Buddy Matthews is eager to get back inside the AEW ring after being sidelined for more than two months with an ankle injury.
The injury happened back on February 15 during his entrance at AEW Grand Slam: Australia, but despite clearly being hurt, Matthews still went through with his match against Kazuchika Okada.
Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Matthews explained the extent of the damage: torn ligaments and cartilage issues — though things could have been much worse.
“It’s ok. Rolled it pretty bad. Had an X-ray, MRI. There was no break, but there was like partial ligament tear and cartilage damage,” he said. “Yeah, [I’m] walking. I haven’t ran. I haven’t jumped. I’ve just started implementing cardio, but then it kind of stiffens up. And, you know, we’re working through it, but the docs were telling me I’ve never seen an ankle roll that much under someone without completely destroying, like smashing, disintegrating the bones. So I didn’t break a bone, which was incredible, but then I had to wrestle 15 minutes after it.”
Although he knew something was off the moment it happened, Matthews is proud of how the match turned out. Right after, he and his wife, WWE star Rhea Ripley, even went on their honeymoon — injury and all.
Back on April 13, Matthews estimated he was about 73 percent recovered. Now, that number is closer to 85 percent.
“I’m hoping sooner rather than later,” he said when asked about returning to AEW. “I’m obviously going to have to get in the ring and suss it out and get back in ring shape. But I’m hoping in the next couple of weeks. I’m hoping, fingers crossed.”
(H/T and transcribed by F4Wonline)
