Eddie Kingston ‘ready’ for AEW return, details how Tony Khan helped with surgery

After being sidelined for more than a year, Eddie Kingston is ready to get back in the ring.

Kingston was forced out of action in May 2024 when he suffered a broken leg, torn ACL, and other knee damage at a show for NJPW. It was a difficult recovery process both physically and mentally, but Kingston’s AEW return is now on the horizon with him accepting a challenge from Big Bill. A date for the match has not been announced yet.

During his recovery, Kingston has been working out with Cezar Bononi and documenting the process on Bononi’s YouTube channel. In the latest video, Kingston confirmed that he feels ready to compete again.

“I feel ready to go today if I had to — if I had to,” Kingston said in the video, which was recorded before his return plans were revealed.

The feeling of competing in the ring is something Kingston has missed — and he’s looking forward to getting that feeling back.

“All I do know is — this is the only fact I know — is that when I do come back, I’m at least going to have fun beating the sh*t out of somebody,” Kingston said. “And if they beat the sh*t out of me, fine. Here’s the list, add your name to it. But I’m also going to beat your ass, whoever it is.”

Kingston’s recovery process was complicated by health insurance issues that delayed his physical therapy for a period of time until he switched providers. There was also an issue where his previous provider denied paying for his knee surgery at the last minute. When that happened, Tony Khan footed the bill.

“When I had hernia surgery three years ago, my insurance at the time said that they would cover it. The day of the surgery, they said they couldn’t cover it. So thank god other people took care of that one. I’m still paying for the anesthesia though, still,” Kingston said.

“And then it happened again, same insurance, with the knee surgery. The day of the knee surgery, they said, ‘Oh no, we’re not covering.’ And the surgeon kind of knew that was going to happen because he’s seen this before with this kind of insurance. And he was like, ‘Let me make a couple of calls.’ And then, of course, you know, Tony took care of it. I’ll say it, thank god.”