Kyle O’Reilly’s absence from AEW television has a confirmed medical explanation, with Bryan Alvarez revealing on Wrestling Observer Live that the veteran is dealing with another neck injury — and critically, it is not the same injury that previously kept him sidelined. “It’s something else,” Alvarez noted, adding that the severity and timeline are still unclear. “I don’t know if it’s career-threatening. I don’t know if he’s going to be back soon. I just know the reasoning he’s been gone is that he did have another legitimate neck injury.”
O’Reilly last appeared on AEW programming at the Christmas Collision show in December, where he revealed he was dealing with a bulging disc in his neck and an arm fracture during a promo with Roderick Strong. His last in-ring appearance was at AEW Full Gear 2025 in November, where he defeated Jon Moxley in a No Holds Barred Match. The neck issues also forced him to withdraw from the 2025 Continental Classic tournament.
Kyle O’Reilly’s AEW Career Was Building Strong Momentum Before His Latest Neck Injury
The timing is particularly unfortunate given where O’Reilly’s career trajectory appeared to be heading. His Full Gear victory over Moxley was one of the most significant wins of his AEW tenure and had set the stage for what looked like a major program going forward. The uncertainty around his current injury — including whether its severity could threaten his career — makes this one of the more serious injury situations in AEW right now. Everyone wishes O’Reilly a speedy and full recovery.
