Buddy Matthews has made his first appearance in a wrestling ring since suffering a serious ankle injury in February 2025.
Matthews returned at World Series Wrestling in Australia, interrupting Donovan Dijak following a four-way WSW Championship match that also featured Moose, Matt Hayter, and Matt Riddle. He entered wearing a black hoodie and carrying a steel chair, landing multiple chair shots on Dijak before grabbing a microphone.
“In case you’ve forgotten my name is Buddy Matthews! And I’m the guy that kicked down the door for every Australian to make it overseas. Now let’s get one thing straight, I might not be cleared now but in October I will be. And I might just take all the gold because hell’s frozen over and you just can’t stop the unstoppable.”
Matthews has been out since AEW Grand Slam Australia in February 2025, where he suffered an ankle injury during his entrance. He competed regardless, facing Kazuchika Okada for the AEW Continental Championship despite the injury. Subsequent diagnosis revealed ligament and nerve damage to the foot, leading to a 15-month absence.