One absent AEW star is officially set to return to the ring later this year following a lengthy injury layoff.
Buddy Matthews was announced for World Series Wrestling’s MegaMania tour across Australia and New Zealand this October and November in a now-deleted Twitter post. The tour will mark Matthews’ first advertised in-ring appearances since suffering a serious ankle injury at AEW Grand Slam Australia in February 2025.
WSW confirmed Matthews will headline five events during the tour:
- October 29 – Auckland, New Zealand
- October 30 – Brisbane, Australia
- October 31 – Adelaide, Australia
- November 1 – Melbourne, Australia
- November 2 – Sydney, Australia
How Long Has Buddy Matthews Been Out Of AEW With Injury?
The former House of Black member has been sidelined for approximately 15 months after injuring his ankle during his entrance for a match against Kazuchika Okada at AEW Grand Slam Australia on February 15, 2025. While the initial belief was that Matthews would only miss a few months, the injury reportedly failed to heal properly and eventually required surgery, significantly extending his recovery time.
The upcoming tour announcement follows a surprise appearance Matthews made at a recent WSW event earlier this month. Despite still being sidelined at the time, Matthews attacked Donovan Dijak during the show.
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