ I was trying to convince myself that it’s OK to call it.”

Convincing himself of his achievements wasn’t enough; Kingston asked if he found closure, responded:

“I couldn’t (find closure). Nothing. Death. Honestly. I tried to find everything. I would lie to myself.”

He would reveal that he took inspiration from his mentor, Homicide, who retired earlier in 2025 following his own health issues, saying:

“He didn’t get to go out his way. So he’d tell me, ‘Go out your way. I know this is not the way you want to go out.’ I want to go out on my shield. I want to go out swinging to the end.

“People can say whatever they want about Eddie Kingston, but one thing they can’t say is that I wasn’t defiant to the end. That’s what kept me going.”

Since signing with AEW in 2020, Kingston has gone on to become the Continental Champion, being the first to hold the title.

The full card for AEW All Out on September 20 can be found right here.

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• AEW
• eddie kingston
• AEW All Out

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