AEW: Wheeler Yuta Injury & AEW Absence Update, Britt Baker Back Injury Update, Chris Jericho on His Learning Tree Character, More News

Wheeler Yuta Injury & AEW Absence Status Update

As noted before, Wheeler Yuta has been absent from AEW since this past January due to an undisclosed injury.

Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that Wheeler has been dealing with concussion symptoms for some time and has yet to be medically cleared for a potential in-ring return.

Those spoken to within AEW reportedly stated that they had originally hoped that Yuta’s absence would only have been for a short period but AEW officials currently do not have a timetable on when he might be able to return to action.

In regards to Yuta’s concussion injury, it was reported that it is currently not known when Yuta had suffered the injury.

---

Britt Baker Back Injury Status Update

As noted before, Britt Baker has been absent from AEW since this past September due to a back-related injury.

A recent episode of the Busted Open Radio podcast featured WWE Hall of Famer and wrestling legend Diamond Dallas Page as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Page providing an update on Baker’s injury recovery stating that she recently has been training for her return at his DDP Yoga studio.

“She’s been off TV for a while because of injury. She’s coming back, she looks amazing. Her body looks great and she was blown away by the pump that she got. She was live and ready to go. She was a little intimidated by the cold plunge, as most everybody is who has never done it. She got in there. It’s all mental. Within a minute, she owned it. She stayed for three minutes. It’s like 41 degrees. It was a great day all around. Just talking about the business, what she wants to do when she comes back and all of that. She’s a top talent. You’re looking at men and women, you’re looking at Britt. What she’s done as a character, as a promo, and what she’s done in the ring. I’m looking forward to seeing her get back.”

Page also provided an update on Twitter about Baker’s rehab progress and training.

Had a great @DDPYoga & chest & bicep @Powercuffs workout with @RealBrittBaker 💥 on Friday, repeat #DDPY then legs & shoulders with #PowerCuffs!

Britt is on the road to recovery! She’s gonna be B-A Double-D, BADD to the BONE when she gets back to @AEW!

Look for our workouts on… pic.twitter.com/8BZs5VDWZz

— Diamond Dallas Page (@RealDDP) May 8, 2024

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

---

Chris Jericho Comments on His Current Learning Tree Character in AEW

A recent episode of The Kevin Karius Show podcast featured Chris Jericho as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Jericho’s thoughts about the process that led to his current “The Learning Tree” character in AEW.

“I just started doing this Learning Tree gimmick a few weeks ago. That’s the best thing about wrestling, when people start to get mad at you, you turn into a bad guy and when people like you, you turn into a good guy. This is the start of this whole new persona as we continue the story. That’s the most important thing about wrestling, the story. The matches are important, but the characters and the storylines are what really draws people into watching you and draws people into following what you’re doing. To me, that’s always been the most important thing. The teacher. I’ve been doing this for a long time. I thought, what’s a cool way to personify that and make people mad? I’ve been doing this at a high level, I thought, I’ll adopt this persona of being the seasoned vet that teaches the rookies the ways of the game. That’s how it started, and the way we’ve portrayed it, people get really mad at me for it. That’s what you want. By being the seasoned vet who knows everything, that makes people mad at me. That’s wrestling for you.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

---

AEW News & Notes

A recent episode of GiantBomb’s Voicemail Dump Truck show featured AEW’s Adam Cole and Evil Uno as the guests.

Collectables manufacturer Youtooz recently teased on Twitter that they are collaborating with AEW on a new collectables figures series.

A recent episode of the Being The Dark Order YouTube show featured The Young Bucks making a surprise appearance. This was the Young Bucks first appearance in a Being The Elite or Being The Dark Order episode since this past October.

In a recent interview with WrestleZone, TNA Wrestling talent Brian Myers gave his thoughts about Chris Jericho’s Learning Tree gimmick being similar to his past gimmick in TNA. Myers stated “Here‘s my thoughts on that. When that was said or whatever on television, I was on a family vacation, about as disconnected from wrestling and my phone as I’ve been in years, having a wonderful time. My timeline and mentions blew up, and I couldn’t have given a fucking shit about it, so there’s your answer. I don’t give a shit. I never trademarked it. If Chris wants it, he can have it. We have the same fucking trademark lawyer. He can have at it. The Learning Tree in TNA Wrestling was super fun and something I thought was really growing and clicking and being a very entertaining part of the show. But ultimately, it doesn’t matter to me because The System right now is literally the biggest thing on the show, so what do I care about The Learning Tree?” (Transcript h/t: WrestleZone.com)

In a recent interview with ESPN 1530’s Cincy 360 with Tom Pike radio show, AEW CEO Tony Khan gave his thoughts about what he feels separates AEW from other wrestling promotions. Khan stated “AEW, we have, what I believe is the most exciting matches and we have great stories happening. We really are a challenging brand. We’re fighting against an establishment and we’ve built a huge fanbase in a pretty quick time. People love the fast-paced exiting action, and the interviews. In AEW, people really feel a connection with the wrestlers. We don’t script the interviews here. People go out, maybe they have bullet points and key pieces of information they are trying to get out, but it feels like you’re hearing a real person talk, which isn’t always the way it feels in some of the competition interviews. That’s one major difference. Our biggest strength is the quality of our athletes and the charisma of our biggest stars. Some of the biggest names in wrestling are in AEW and there is a reason why big free agents want to come to AEW. This is where the best wrestle.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

In a recent interview with the Swerve City podcast, Will Ospreay gave his thoughts about his belief that the best way for AEW to grow as a company is to travel around the world for shows. Ospreay stated “For me, I’m a guy that enjoys seeing the world. I love doing that. Coming over here, obviously, I bring a little bit of flavor from around the world. I don’t want to forget about what made me. My main goal, I want to take AEW everywhere. I want to do shows in Tokyo, I want to do shows in Osaka, I want to do shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Dublin. That’s my main thing with AEW. I do want to take it around the world because I do believe that travel broadens us. What made me a man — [Swerve] knew me as a kid. I was annoying. I was a bit full on, but I didn’t know shit about myself. I was learning about everything at such a young age and almost using social media more as a diary rather than a platform to promote. It happens. I got to learn and every single time I let anybody down, I came back on my knees and was ready to go to work to prove myself. Every single time I’ve grown up, I’ve matured, I’m in a position now where I’m a parent. I know who I am as a human being, but I still believe it’s because of everything I’ve done. Every person I’ve met. Every fan I’ve shaken hands with. Every wrestler I’ve wrestled. I believe the best way AEW can grow is by traveling and wanting to do more pay-per-views out in Japan, Mexico, Canada, England, Europe, every where. That’s my goal with AEW.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

In a recent episode of the Grilling JR podcast, co-host Jim Ross gave his thoughts about WWE not renewing Jerry “The King” Lawler’s broadcast contract and if he and Lawler have called their last match together as a commentary team. Ross stated “I felt bad about this week’s news about (Jerry) Lawler. My partner. I don’t think that he and I have worked our last match together. I really don’t believe that. I think somewhere down the road — if nothing else, it’ll be at an appearance. You notice he doesn’t wear his Hall of Fame ring, but he’ll wear the freaking Superman ring until the cows come home. Never. I’ve never seen him wear it. I’m not saying that he’s gonna join the staff at AEW whatsoever. I don’t have any idea about that, and nor do I want to know. It’s not my place to hire talent. But I certainly feel in my bones there’ll be opportunities for he and I to work together, whether it’d be on a TV show, a one-off type thing, or certainly some appearances. I had a chance to do an appearance with him in Oklahoma City. They called me late, and it coincides with our pay-per-view in Vegas. So Double or Nothing, I can’t miss that to go make a dollar or two on an appearance. So, we’ll get there but, we still have great chemistry. When you’re together that long… it’s Siegfried and Roy.” (Transcript h/t: PostWrestling.com)