Backstage Report on AEW Considering Bringing Back Matt Sydal

Matt Sydal could be on his way back to AEW programming, as a new report indicates the company has discussed bringing the veteran wrestler back for in-ring competition.

The high-flying veteran has been part of AEW since 2020, making his debut as a surprise entrant in the Casino Battle Royal at All Out that year. Over the following years, he became a familiar face on Dynamite, Rampage, Collision, and Ring of Honor programming. Matt Sydal has largely been absent from AEW over the past two years while recovering from a significant foot injury that required extensive surgery.

According to PWInsider’s Mike Johnson, internal discussions in AEW have been held about Sydal’s potential return “in the near future.” In 2024, Sydal underwent a complex procedure on his right foot to address an issue that dated back to a motorcycle accident more than a decade earlier. The surgery reportedly involved breaking and re-fusing several bones, along with inserting hardware to reposition his toes properly within the joints (via PWInsider).

“Sydal took time off to finally have a much-needed foot surgery stemming from a motorcycle wreck years ago that greatly hampered his work in the ring and led to constant pain.  We are told there’s been talk of late about him returning to the AEW ring in the near future.”

The injury and subsequent recovery kept Sydal away from AEW competition for an extended period.

Although he has not wrestled for AEW since 2024, Sydal has already returned to the ring elsewhere. On July 19 of last year, he competed against Ultimo Dragon at an event in France, marking his first match back after surgery and recovery.

Sydal’s most recent AEW appearance came on the May 22, 2024 edition of Dynamite, where he faced Konosuke Takeshita in singles action.

There’s been talk of late about Matt Sydal returning to the AEW ring in the near future.

Sydal had taken time off to undergo foot surgery stemming from a motorcycle wreck years ago.

(PWInsider) pic.twitter.com/brQw54H8zF

— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) June 19, 2026