AEW All Out 2026 Injury Report: Steven Borden Cleared After Scary Collision, Wardlow Imminent

The physical toll of AEW All Out 2026 was palpable, headlined by a terrifying mid-air collision that sent Steven Borden to the hospital and forced an immediate referee stoppage. Yet, the weekend ended on a wave of relief and anticipation. Borden was cleared to fly home following a battery of medical tests, and several major stars signaled their imminent returns to the ring, injecting fresh momentum into the promotion's fall schedule.[1][2][4][5]

The scariest moment of the September 26 pay-per-view occurred during the second match of the night. Borden, wrestling in his first-ever AEW pay-per-view, teamed with Darby Allin against Kevin Knight and Kyle Fletcher in a high-stakes number-one contender's bout. Late in the contest, Borden and Knight climbed opposing turnbuckles and launched themselves toward each other, attempting a spectacular coast-to-coast collision.[1][2]

The execution went awry. While Knight appeared to connect, Borden landed awkwardly, his head bouncing violently off the mat. Ringside observers noted that Borden immediately exhibited the 'fencing pose'—a rigid arm extension that is a classic neurological response to a concussion. The arena fell eerily silent as the referee and ringside physician Doc Sampson immediately waved off the match, awarding the victory to Knight and Fletcher via stoppage.[1][2]

The broadcast team of Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, and Taz sounded visibly shaken as medics tended to Borden. He was strapped to a backboard, moved to a gurney, and wheeled out of the arena. However, the anxiety began to lift later in the broadcast when Schiavone announced that Borden was conscious, responsive, and communicating with doctors at a local hospital.[1][2]

During the post-show media scrum, AEW CEO Tony Khan provided the definitive update the locker room was waiting for. "I have a great update. Thankfully Steven Borden is awake and responsive at the hospital, and he had a CT scan, and all the tests have come back good," Khan stated. "So far all good results, and we're hopeful Steven is going to be able to fly home tomorrow to his family."[2][3]

While Borden begins his recovery, the heavyweight division received a massive jolt of adrenaline. Later in the All Out broadcast, a surprise vignette aired teasing the imminent return of Wardlow. The three-time TNT Champion, who boasts a combined title reign of nearly 200 days, has been largely absent from AEW television since March 2024, sidelined by a knee injury and a subsequent torn pectoral muscle sustained in August 2025.[4][6]

Wardlow recently teased his comeback in an interview, stating, "I am so excited to get back to wrestling in front of a live crowd… And we're very, very close to being ready." His return as the powerhouse of the Don Callis Family instantly reshapes the main event picture, giving the faction a dominant enforcer just as the promotion builds toward WrestleDream.[6]

The women's division also received crucial medical clarity. Mercedes Moné, who suffered a broken nose while capturing the AEW Women's World Championship at All In: London, was originally scheduled to compete at All Out. Khan confirmed that while doctors have not yet cleared her for physical contact, her absence will be brief. "In Mercedes' case, it's not a long, long-term injury," Khan noted. "I'm almost certain she'll be back next month."[5]

Not all the injury news was positive, however. During the All Out Buy In, Harley Cameron revealed she is dealing with a knee injury sustained at All In: London, putting her on the shelf for the foreseeable future. Despite the setbacks, the weekend served as a stark reminder of professional wrestling's inherent dangers—and the resilience required to survive them. With Borden avoiding disaster and heavy hitters like Wardlow and Moné preparing to step back through the ropes, the AEW roster looks primed for a physical, high-stakes autumn.[3]