Buddy Matthews announces that he has been cleared to wrestle again
As seen during the 2025 AEW Grand Slam: Australia event, Kazuchika Okada successfully defended the Continental title against Buddy Matthews. During his entrance, Matthews appeared to have injured his ankle while entering the ring. He has not wrestled since that event.
In a video published to his Instagram account on August 6th 2026, Matthews revealed that he has finally been cleared to wrestle again. The following was stated in the video’s description…
“Before stepping back into the ring, there was one final hurdle.
After suffering a serious ankle injury at AEW Grand Slam: Australia, Buddy Matthews begins the final stage of his comeback—getting medically cleared to compete again.
This video follows the process behind the scenes, from medical evaluations and rehabilitation to the moment he receives the news every athlete waits to hear. It’s a look at the physical and mental challenges of returning from injury, and what it takes to get back to doing what you love.
If you’ve ever faced setbacks, injuries, or doubted whether you’d make it back, this one’s for you.”