One Final Chance Of Success For AEW’s Returning Star

At AEW’s All Out 2026 pay-per-view, a vignette aired which teased the impending return of multi-time TNT Champion Wardlow. The powerhouse star has not been seen on AEW programming for well over a year, last showing up at the Forbidden Door 2025 pay-per-view in which he returned to join the Don Callis family faction before an instantaneous injury ruled him out and put him on the shelf. It is an unfortunate reality, but this latest return for Wardlow is his one final chance of real, prolonged, major success in the promotion and this comes due to the litany of bad booking which has come his way, bad luck he’s endured, and inconsistent pushes at the hands of Tony Khan.

Wardlow’s First Few Years In AEW Were Excellent

• Wardlow debuted as MJF’s hired bodyguard.
• He got over as a babyface during a fantastic feud with MJF.
• AEW fans saw Wardlow as a future world champion.

Warlow initially arrived in AEW as the bodyguard heavy to MJF in a partnership that worked like a dream; they had tremendous chemistry. Wardlow presented as a dominant powerhouse and overtime he was dealt strong storylines which fleshed out his character and made him a sympathetic babyface who eventually broke free from under the control of MJF. For a portion of time on AEW programming when the company was at its very peak Wardlow was among the most over stars on the entire roster and generated huge reactions, putting in strong performances and carrying his weight in major feuds.

There is no denying the potential that Wardlow has, with him displaying breathtaking agility jaw-dropping strength and a history of creating strong bonds with the AEW audience in a variety of different characters, however not everything has been plain sailing in the AEW career of Wardlow and that is why despite his previous successes he has one final chance to make it big in the promotion or else it might be finally time for him to part ways and seek success elsewhere.

Wardlow’s Booking & Luck In AEW Went Downhill

• Wardlow’s TNT Title reigns were abysmal.
• His involvement in the Undisputed Kingston faction was a failure.
• Wardlow’s Forbidden Door return was halted with injury.

Just as Wardlow was experiencing his huge rise to fame in AEW in his feud with MJF, a bunch of controversy surrounding his former partner led to Wardlow’s win at Double Or Nothing to remain overshadowed in the midst of headlines, speculation, and reports on the future of MJF. AEW did crown Wardlow as a TNT Champion, however his various reigns with the gold left a lot to be desired as he would often go for weeks without defending the title, was void of character development, and poor booking made the championship feel less prestigious than ever before. Upon losing the TNT Title, Wardlow went on a hiatus from AEW in a time in which he experienced mental hardships and desire to come back and reclaim his previous glory.

At the back end of 2023, Wardlow made a return to AEW programming after months away, joining the Adam Cole’s Undisputed Kingdom faction who were in place to take down MJF. However, this heel group was booked horrendously from its birth to its demise as they failed to make any sort of real impression, with Wardlow the least important member and treated as an absolute non-factor. It wasn’t long before Wardlow transitioned away from the faction without any mention from any of the other members, leaving him forgotten and on the shelf in AEW once again.

After another year away from AEW through a lack of being booked, injuries, and outside projects, Wardlow finally made yet another return at Forbidden Door 2025 when he attacked Swerve Strickland and joined forces with the Don Callis Family… until one single lariat caused a devastating injury, tearing his pectoral muscle and being put on the shelf for another lengthy period. At this point in time, it is a cruel running joke how often Wardlow has experienced stop-start pushes and repackages in AEW. In fact, fans will be forgiven if they were hesitant to get their hopes up for Wardlow’s most recent return, especially since he has lost so much momentum and hasn’t wrestled a match in over two years. Not only that, but Tony Khan’s history of presenting Wardlow as a big deal has ultimately failed.

AEW Has One Final Chance To Make Wardlow A Success

• AEW aired a vignette for Wardlow at All Out 2026.
• Fans will give AEW one final chance with Wardlow.
• One more failure will be devastating for his AEW career.

Wardlow is 38 years of age and is coming back to a roster jam packed full of talent. Wardlow does have an upside, he can hang with the best, and has proven in matches that he does have the quality to survive in a company that professes that they are “where the best wrestle”, however he’s on borrowed time and he must thrive immediately. If AEW puts him back in the ring to win squash matches and wrestle against people lower down the card, then fans will get bored quickly and it will feel like the same cyclical nature is repeating for his booking.

Wardlow needs to be repackaged, have a new character and be presented as a star. This means dominant performances, beating defined and established AEW stars, going after the championships, and being involved in important storylines that carry weight. If, in a few months’ time, he has failed to generate momentum, crowd reaction, and is not involved in anything worth of note, then it is safe to say his AEW career will be over.