Eddie Kingston Was Talked Out Of Retirement By ROH Legend

Eddie Kingston is back. But it hasn’t been easy.

After 16 long months on the sidelines, Eddie Kingston will finally return to the ring at All Out. At the event, Kingston will be back in action against Big Bill after the former WWE Superstar called out the Mad King.

At NJPW Strong Resurgence in May 2024, Kingston was defending his Openweight Championship against Gabe Kidd in a No Ropes Last Man Standing Match. As the violent battle headed toward its equally violent conclusion, Kidd suplexed Kingston from the ring apron through a table at ringside.

However, Kingston’s leg smashed against the steel guard rail. He was left with a broken leg, as well as a torn ACL and torn meniscus.

Eddie Kingston Contemplated Retirement

During a new interview with Shakiel Mahjouri for CBS Sports, Kingston opened up about his long and difficult road back to the ring. He revealed that he spent a lot of recovery on his own, and this sometimes led him down a dark path where he contemplated retirement.

“I went from beating myself up, not knowing if I’d get back in the ring, and trying to be satisfied. I told myself, ‘Well, I reached this goal and I reached that goal.’ I was trying to convince myself that it’s OK to call it.”

Kingston explained that he was unable to find closure, but a conversation with Homicide about getting to retire on his own terms changed his view.

“He didn’t get to go out his way. So he’d tell me, ‘Go out your way. I know this is not the way you want to go out.’ I want to go out on my shield. I want to go out swinging to the end. People can say whatever they want about Eddie Kingston, but one thing they can’t say is that I wasn’t defiant to the end. That’s what kept me going.”

Kingston added that he regularly read messages from fans, and they also helped keep him going. Even if he’s still struggling to understand why so many people have connected with a regular guy from Yonkers.

“And as corny as this sounds, but I need to say it, I’d read messages from fans. I would sit there and wonder why these people even care. I’m just a kid from Yonkers, New York. That’s it. I got to live out my nine-year-old dream and be a pro wrestler.”

Speaking elsewhere, Eddie Kingston explained how Tony Khan stepped up to help him in his hour of need, right before he was set to undergo surgery.