Matt Sydal reappears in the ring after more than a year of absence

Matt Sydal, current member of the All Elite Wrestling roster, returned to action this summer in a discreet manner, far from the usual spotlight of the company. His comeback took place in July during the ABC 15th International Catch Festival in France, where he faced the Japanese legend Último Dragón, who is 58 years old. The match ended with a victory for the veteran masked wrestler.

This was Sydal's first match since May 2024, when he was defeated in just two minutes by Konosuke Takeshita in an episode of AEW Dynamite. Since then, he had not stepped into a ring due to the physical problems he was dealing with.

The reason for his prolonged absence was a surgery on his right foot after "a decade of suffering." The 42-year-old wrestler underwent a complex procedure that involved breaking and re-fusing three bones, as well as placing fixations to adjust his joints. It was a long and painful recovery that finally allowed him to return to the ring.

Although Sydal is still officially listed as part of the AEW roster, it is unclear if Tony Khan has immediate plans to reintegrate him into the television programming. The veteran wrestler joined the company at All Out 2020 and has since competed in over a hundred matches in AEW, in addition to having 19 matches in Ring of Honor.

Coincidentally, despite his activity on social media - where he often shares AEW posts - Sydal did not comment on his return in France. The wrestler's silence has surprised many, in an era where social media tends to leak any movement within minutes.

Prior to joining AEW, Sydal had already built a recognized international career. He debuted on the independent circuit in the 2000s and gained prominence in Ring of Honor thanks to his aerial style. He later signed with WWE, where under the name Evan Bourne he won the WWE Tag Team Championship alongside Kofi Kingston and earned fans' admiration for his characteristic Shooting Star Press. After his departure from the company, he continued his career in NJPW, Impact Wrestling, and other international promotions, establishing himself as a high-risk wrestling specialist.