Dustin Rhodes gives update on surgery recovery, AEW return
Optimistically, Dustin Rhodes is hoping that he’ll be able to wrestle again in March 2026.
The 56-year-old Rhodes underwent a double knee replacement this August and continues to progress in his recovery. On social media last night, Rhodes noted that he still has a ways to go but thinks he could return to the ring in March. That would be a seven-month recovery after his surgery.
They still hurt a bit, especially in the mornings. I do have a good ways to go. Remember I am 56 and pushing hard, just takes time. Not young anymore. Prob March I should be ready to kill everyone lol. Maybe, I am pushing hard my man https://t.co/uAsiqcqtdR
— Dustin Rhodes (@dustinrhodes) November 7, 2025
“They still hurt a bit, especially in the mornings,” Rhodes responded when a fan asked how his knees are feeling. “I do have a good ways to go. Remember I am 56 and pushing hard, just takes time. Not young anymore. Prob March I should be ready to kill everyone lol. Maybe, I am pushing hard my man.”
Rhodes is a wrestler/coach for AEW & ROH, along with running his own Rhodes Wrestling Academy in Texas. His last match before surgery was a street fight where he dropped the AEW TNT Championship to Kyle Fletcher.
Along with losing the TNT title, Rhodes had to vacate the ROH Tag Team titles and ROH Six-Man Tag Team titles.
Rhodes is under a long-term contract with AEW after re-upping his deal at the end of 2024.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.