In a surprise appearance, Kyle O'Reilly appeared at AEW Revolution following Roderick Strong's International title win over Orange Cassidy after nearly two years away due to injury.
However, O'Reilly didn't seem to be aligned with his former Undisputed Era mate, first appearing to stalk him before embracing Strong and eventually walking away from he, Matt Taven and Mike Bennett after the trio offered him a t-shirt.
O'Reilly, visibly emotional from the reaction of the fans in the Greensboro (NC) Coliseum, stared at the group walking up the ramp after saying something privately to Strong before leaving. Taven and Bennett were confused with Strong motioning to them that everything would be ok.
O'Reilly has been out of action since June 2022 and underwent neck fusion surgery in September of that year -- a surgery he had been putting off for some time due to pain and issues with his right arm. He later suffered a rare post-surgical complication that saw him unable to move that arm, eventually regaining motion by using a special device.
Fightful reported the 37-year-old O'Reilly had been backstage at shows at the end of 2023 and in December, the Canadian native took to Instagram to say he "might be a wrestler again" by this March's return to his initial home country.
Lexy Nair attempted to get a word with O'Reilly afterward, but was rebuffed in her efforts:
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