Jonathan Gresham will return to the ring after overcoming two strokes

Jonathan Gresham will officially return to wrestling. Jersey Championship Wrestling has confirmed that "The Octopus" will be one of the participants in the Jersey J-Cup 2026, a tournament that will take place on February 6 and 7 at the White Eagle Hall in Jersey City. It will be his first appearance in a ring since the two brain hemorrhages he suffered last August.

The news marks a turning point after the dramatic episode he experienced on August 5, 2025, when he woke up unable to move the left side of his body, with impaired balance, affected vision, and barely able to speak. Gresham himself recounted that it took him half an hour to call 911. Doctors did not find a specific cause, although they indicated that the hemorrhages could be related to the aftermath of a severe case of COVID-19 he had suffered weeks before.

His last match so far was against Pete Dunne at GCW Josh Barnett's Bloodsport XIV on August 2. Three days later came the medical emergency that halted his career.

In an August interview on Unlikely with Adrian Hernandez, Jordynne Grace, Gresham's wife, confirmed that the recovery had been surprisingly quick thanks to his age and physical condition. She stated that he was "100%" and that only medical clearance was needed to return to the ring. A few weeks ago, he responded with a resounding "2026" to a fan asking to see him sign with a major company, hinting that the next year could be crucial in his future.

The Jersey J-Cup also features names like Jordan Oliver, Alec Price, Erick Stevens, Judas Icarus, and Travis Williams, as well as PROGRESS World Champion, Man Like DeReiss. The remaining six participants will be decided at the JCW event on December 14.