Two AEW stars reportedly written off for foreseeable future

AEW wrestler Swerve Strickland. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Two major AEW stars reportedly written off TV for the foreseeable future

By Adam Taylor | Last updated Sep 8, 2024 2:53 PM ET

AEW's All-Out was a resounding success. The company enjoyed a strong build to the pay-per-view, doubling down on storylines and setting up matches that had fans invested in the potential outcome.

Tony Khan's company walked a fine line with the level of violence on display, including Bryan Danielson being suffocated live on air and Swerve Strickland being dropped spine-first on a cinder block.

However, everything that occurred had its reasons in what is a welcomed shift for AEW. Danielson's spot has set up a feud with the Blackpool Combat Club.

According to Dave Meltzer, who spoke on Wrestling Observer Radio, MJF being attacked after defeating Daniel Garcia and Strickland's loss to "Hangman" Adam Page have both set up injury-explained absences for the stars.

"(MJF) is taking time off," Meltzer reported. "He didn’t lose, but he ended up getting taken out. It’s an injury angle, he’s going to be gone for a while ... (MJF) and Swerve both did injury angles and are going to be gone for a while. I heard a long time ago that Swerve was going to sign the contract and get some time off, and this was the angle."

Both absences are logical. Strickland has been an ever-present figure on AEW programming in recent months, enduring multiple high-impact matches. Giving him some time to rest and recover is smart business, especially after he established himself as one of the premier stars in the promotion.

MJF, on the other hand, will have more time to recover from injury. During a recent "Cultaholic" podcast interview, the AEW star admitted that he had returned from his hiatus too early and was still carrying injuries.

"I've come back from injury, and I will tell you candidly, so here's a little clickbait for you; I'm still not 100%," MJF said. "I had to come back because I don't know if you noticed this, but the show without me blew ... So, I came back a little bit earlier than I probably physically should have."

AEW is already missing some of its top stars due to injury. Adam Copeland, Adam Cole, Eddie Kingston and Kenny Omega headline a lengthy list of currently sidelined talent.

Losing MJF and Strickland will hurt. However, their absences will also open the door for others to step into bigger roles and potentially prove they're capable of being a major force in the promotion.

However things play out in the coming months, AEW's build and execution of All-Out was some of its best work in years. If it commits to this type of storytelling and gives its stars room to execute, its recent struggles could be consigned to the past.

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

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