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The AEW roster is loaded with dozens of active talents, along with numerous injured wrestlers who are on the shelf. Injuries are an unfortunate part of being a pro wrestler, and a former world champion recently opened up on why he has been away from the ring.
Dalton Castle made his pro wrestling debut in 2009 after a successful amateur wrestling run. The New York native made his name in ROH, CHIKARA, and TNA Wrestling. As a regular in Ring of Honor, Castle debuted for AEW in April 2022 after Tony Khan's big purchase. The 38-year-old continues to work for All Elite Wrestling and ROH while appearing on the independent circuit.
The Party Peacock has not wrestled since the July 10 edition of AEW Collision. Castle lost an eleven-minute match to Roderick Strong that night, with a future ROH World Championship shot on the line. In his new interview with Alison Rosen Is Your New Best Friend, Castle revealed that he suffered a biceps tear on Collision. He called it a freak accident.
"I tore my bicep. That was back in July. It was the last match I had. The guy I was wrestling, it was just a freak accident. It hurt. I was freaking out. The guy I was wrestling took a cheap shot at me or advantage of the situation. It sucks. I was supposed to go hiking the next day. I lost the match. I lost my hiking trip. Now, I spend every day in physical therapy, and on the weekends, I go antiquing," Dalton Castle said.
Castle was then asked about his ring return. He expects to be back in action by January 2025.
"We're projecting end of the year. I'm thinking January, I'm back." [H/T to Fightful]
Castle is a one-time ROH World Champion. He also held the ROH World Television Championship on one occasion, and the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Title twice with The Boys.
Dalton Castle on whether he blames the AEW veteran
AEW's Roderick Strong began his pro wrestling career 24 years ago. The 41-year-old multi-time champion is widely regarded as one of the best all-around in-ring workers of the modern era.
Dalton Castle was asked by Alison Rosen whether he blamed Strong for the torn biceps suffered during their AEW Collision match on July 10. The 15-year industry veteran said the injury was not Strong's fault, but he revealed how The Undisputed Kingdom member did not back off after the injury occurred.
"No, the injury wasn't his fault. He just didn't back down after it. We were friends, I thought we were friends, me and this guy. I was like, 'Hey, I need a second.' He's like, 'No, no timeouts.' I don't want to get into it. I try not to think about it too much. The time off sucks. I'm just focusing on enjoying the time off and working on getting better. (...) I recognize that I'm still very much hurt and I get angry. It's this rollercoaster cycle of emotions. It's real fun," Dalton Castle said. [H/T to Fightful]
The aforementioned Collision match was the fourth singles contest between the former ROH World Champions. The series is currently tied 2-2.
