AEW Star Undergoing Surgery; Out For Almost A Year

AEW star Ortiz could be out of action for the rest of 2024.

Ortiz made his debut in AEW back in 2019 alongside Mike Santana. The pair soon joined Chris Jericho’s Inner Circle and were part of the faction until it imploded in 2022. In the time since then, Santana and Ortiz have parted ways due to real-life animosity between the pair. Ortiz has sporadically appeared on AEW TV since the split, most recently teaming with Eddie Kingston in a losing effort against Claudio Castagnoli and Bryan Danielson on the January 20th edition of Collision.

During an appearance on Isiah Kassidy’s vlog, the star revealed that he was dealing with a torn pec and will undergo surgery in two weeks. Ortiz said he will need four months recovery time and joked he’ll be back with “a mullet and a moustache.”

“I’m injured, man, I’m about to get surgery in two weeks…It was just from a clothesline. I tore my pec from a clothesline.

“Two weeks, four months recovery time, and then I’ll be back more jacked with a mullet and a moustache.” (H/T F4WOnline)

Ortiz’ Absence From AEW TV Could Be Longer

While Ortiz is hopeful of a shorter recovery time, on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that, for the type of injury, it could end up being eight or nine months if not more.

“Torn pec, sorry to hear that. I believe the story was he has not yet had the surgery but he’s about to have it. We’re probably talking 8, 9 months [out of action] maybe more. He hasn’t been used a lot either and he’s another talented guy.”

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