Star Suffers Injury During AEW Dark This Week

AEW Dark is the company’s weekly YouTube series. Those dark matches might be for online consumption only, but TNT might bring the AEW Dark show to the network soon enough as part of the company’s expanded deal with Warner Media.

During this week’s episode of AEW Dark, John Skyler suffered an injury to the ACL, MCL, and PCL in his right knee. His current projected return date is six months.

Skyler wrestled for over 12 yeas, but he never suffered an injury until this Wednesday. Now he can’t walk at all, but he is not making any plans to hang up his boots at all. John Skyler also wanted to make it clear that he also finished the match.

12 years. 1,264 Matches.

Advertising

Advertising

They say “there is never a good time to get injured.”

Well after 12 years in the greatest sport in the world. And after 1,264 times of being lucky enough to go to the ring….healthy, to do what I love the most…entertaining fans (over 3 continents and over a dozen countries)….my luck has finally run out.

Last Wednesday, I suffered what I consider to be the first serious injury of my wrestling career…

My way of judging a serious injury has always been….”if ya can walk to the ring….you can wrestle.” Something I’ve always lived by, and a lot of times, against my better judgement, I have done when I shouldn’t have….but “What Would Harley Do?…Am I right?

Well….for the first time…..I can’t walk to the ring right now……I can’t really walk at all ….without crutches.

Last Wednesday, in what can only be described as an unavoidable freak accident (nobody’s fault), in one fell swoop….I suffered tears in my ACL, MCL, and PCL in my right knee…that will sadly, keep me from doing what I love for a little while (projected to be around six months). Decisions on inevitable surgery and rehab will be made early next week.

I’ve had to think long and hard about what I wanted to actually type out…my heart is heavy, knowing that I won’t be able to do what I love the most for a little while…but like a lot of things over the last few months of my life…this wasn’t my choice.

First off….I want to thank Tony Khan, Cody, Nick, Matt, CD, QT, and the rest of AEW (All Elite Wrestling), for their support, kindness, and unwavering generosity during this time.

I also really want to thank AEW’s World-Class Medical Team, (especially the on-site trainers, and Doc Sampson) for getting me the immediate help I needed and treating me and my injury with the upmost attention and professional care. ??

The thing that drew me to wrestling as a child was the “larger than life, immortal, invincible, super-hero like personalities.”

That’s what I loved, and that’s what I wanted to be.

In reality, we aren’t invincible. A lot of nights we ALL go to the ring in physical pain, just for the opportunity to entertain all of you. We do it with smiles on our faces, even though some nights it’s tougher than others…

I’ve sacrificed a lot over the last 12 years just to have the chance to call myself a professional wrestler (and be considered somewhat good at my craft at the same time). I’ve sacrificed time at home, friendships, relationships, family time, spare time, birthdays, weddings, funerals, graduations, and everything in between. That was MY choice. And I’m not complaining because I’ve been blessed with the greatest life in the world.

All that being said…..How can you help me?

Don’t blame this on “2020”. Don’t blame this on anybody. Instead of blaming 2020, or waiting for 2020 to be over….wake up and enjoy every day you have on God’s Green Earth. Every day is a blessing.

To my fellow wrestlers (men and women) that want to help me….you can do so by enjoying every single time you get the chance to perform underneath those bright lights. I took that opportunity for granted approximately 1,264 times….I want you all to have the opportunity to …..soak….it…..in.

Soak it in….while you can….because eventually…. I WILL be back. ??.

Thank you all for your love and support at this time. I’ll see you all again soon!

Much Love,

John

(By the way……….I finished the match.)

2020 isn’t a good year for a lot of people, but Skyler doesn’t want to blame what year it is on this injury. Things like this can happen in pro wrestling at any time because it really isn’t ballet.

He also took a chance to thank Tony Khan for his “unwavering generosity.” We have to wonder how AEW is going above and beyond to help John Skyler after such appreciative words.