Injured AEW star reportedly hopeful for winter return

It’s been two months since former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland has been in the ring and it may still be a few months longer until he returns.

After losing to Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada at August’s Forbidden Door pay-per-view, Strickland was taken out by the returning Wardlow with a Strickland knee injury made part of the build to the Okada match.

Strickland then underwent surgery on August 27 to finally repair a torn meniscus that he suffered in 2019 while he was in WWE NXT.

While AEW head Tony Khan said last week that he expected Strickland back “sooner than later,” Fightful Select reported Wednesday there was an “optimistic hope” Strickland could return this winter, possibly in December if there are no setbacks.

With Wardlow out for some time with a torn pectoral muscle suffered during that Forbidden Door angle, it’s unclear what Strickland’s first feud would be when he returns.