Projected return timelines have been reported for AEW’s Swerve Strickland, Kenny Omega, and Will Ospreay, with two of the three expected back in action by early 2026. The report comes from Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, providing an update on the status of the three injured stars.
Swerve Strickland, who underwent surgery on August 27 for a torn meniscus, is reportedly expected to return by January 2026. The injury originally occurred in 2019 at the WWE Performance Center, and Strickland had been wrestling with it for six years. He has already started training again following the procedure.
Kenny Omega is expected to make his return even sooner, projected for some time before January. Omega has been dealing with pain from diverticulitis and was written off television after an attack by Kyle Fletcher on “AEW Dynamite.” His current absence from the company is for pre-planned specialized hospital visits and work engagements in Japan, which will cause him to miss the All Out pay-per-view on September 20.
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The outlook is longer for Will Ospreay, who is not expected back until “well into next year.” Ospreay has two herniated discs in his neck and will need surgery. He last competed at Forbidden Door, wrestling through the injury before being attacked at the end of the show to write him off television.
Summarizing the timelines, Meltzer gave a direct update on the injured talent.
“Swerve will be back by January,” Meltzer stated. “Omega will be back before January, Will won’t be, but the other ones will.”