Eddie Kingston has thanked AEW fans for supporting him during his lengthy absence from television, admitting his time away was ultimately down to his own actions.
Eddie Kingston returned to winning ways on the August 8 edition of AEW Collision, defeating Jake Doyle in the main event to advance to the quarter-finals of the inaugural Continental Challenge Cup tournament.
Speaking in an AEW digital exclusive following his victory, Kingston acknowledged his extended absence without revealing the specific circumstances behind it.
“I’ve been away too long. Granted, my own doing. That’s for you guys to wonder and for me to know, okay? But I missed every single one of you fans. And I’m not saying that being the corny, ‘Hooray.’ Nah, man. I missed every single one of you because you guys give me energy. You guys give me energy to keep fighting when I don’t want to.”
While away from AEW television, Kingston continued competing on the independent scene, where he regularly encountered fans asking when he would return to the company.
Kingston said those interactions helped motivate him during his absence and recalled telling supporters that they inspired him, even if they did not necessarily believe him at the time.
“All those people that I met when I was doing the independents, when I was off TV, coming up to me, ‘When are you getting back on, Eddie? Eddie, we need to see you back on.’ And I told each and every one of them, ‘You inspire me.’ They didn’t believe me. Well, this is for all of y’all that didn’t believe me.”
Eddie Kingston Dedicated His Continental Cup Run To His AEW Fans
With his AEW television return now underway, Eddie Kingston has dedicated his entire Continental Challenge Cup campaign to the supporters who continued backing him while he was away.
“This tournament, this cup, is for every single person that I met in all the promotions that I worked for who came up to me and said, ‘I can’t wait to see you back on TV again.’ This is all for you. I fight for you in this tournament, for you.”
Kingston will now move into the quarter-finals of the Continental Challenge Cup as he looks to continue his successful return to AEW television.
