Eddie Kingston’s life journey can be viewed as a remarkable success story. While the news of his serious contemplation of retirement ahead of AEW All Out is startling, his capacity to triumph over such thoughts aligns with what fans know of him.
Kingston made his return to AEW on Saturday, marking his first match since May 2024, when a severe leg injury left him sidelined. He faced Big Bill at the All Out event, which was significantly highlighted due to its coincidence with WWE’s Wrestlepalooza.
The path to Kingston’s recovery was fraught with challenges. He faced hurdles such as a lack of insurance coverage for his therapy sessions, which forced him to rely on a rudimentary workout regime until 2025. However, physical challenges were not the most daunting aspect of his journey.
“The hardest part of anything in life is the mental game. Pain is whatever,” Kingston shared with CBS Sports prior to All Out. “I’ve had eight or nine surgeries already.”
Kingston’s struggles mirror those of a fighter facing life’s tough battles. Overcoming childhood adversity and issues with mental health and substance abuse has shaped his resilient spirit, one he pours into his wrestling persona, connecting deeply with fans.
Feeling isolated after personal relationships suffered added to Kingston’s loneliness as he navigated his recovery. “I told her to get out and that I’d be alright, lying, of course,” he confessed. “For two months, I was by myself, sitting in the dark, barely doing my PT.”
His food bingeing during these tough times compelled him to seek medical help, reminiscent of the path he avoided with alcohol. “I told myself, ‘Well, I reached this goal and I reached that goal.’ I was trying to convince myself that it’s okay to call it.”
Despite his attempts to make peace with his career, he ultimately found it impossible to let go. “I couldn’t find closure. Everything felt intertwined.”
Kingston’s aspirations extend beyond the ring; he wants to achieve feats like performing at iconic venues while still pursuing the elusive AEW World Championship. Powerful advice from his mentor, Homicide, who had to retire under tragic circumstances, reignited his drive.
“He’d tell me, ‘Go out your way. I know this is not the way you want to go out.’ I want to go out on my shield, fighting until the end. People might say anything about Eddie Kingston, but they can’t deny my defiance.”
Kingston’s story, marked by vulnerability yet resilience, resonates profoundly with fans who reciprocate with unwavering support.
“As corny as this sounds, I’d read messages from fans… I wondered why they care. I’m just a kid from Yonkers living out my nine-year-old dream.”
As he returns to the ring, Kingston acknowledges both the physical and emotional significance of this moment, indicating that it grants him a sense of peace: “It’s an out-of-body experience. In the ring, all I know is the fight, and that brings calmness to me.”
