WWE’s Rhea Ripley Reveals AEW Star Buddy Matthews Is Working On In-Ring Return After Injury

IG/Buddy Matthews

WWE star Rhea Ripley has revealed that AEW’s Buddy Matthews is continuing to work on an in-ring return having previously suffered an injury.

Buddy Matthews has been out of action since sustaining an ankle injury in his match against Kazuchika Okada at AEW Grand Slam Australia in February of last year.

In November, Matthews confirmed that he was continuing to work out, although had restricted ankle mobility, with Ripley now sharing an update on his progress.

With the real-life husband and wife having their own gym at home, Ripley discussed doing in-ring training with Murphy on the What’s Your Story? podcast, telling Stephanie McMahon:

“Every now and then (her and Buddy doing in-ring training). He’s still starting to get back into the ring stuff because he got injured over a year ago in February when they (AEW) went to Australia.

“So he got injured then, so he’s just started getting back into the ring now, and he’s just trying to rehab it and see what he can do. So he’ll get in, and we’ll run the ropes. I’ve been teaching him some rolls, since the boys class didn’t do as many rolls as the girls class apparently… We’ve been getting in a little bit.

“Also, I get nervous about getting hurt, especially these days, because I’m always on the road, I’m always doing stuff. I want to stay sharp, but I also don’t want to get beat up more than I get beat up. So, I go a little bit easier.

“He’s definitely going harder than me right now because he’s trying to get back into that mode.”

If you use this transcription or any portion of it, please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.

Engaged in August 2023, Ripley and Matthews were married in June of the following year.

Buddy Matthews was released from his WWE contract in June 2021, having been known to fans as Buddy Murphy, heading to AEW the following year.

What’s Next For Buddy Matthews In AEW?

Buddy Matthews may be some time off from an in-ring AEW return, with a different world awaiting him for his comeback.

A former AEW World Trios Champion with Brody King and Malakai Black, House of Black would be dissolved with the departure of their leader, with Hounds of Hell coming to an abrupt end due to Matthews being injured.

King has since teamed with Bandido as Brodido, capturing the AEW World Tag Team Championship at Forbidden Door in August of last year, only to lose the titles at November’s Full Gear.

Competing in this year’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, King goes onto face Swerve Strickland on the June 3 episode of AEW Dynamite, with the winner of that match facing either Will Ospreay or Mark Davis at Forbidden Door, with the victor heading to All In to face the AEW World Champion.

This isn’t the first time that King has sought a World Championship opportunity, having lost to MJF at February’s Grand Slam Australia, suggesting that the star’s focus is on the top of the card.

While King has previously stated that when Matthews returns “we always have the trios titles”, a lot can happen for the stars in question between now and then.

Matthews has the potential to be a top singles star in his own right, and perhaps a quest for the Continental Championship could be revisited, particularly with it being in the hands of Jon Moxley at the time of writing.

WrestleTalk wishes Buddy Matthews well as he continues his rehabilitation for an AEW return.

If you use this transcription or any portion of it, please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.

To make sure you stay up to date with all the biggest wrestling and WrestleTalk news, follow us on Threads by clicking this link!

• AEW
• BUDDY MATTHEWS
• wwe
• rhea ripley

Share this article with friends