Absent AEW Star Admits Mental Health Effects of Prolonged Hiatus
The Butcher is not enjoying his time off AEW TV.
The AEW star had found himself in a predicament after his tag team partner, The Blade, had to take a long hiatus from wrestling in February 2024 due to a fusion surgery. Tony Khan continued booking the 48-year-old in occasional singles matches for a while with his partner being out of action, before eventually stopping. As things stand, the wrestling star has not competed in a match for the company since February 2025.
The 48-year-old addressed his year-long TV hiatus during a recent interview with Youngstown Studio. The Butcher first mentioned that he understands the difficulty of booking a tag team talent without his partner:
"How many times can you send a guy out there in singles matches and then they lose? You know what I mean? You kind of have to shelve them. And I kind of understand, and try to be humble with that."
Though the former guitarist then admitted that the prolonged absence has had an effect on his mental health, even if he is grateful for still being under contract with AEW:
"It does seep into your head like, dude, what did I do wrong? ‘Cause no one talks to you. It’s not like they’re checking up on me every week, going like, how you doing, dude?
It’s just like, we’ll call you when we need you. And that is kind of a [mindfuck]. At the same time, I’m so grateful because I get paid every two weeks. Blade is now healthy, so we can work indies and stuff like that."
The Blade returned to the ring after spending almost two years on the shelf at an indie show in December last year. While he is yet to step in the ring with The Butcher again, the hope is that the tag team will return to AEW TV sooner rather than later.
