A former WWE Champion has spoken about why they think there is an injury problem in AEW.
Bobby Lashley has shared his thoughts on why injuries have become such a talking point in All Elite Wrestling, suggesting the issue stems from the intensity and mindset of the roster rather than recklessness.
Lashley is currently sidelined with an undisclosed injury suffered during the Casino Gauntlet match at AEW Full Gear in November. That match type has come under scrutiny after several wrestlers were also hurt following a Casino Gauntlet bout at AEW All In: Texas.
Speaking on The Mega Powers Podcast, the former WWE Champion praised AEW’s atmosphere and argued that the injury rate is linked to how deeply performers invest themselves in their work.
“One thing, AEW is amazing. I mean, you saw the crowd right now. No one else can do that. No one else has done that. I’ve been in every organisation. No one else is doing that. That speaks magnitude,” Lashley said. “And these guys put themselves on the line. Just look at the amount of people that are injured right now. You don’t get injured by doing something you don’t want to do. You get injured by doing something you pour your whole f***ing life into, and you get injured.”
Lashley described adjusting to AEW’s style as a “learning curve” and highlighted several of the promotion’s top stars as examples of that approach, naming Swerve Strickland, Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Darby Allin and Jon Moxley as performers who push themselves to draw fans.
He also contrasted AEW’s locker room mentality with his previous experiences in WWE and TNA Wrestling, saying the focus is less on status and more on performance.
“Sometimes in other organisations, it’s who you are. These guys are like, ‘Don’t think about who I am. Think about what I’m doing,’” Lashley said. “And I’m watching matches, and I’m like, holy s***. And then if you think of a different mentality, you say, how much is he getting paid? Right? They don’t give a f*** about that. That’s not what they’re thinking about.”
Lashley added that what has stood out most to him is the collective drive to build AEW as a company.
“They’re thinking about, ‘We are going to make this place amazing,’” he said. “And it’s a learning curve for me, because I’m having to witness this, and I’m like, what the f***? I only came into WWE, they are the business. And then I came over here after a lot of time. I was in TNA, and there was still something different. Here, it’s different. I’m seeing what these guys are doing, man. People will get behind them because of what they’re doing, they’re giving themselves.”
Lashley has not yet announced a timetable for his return, but he made it clear he has no regrets about the effort he put in before being sidelined.
When Did Bobby Lashley Leave WWE?
Bobby Lashley officially left WWE in August 2024, when his contract expired, and the company chose not to renew his deal. His departure brought an end to a lengthy second run that began in 2018 and included multiple championship reigns and a return to main-event status.
Lashley’s final WWE appearance came during the summer of 2024, after which he quietly exited the company without an on-screen farewell. Shortly after his release, Lashley confirmed he intended to continue wrestling, eventually resurfacing in AEW, where he has since been featured as a major signing.
