Wardlow Backstage At AEW Double Or Nothing 2026 After Over Two Years Away From The Ring

AEW

An update has emerged on Wardlow in AEW following the Double or Nothing pay-per-view, amid his lengthy in-ring absence.

AEW Double or Nothing emanated from the Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York on May 24.

Ahead of the show, Fightful Select reported that Wardlow was in town ahead of the show, fuelling speculation about a potential return.

While Wardlow ultimately did not appear on the show, PWInsider has shared a new update, confirming that Wardlow was indeed backstage for Double or Nothing.

Wardlow has been out of action for over two years. His most recent match saw him challenge for Samoa Joe’s AEW World Championship on the March 13, 2024 “Big Business” edition of Dynamite.

That event notably featured the debut of Mercedes Mone, so to put Wardlow’s absence into perspective, the former TNT Champion has been absent from the ring for almost the entirety of Mercedes Mone’s AEW career.

After a 17-month absence, Wardlow made a surprise return at Forbidden Door in August 2025, attacking Prince Nana and aligning himself with the Don Callis Family.

It was reported shortly after this angle that Wardlow had suffered another injury, which was later revealed to be a torn pectoral muscle.

While Wardlow hasn’t appeared much on AEW TV over the past two years, he has appeared onscreen for a different project, serving as one of the Gladiators – Fang –  in the American Gladiators reboot.

Fightful’s previous report indicated that Wardlow has been present at a lot of AEW shows while preparing for his return.

While a return date hasn’t been confirmed, the powerhouse being backstage for Double or Nothing could indicate that he’s expecting to step back into the ring during the next pay-per-view cycle, ahead of Forbidden Door in June.

With the unfortunate timing surrounding Wardlow’s previous injuries, we could see the absent star hit the ground running upon his return with a major angle or win to immediately re-establish his dominance.

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• Backstage
• Double or Nothing
• Wardlow
• AEW

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