Sydal's Comeback Trail
AEW Reportedly Considers Matt Sydal's In-Ring Return After Foot Surgery Ends Decade of Pain
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Key Points
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Sydal’s AEW tenure began with a surprise appearance: he debuted at the 2020 All Out pay-per-view as an entrant in the Casino Battle Royal, later becoming a regular presence across Dynamite, Rampage, Collision, and Ring of Honor.
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In explaining Sydal’s reasons for taking time off, Mike Johnson (PWInsider) said Sydal’s surgery came after years of being “greatly hampered” in the ring and “led to constant pain,” noting there has been “talk of late about him returning to the AEW ring in the near future.”
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The 2024 right-foot operation is described not just as stabilization work, but as hardware placement intended to “reset”/reposition Sydal’s toes into the joints to restore function—after the injury dated back to the 2012 motorcycle crash.
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Sydal said the surgery “ended over a decade of pain,” per coverage of the procedure and his long-standing issues stemming from the motorcycle accident.
AEW is in active talks to bring Matt Sydal back to its programming after a roughly two-year absence, according to PWInsider. The discussions follow major reconstructive surgery on Sydal's right foot — a procedure he says "ended over a decade of pain" stemming from a 2012 motorcycle accident.
Sydal last wrestled for AEW on May 22, 2024, losing to Konosuke Takeshita on Dynamite. No official return date has been set, but SI.com reports the company has been weighing when to reintroduce him to TV.
A 2012 Crash That Haunted a Career
Sydal's foot problems trace back to a motorcycle accident in March 2012. The crash fractured and dislocated bones in his right foot. He managed the injury for 12 years while still competing, but the damage caught up with him. By 2024, PWInsider's Mike Johnson said Sydal was "greatly hampered" in the ring and dealing with "constant pain."
The 2024 surgery was major. Doctors broke and re-fused bones, inserted metal hardware to stabilize the foot, and repositioned his toes back into the joints. The goal was to restore the basic lever function his foot had lost — the very thing a high-flyer needs to jump. WrestleView noted the procedure was far more than a routine clean-up.
Sydal Tests His Repaired Foot in France
After more than a year of recovery, Sydal returned to the ring on July 19, 2025. He wrestled legendary luchador Último Dragón at an event in France. It was his only publicly known match since the surgery. The bout served as a real-world test of whether his rebuilt foot could handle the demands of professional wrestling.
The fact that Sydal took that match in France — and not in a low-stakes setting — signals confidence in his recovery. PWMania reports he has remained under AEW contract throughout his absence and has continued to be listed on the roster, suggesting the company never lost interest in his return.
AEW Weighs How and Where to Bring Sydal Back
Johnson reported in mid-June 2026 that there has been "talk of late about him returning to the AEW ring in the near future." The most likely landing spot, per analysts, is Ring of Honor — AEW's sister promotion — where Sydal previously served as a veteran anchor. ROH would let him ease back in before appearing on Dynamite or Collision.
Sydal debuted in AEW at the September 2020 All Out pay-per-view, entering the Casino Battle Royal as a surprise "Joker" entrant. He went on to appear regularly across Dynamite, Rampage, Collision, and ROH over the next four years. At 43 years old, his return is expected to focus on elevating younger talent rather than chasing championships.
The Bigger Question: Can a Fused Foot Still Fly?
High-flyers depend on their feet for explosive jumps. Sydal built his career on the Shooting Star Press — a move that demands full ankle and toe function. Some wrestling analysts warn that fused bones, even with hardware, change how an athlete moves permanently. The surgery may have ended the pain, but it also changed the mechanics of his body.
The July 2025 match against Último Dragón offered early evidence that Sydal can still go. But AEW fans and observers will be watching his first televised return closely — not just for the result, but to see whether the "Aero" style that defined his career has survived 12 years of damage and one major rebuild. SI.com described him as a "longtime absent AEW star reportedly returning soon."
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