Over the years, AEW has shocked and delighted their fans by bringing in former WWE stars for surprise appearances, with Sting’s debut likely being at the top of many fans’ lists. And now, during a recent live stream, Ryback has revealed that he also almost had a similar return to the ring as Sting with AEW, thanks to former EVP Cody Rhodes. The appearance, though, would fall through as Ryback wasn’t interested in returning to the business when he wasn’t 100% healthy and thus turned down the opportunity.
“Cody contacted me about coming in, I think it was prior to the pandemic, and I had to tell him that I’m not coming back until I’m 100%. They asked me if I could come in and do like a Sting spot to look really, just something short-term even, and I’m not. I’m not going back until I know that I can be better than I’ve ever been.”
RybackDespite having not wrestled in five years, Ryback continues to regularly tease a return to the ring on social media now that his injuries are almost a thing of the past. Nevertheless, whether a major promotion will have any interest in the 41-year-old in 2023 remains to be seen, especially considering his past incredibly controversial social media behavior. Still, there was a time when he looked set for superstardom, so perhaps someone may give him one more chance to fulfill the potential he showed when feuding with CM Punk a decade ago.
