Wardlow made his return to the AEW ring on the September 30, 2026 episode of Dynamite from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, competing for the first time since March 2024 after being sidelined by a knee injury and later a torn pectoral muscle. It was his first match since March 2024, according to Fightful.
The timing added weight to the moment. The broadcast served as a tribute to PAC, the former AEW star born Benjamin “Pac” Satterley, who died on September 27, 2026, according to F4W Online. Wardlow reflected on the night in a social media post, describing it as “bittersweet” given the circumstances, as first reported by F4W Online and confirmed by Wrestling Headlines and Fightful.
Wardlow’s comeback saw him align with the Don Callis Family, according to eWrestlingNews. Details of the faction tie-in and any future plans for Wardlow within the group have not been specified in the available reporting.
Wardlow had been absent from AEW programming for an extended stretch while recovering from the injuries, and his return marks a significant step back into the company’s active roster after more than 900 days away, per F4W Online.
