Colten Gunn and Adriana Rizzo Cleared to Return as Global Wrestling Sees Wave of Summer Comebacks

The grueling physical toll of both professional and amateur wrestling inevitably leads to extended injury absences, impacting roster depth and forcing creative pivots across the industry. However, the late summer of 2026 is bringing a wave of uplifting news. Across major global promotions, several key athletes have officially been medically cleared to return to the ring following exhaustive rehabilitation periods.[6]

In All Elite Wrestling (AEW), former Tag Team Champion Colten Gunn is officially ready to step back between the ropes. Gunn had been sidelined for more than eight months after suffering a severe knee injury during a chaotic four-way tag team match on Collision in July 2025.[1]

The injury derailed The Gunns' momentum just as they were scheduled to compete in a high-stakes Tag Team Title Eliminator Tournament. However, his father and wrestling legend Billy Gunn recently confirmed during a virtual signing that Colten "just got cleared yesterday," paving the way for a highly anticipated Bang Bang Gang reunion.[1]

Meanwhile, in WWE's NXT brand, Adriana Rizzo shared her own triumphant update. In August 2025, Rizzo suffered a devastating multi-ligament knee injury, completely tearing her ACL, tearing her meniscus, and spraining her MCL in her left leg.[2]

After a grueling year of physical therapy, Rizzo took to social media to announce her official medical clearance. "Guess who's back," she wrote, celebrating the end of a painful chapter that also included a previous Achilles tear and partial ACL tear in the years prior.[2]

The positive momentum extends beyond the professional ranks into the global amateur circuit. United World Wrestling (UWW) recently saw the return of Olympic champion Magomed Ramazanov, who had been forced away from the mat for more than a year due to a severe injury that required surgery.[3]

Ramazanov marked his comeback at the Ulaanbaatar Open, showing no signs of ring rust as he dominated his early bouts with his signature upper-body offense to capture a silver medal. His successful return instantly shakes up the 86kg freestyle landscape ahead of the upcoming World Championships.[3]

The industry is also seeing positive updates regarding in-ring scares that fortunately avoided long-term damage. Following a frightening spot at the recent AEW Redemption pay-per-view, Nick Jackson of The Young Bucks reassured fans that he did not suffer a concussion despite taking a hard shot to the head, allowing him to continue competing without missing time.[4]

Similarly, AEW's Jay White was officially cleared for in-ring action just prior to the Forbidden Door event. While he was reportedly banged up in a subsequent Double Chain match, the initial clearance allowed him to make his long-awaited return after being sidelined for over 450 days.[5]

These successful returns underscore a broader industry shift toward prioritizing long-term athlete health over rushed comebacks. UWW recently codified this approach with a strict, zero-tolerance concussion policy that mandates immediate removal and forbids same-day returns under any circumstances.[3]

Professional promotions like WWE and AEW have similarly bolstered their medical protocols, ensuring that athletes like Gunn and Rizzo complete comprehensive, multi-stage rehabilitation programs before taking their first bump. The focus has shifted from immediate storyline needs to ensuring structural stability and career longevity.[1][2][6]

As the global wrestling calendar accelerates toward major fall events, the influx of returning talent provides a massive boost to match quality and fan engagement. For the athletes, it represents the culmination of months of quiet, painful work behind the scenes, allowing them to finally reclaim their spots under the bright lights.