Wardlow has officially introduced a new persona just days after his return at Forbidden Door. In a video posted to his social media, the former AEW TNT Champion appeared in a suit, calling himself “the most attractive man in the history of professional wrestling, and there’s no comparison.”
The shift in character followed his surprise comeback on August 23, when he entered an AEW ring for the first time in more than a year. That night, Kazuchika Okada had just retained the AEW Unified Championship against Swerve Strickland before launching a post-match assault. As Okada targeted Strickland’s knee with a steel chair, Prince Nana attempted to intervene—only to be stopped by Wardlow, who then delivered a Powerbomb to a security guard.
Content continues after the ad
Wardlow’s actions quickly escalated when he walked up the ramp and joined the Don Callis Family. He embraced Don Callis, Okada, and Kyle Fletcher, officially cementing his place in the group. The segment also featured a brief staredown with Konosuke Takeshita, which ended with Takeshita nodding in approval.
His comeback closed a long absence from AEW programming. Wardlow’s last televised match took place on the March 13, 2024 episode of Dynamite, where he was unsuccessful in challenging Samoa Joe for the AEW World Championship. He had been sidelined due to a shoulder injury, injuries sustained in a car accident, and filming commitments for the reboot of American Gladiators.
The angle involving Swerve Strickland is expected to remove Strickland from AEW television for the time being. According to reports, he is dealing with a meniscus injury that may require surgery, setting the stage for a potential feud with Wardlow once he returns.
The most attractive man in the history of professional wrestling and it’s not even close pic.twitter.com/CEN1zpI8kI
— Wardlow (@RealWardlow) August 26, 2025
