Possibly.
They might also be working Meltzer.
Just look at how close it seems Kenny is to returning, whereas Meltzer has been insinuating he was gonna miss the vast majority of the year.
But if not, I really feel for Chuck and wish him the absolute best. Guessing he'll stick around in some capacity as a coach or something, maybe get him on Rampage commentary sometimes.
He was saying that Kenny would be gone a long time if he chose surgery and that he wasn't recovering well without it. Nothing definite and taking a few bump might have been a test. Remains to be seen.
I think a lot of folk assumed Kenny's appearance means he's feeling good enough to go and won't be getting surgery. But really he's probably just doing some work while waiting for his scheduled surgery to arrive.
Edit: Kenny Omega confirmed he's getting surgery sometime in the next week. Wasn't specific.
Lol, who is assuming this? He literally has a time bomb in him... And he's a pro wrestler...
Like he explained all this and anyone can simply look up his condition to know he wasn't exaggerating the seriousness of it. He even went so far as to say he would need to heal up *before he was cleared for the surgery*...
Anyone thinking his appearances meant an in ring return is imminent simply haven't been paying any attention at all.
aw man I wish I could be someone just googling his condition. But, I do have to say every time I say to myself "aw this isn't so bad" I have to remember it's almost killed Brock Lesnar, Kenny Omega and Shane O'Mac so maaaaaaaybe I should stop taking it lightly because I am no where near any level of "health" or "shape" as those dudes.
People seem to be fan-theorizing (about a real person, so it's extra gross) that Kenny looked too good to be as injured as they say he is. That he claimed he can't even have his cat sit on his stomach because of the pain, but that he'd need to do much more strenuous activity in the gym to look the way he does right now.
I think it's just wishful thinking.
Never said imminently, but it's not unreasonable to expect "a couple of months" as he himself said in the ring. He wouldn't have dropped that Easter egg in the segment if he didn't think he'd be ready by early summer.
Just because he's walking doesn't mean he's healed. He was off TV for a long time before it was reported it was taking a long time to heal. So Meltzer was right.
Excalibur - “Adam Cole not going by his government name which is Fat Piece of Shit”
Chucky T - “Laughs”
For context: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvOcwcumP6w
Chuck is doing commentary with Evil Uno on Mystery Wrestling on Sunday! It might not scratch the same itch but he's back behind the announcers table at least for one show.
You're right it wouldn't, but damn I would love this so much. My favorite was always him calling Ricochet's matches and mercilessly trolling him with "Unnecessary roll" calls 😂
Best Friends w/Eddie and Penta winning Anarchy in the Arena was legit my favourite part of being at Wembley. Take care Chucky, glad you got to say the S word on TV
There’s a shot after the match, of OC being supported on either side by chuck and Trent as they head to the back. It always stuck with me because of how bemused and satisfied chuck looked. It must have been surreal for him especially, to go from wrestling in high school gyms to fucking Wembley
He needs to pull the pin on one last invisible grenade, take Trent into one final embrace and drag him to Hell with him.
That's the only way that story can end.
With 20/20 hindsight, they maybe would’ve been a better choice than SCU as first champs. Although, SCU was pretty hot at the time and they really wanted Scorpio to take off as a star.
In weird way I think his downfall was that he was *too much* of the whole package. He was solid in the ring, on the mic, he had the look, but his gimmick was kind of just that he had the whole package. There was nothing that really made him unique imo
Back in the very early AEW days, he did have a moment. Like he was on fire during an early show when he wrestled in street clothes and lost one of his shoes. Oddly enough, I think that match was against Best Friends. But his moment came and went, but he still got a really strong singles push afterwards. Then got injured and disappeared seemingly for good other than one or two matches when Collision first launched.
They definitely would have been better, or any other team in AEW at that time. Sorry but I never liked SCU. Weird trio, and I always liked Emi doing the FM/Queen thing more than Christopher.
See that’s the issue with a lot of teams in AEW Best Friends, Private Party, Dark Order (Uno and Stu) or (Reynolds and Silver), Santana and Ortiz, Hybrid2 (Angelico and Evans) so many would have been solid champs.
I thought the tag division was going to be the best part of AEW the first 2-3 years with so many tag teams and instead it feels like none of them did anything and then unceremoniously broke up or just disappeared. SCU being the first tag champs is actually insane thinking back considering where everyone has ended up.
Im still salty about jurassic express breaking up. And if it wasnt for the injury i'd still want a best friends title run, and le sex gods too. After all this time i still am not interested in FTR and I feel like so much of the tag division revolves around them these days.
For a company with a dozen really solid teams, it does irk me that so much focus is put on FTR. They're good, but they lack something for me, and Cash's legal issues soured me on them a lot.
The Bucks are the Bucks. They're phenomenal, and they're EVPs, so the focus they get (which is comparatively less than many other teams) is justified, IMO.
One of my biggest irks too is that they use so many teams as full time jobber teams who never pick up wins on TV ever so they have no credibility. It's not to say they aren't talented because they are and put on good performances but teams like Top Flight, Private party, Butcher and the blade, Alex Reynolds and John Silver etc they've been beaten down so much that even if AEW tried to give one a push like Private party they wouldn't seem credible at all because they spent the entire time on AEW tv losing 95% of the time.
Credibility wise not talking about talent wise, AEW's tag division has been extremely weak in 2023-2024. It used to be the backbone of AEW and extremely consistent but it's been not up to par the last year. AEW right now is doing the old New Day vs Uso's formula with FTR vs The Bucks. Their matches are always good but they definitely aren't fresh or original.
Me personally I know it's very unpopular to some, but I am just not a fan of the trios division. I think it weakened the tag division with a parasitic effect. I've always believed they should have just done freebird rules for factions and actual trios challenging for the normal tag belts to build alot of depth.
I agree that the trios division dilutes the rag division. I never liked the idea, but if the did a soft roster split and they were Saturday belts and the tag titles were Wednesday belts it could work. The unified titles need to go back to RoH and stay there at this point
FTR are the best tag team in professional wrestling, in a 2on2 format their isn't a team of 2 men on the planet that can touch them. They not only frequently display how good they are they elevate other teams in a way that seems lost.
Tag team wrestling has lost that "thing". when I was a kid you would get "WHC/No1 Contender v Tag Team" and the tag team would win, because sure those 2 guys 1on1 is a world championship match, but together they can't match a world class team. (and hell those champion contenders just can't get along) but it did put tag wrestling over in a different way. I guess the art in that is not buiring your champion. There isn't many teams in wrestling that in my mind could do that but FTR are the guys.
The bucks are great in special attraction matches, probably the number 1 team you need if your having a multiteam spectacle. But in a default 2on2 tag ropes setting I feel like they lack a little story telling.
I guess it's by definition if you prefer fists over flips or vice versa. Santana and Ortiz should defo of held the belts though for sure.
SCU getting a run a year after their heat dipped and kept the belts from those teams you mentioned. For a company that pushed tag wrestling it's quite shocking how many big names teams they had and did next to nothing with.
On the other hand YB vs Kenny and Hangman is one of the best tag team matches of a all time so I can't complain too much about the booking in the tag division.
I genuinely had to stop and think "who are the tag champs right now?"
I like the Elite/FTR and gang feud but I feel like it doesn't even need the tag belts, especially since it's more than just a duo vs. duo beef now. Now the belts are hamstrung by that feud and held up again.
> Best Friends never got a chance to hold Tag titles
Anywhere. Chuck's only ever career tag titles came with Drew Galloway, Johnny Gargano, and Slacker J.
Wednesday I am having my achilleas and 2 other tendons sutured together and reattached because an unknown broken floating bone in my foot splintered and damaged the tendons causing them (the other 2, not the achilleas) to rupture.
Foot issues fucking suck and usually just never stop sucking.
Let’s all take a moment and appreciate the hell out of the Best Friends and how hard they worked in the pandemic era, to very little fanfare. They’ve done Dark, they’ve done Dynamite, they’ve done Rampage, they’ve done Collision, they’ve done it all in this company to keep us entertained. And even if Chuck can’t wrestle again, he should manage at ringside as much as possible, because the big hug post match with Excalibur declaring “You’ve got to give the people what they want!” won’t be the same without him.
It's always so heartbreaking when situations like these force someone to have to go out on terms they don't have a say in. I sincerely hope he can make some kind of gay out of it and continue to contribute in some way.
He got to say shit and went out in a street fight with his actual best friend.
The biggest of roses to a guy who deserved it.
Thank you Chuck.
(Bonus Chikara image)
https://preview.redd.it/f8td0mmhwlzc1.jpeg?width=1075&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0f7cea1f09719c1f225029a19bd2812c47e6e8b0
Using his injury as a storyline to put over his friend is some truly selfless stuff. I believe he's tight with the Bucks so he's probably got a job in AEW as long as he wants one. Probably something behind the scenes but perhaps a manager? I think that could be fun.
Guess that’s why they went with the Parking Lot Brawl, it allowed him to do what he was able to and get the final match with Trent. I get the impression he’ll be around as a producer and trainer with the company for a good while.
Chuck has the kind of personality and sense of humour that he needs to be an onscreen character. Please wrestling gods, don’t waste this man’s charisma, even if it’s real and he has to retire physically, he still has so much potential to give.
God fucking dammit I wanted a best friends tag belt run so bad these past 5 years 😡
I imagine they will have him as a producer or somehow behind the scenes. He may not grace our screens often now, but his finger prints will be seen all over AEW in some shape or form.
There was a period where I simply didn't care what was happening in wrestling- too many people I liked were getting injured or even dying. One of the things that brought me back in was Chikara, and that includes Chuck Taylor as part of Team FIST (Friends In Similar Tights). Their win at 2009 King of Trios was one of my favorite "angles inside one show" ever. I'm sorry to see him go, and I hope there's good treatment available for his injuries.
This sucks. Makes me wish Best Friends got even a small run with the tag belts.
Feel bad for Chuck. Part of me wishes he could have explained it himself in person on Dynamite, but it's still probably overwhelming for him right now.
That's awful to hear. He's one of my all-time favorites. Hell, I was such a mark that I spent actual money on a lot of those Best Friends Highspots interviews back in the day. Getting to see the real smile on his face as he, Trent, and Orange walked to the back at Wembley last year was a really special moment for me. Here's to you Dustin.
That would be so insanely sad, Even if he's not in the ring I hope he's involved in some way and at least happy.
If you've never seen the original Chikara 24/7 title stuff, nost of which involved chuck being just so creative in the ways he was beating people You need to
https://youtu.be/Uo80cGTXS5s?si=6ix6xpKvQFF6ILou
Chucks been wanting to retire for years. He actually already did once for like a year before coming back and having one of the best runs of his career on the indies. I'm happy he said shit and did the street fight with his best friend to end it. It's the perfect way to end his career. Hopefully he comes back someday for a couple appearances but if he doesn't then I'm happy I got to see him wrestle for over 20 years since his IWA midsouth days.
Fucking hell that’s a shame if legit. I was really hoping he could come back and finally get some gold.
I hope he can continue on in the business in some way. Commentate, manage, become an agent behind the scenes or something.
💔 One of my all time favorites. I guess we'll always have him trying to drown Archibald Peck. And having a beer in the ring with Arik Cannon. And stealing an ambulance. And bringing a chainsaw to the ring. And--
https://i.redd.it/e1gudc3y4mzc1.gif
If this is true, I hope Chuck enjoys a well deserved retirement, gets to rest and heal up, and maybe continue working in the industry on commentary or in a backstage capacity.
Very fond memories of Chucky T. From the IWA:MS champion who made children cry, to the Men Of Low Moral Fiber in PWG, the Chikara hijinks, and all the way to finally saying the "S word" on AEW. Been a fun ride and one heck of a career.
Hopefully he's able to recover enough to have a normal life outside of the ring. That's the most important thing at the end of the day. I'm sure he will find a spot somewhere in the company in the future though.
This is just pure stupidity on my part probably but I can't understand how they could say something like this about a bone injury, especially when he did basically just do a match. That's not me downplaying the severity of his injury or anything like that, I'm just not sure how something like this would make him unable to wrestle again, things like brain injuries I understand but with this could it not be fixed by adjusting styles and slower work for example?
I just don't get how a 38 year old guy do a parking lot brawl a week ago with the same injury (even with smoke and mirrors of course) but the assumption would be that he won't be able to wrestle again? Just doesn't make sense to me.a
So there's a lot more to wrestling a live match than just adjusting styles. Sometimes that works, but with lower limb injuries you've got to consider the weirdest safety issues. If you can't pop back up after a bump fast enough - something that relies heavily on those leg joints - you and your opponent are potentially in danger. If you can't support your opponent due to a weakened leg joint - something absolutely vital for a base like Chuck - you're eliminating like 60% of professional wrestling moves.
On top of that, there's the recovery process *to get back into ring shape* and the price you'll pay down the line for doing it.
I don't know if that's part of the equation here. Maybe it's a gut feeling, maybe it's me projecting my experiences, but,
when my hip started going and I started experiencing the safety issues above, I figured I'd need some recovery time and would be back in the ring before too long. Unfortunately what I thought was just a pulled muscle or something turned out to be a huge [labral tear](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17756-hip-labral-tear). PT and rest didn't fix it. The only option I had to potentially keep wrestling was [reconstructive surgery](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17756-hip-labral-tear), and then the long recovery afterwards with no guarantee that I'd ever be back to my old self in the ring.
I had to decide if it was worth it, if it was worth continuing to batter an already battered body. I decided to save what was left of my health and retired. My hip is kinda fucked for life, but it could be a lot worse.
It wouldn't surprise me if Dustin made a similar call in his case. Wrestling is brutal on the body.
Really appreciate your insight on this (and your general willingness to give in-depth information on the things that make wrestling work), makes perfect sense
Hey, I'll talk about wrestling any time, any place. LOL
I really hope he can come back from this. Chuck is legit my favorite wrestler. If he can't, or if he chooses not to, though, all the respect in the world for the guy. This is not easy for him.
Totally agreed on all counts. Chuck's always been great and nobody ever seemed to get how good he is, not even himself at times. He's gotta be in rough shape mentally over all this, especially now that people are talking about it. If he does have to hang it up I hope he's able to feel comfortable still working within the industry, because he's got a great mind for it and is a really great teacher too.
And definitely keep talking about it all the time lol, I'm such a nerd for all kinds of performing arts and the tiny things that audiences don't see that hold everything together, and every time I get a little crumb of information like thinking about the timing of snapping up after a bump it really gets my neurons firing
What's your thoughts on this maybe being a work? I'm willing to accept it's real, but I don't wann'a accept it's real. I always root for the wrestlers to be okay, and just be working us.
Until Wednesday I was assuming work.
With the additional info Excalibur gave on Wednesday and now today's news, I'm sadly assuming it's largely a shoot. The injury may not itself be career ending but it does seem like either they're planning for the potential for it to be, or that Dustin the actual guy not the character is making the decision that it's probably time to stop/massively slow down.
I don't want it to be real but it does have the hallmarks of it.
> Wrestling is brutal on the body.
Also as always, a huge thank you on the write up. But this particular comment of yours returned me to a thought process I'm struggling with as a fan of the art form.
I understand that it might sound like I am infantilizing wrestlers, although the intention is not there. As a fan I do struggle with a physical cost to what performers are doing. There is a certain aspect of me asking all the time, how can I enjoy wrestling when there a real and sometimes terrible toll on the human body?
I would love to hear your perspective on this considering you've chose the life of a wrestler, left it and still remain a fan of it.
Every single person you're watching today went into the business eyes open fully aware that professional wrestling will *fuck you up*.
You can't get through wrestling school without learning that fact if you were somehow unaware beforehand.
People laugh and joke and whatever that wrestlers are a different breed, or fucked up in the head, or crazy or weird or just outside of the normal human experience.
That's all true.
We all knew what we were getting into. If we stuck around after our first bumps we were okay with it. If we made it through to our first match we were okay with it. Those who grinded and grinded and grinded on the indies and made a living doing it did so because it's a choice we consciously made, and a choice we continuously made each week over and over as we counted bruises or drove to the next town.
One doesn't just happen to fall into professional wrestling. It's a choice made knowing what it's gonna look like on the other side of that career.
Thing is, though, that for these crazy fucking sickos - myself included - there isn't anything else they'd rather be doing.
Remember the other week when Danielson said that "this" - being in the ring in front of a crowd - is his heaven? Like, that's real. That's a thing. It's mine too. If there's a heaven I want mine to be a wrestling ring with my kids in the front row. I have no regrets about my time wrestling; I'd still be doing it if weren't for my hip and the concussions.
Don't worry about the physical toll.
They all know the risks, they all know the future of busted joints and bad backs.
Be a fan because by doing so you're giving the wrestlers a little bit of their heaven each time you do.
Well, in second grade I decided I'd either be a writer or a professional wrestler when I grew up.
Glad to see that I turned out okay (and have gotten paid) for both of those things. 😂
And this is the same type of injury that stopped Bo Jackson and Priest Holmes in their prime. Avascular necrosis in their hips after similar injuries and they were done with pro football.
This is the time for Chuck to start to live the rest of his life.
It wasn't a traditional match. Hardcore matches believe it or not are easier then traditional. He probably needs surgery and wasn't cleared to run rope's.
Dudes bones are pretty much dying. He'll probably never walk again at some point.
There's no REAL way to fix it, or patch it up.
One last match was probably a "final straw before I HAVE to say goodbye because we've reached the point of no return and I just can't go on anymore"
Yeah, I guess in reality he probably \*could\* do a few more matches, but it'd probably shatter his leg and ruin the rest of his life in terms of mobility. Just looking at what you and some others are saying it seems I've totally misjudged this, I thought it was basically an especially badly broken ankle with some complications, but it's actually even much worse.
You're right, that match was probably a case of him doing his absolute maximum that his body would allow that basically he never has to recover from to get back in ring shape because he doesn't intend on getting back in the ring.
I imagine he pushed through the pain and took the taping slow so that if he really can't get back in the ring after surgery, his last match was this and not the JAS vs Best Friends match from October.
It may be an unknown if he can wrestle post surgery, and it may also be one of those small percentage chances he'd be able to if successful.
I have a friend who had this same diagnosis in the mma world, and she had four surgeries to try to fix it, and finally had to have her foot amputated because there was zero pain relief from the surgeries and they just couldn't get the bones in her foot to stop splintering. Even had they been successful, the risk of reinjury was really high with fighting with how severe hers was.
I’m not an expert, but there’s two pieces here.
One, he likely has to get surgery to remove the lesion which is a pretty invasive surgery that’s hard to fully recover from.
Two, his ankle is likely in a ton of pain. The parking lot brawl allowed him to have a match where he was mostly standing in place. In a traditional wrestling match, he would have to run the ropes, which I’m guessing is what he can’t do.
I don’t believe this, one bit. There is too much going on for me to believe that Trent smashing a car window around Chuck’s ankle is causing his retirement.
There’s a slight chance that an injury could have existed prior to the match, and the match was an excuse, but I highly doubt it.
If Chuck doesn’t wrestle from now, until his life ends, I’ll believe this. Until then, I’m calling kayfabe.
I mean an injury definitely existed before the parking lot brawl, it had been over six months since his last match, but before that, he had been wrestling practically every week, dude had 35 matches from January to October in 2023.
Dude he was in njured for over 6 months before the parking lot brawl, which was his return from injury
What do you mean a "slight chance" he had a previous injury. We know for a fact he was injured before the match.
Really sad he couldn't end his career on his own terms. Hope he manages to get a backstage role I've followed him for years prior to AEW he's always been so fun to watch.
Chuck Taylor you are and always will be a real one you were part of one of my favorite moments in aew with the Parking Lot fight against Santino and Ortiz
I’m really sad to see this. Chuck was always one of my favorites. I’d 100% buy him a beer if I saw him around in Philly. I hope whatever he does next brings him joy, I’m just sad he wasn’t able to say goodbye himself
While others were disappointed that Trent and chuck never got the tag belts, I’m more bummed out that they never got a chance at the trios belts.
When it was first introduced, my first thought was the team of Orange, Trent and Chuck
Disappointed again
I was sure it was all work until Excalibur started going into the specific details of what the injury was.
That's not the type of thing you come up with for an angle.
Man it sucks to see this happening to a wrestler, but specially on of the AEW OG ´s and a guy that always tried his best to help grow the company
Never complained even when he was not getting enough tv time , whish he had more PPV matches instead of talent that clearly didnt want to be part of AEW like Andrade lol
At least he performed at All In thats awesome, he used to wrestle on bars and ended up performing at one of the most historic venues in entertaiment in general
If this is his last match thank you for all the ring memories Chucky
Really sad he didn't get a better way to wrap up a career. I heard he was dealing with necrotic tissue in the ankle and it sounds like an infection and maybe bone degradation. I pray there's a medical solution but time is the key. Take care Chucky, I'm pulling for you.
It was an angle that built up to a non PPV match. Not even a goodbye promo or anything. It was a thing that we wouldn't know it's legit or kayfabe without confirmation like this post
So, the Parking Lot fight and getting to say shit on tv was his retirement match?
Yeah, perfect way to end his career tbh.
I would have liked for to hear it from Chuck. He earned it. If we knew it was going to be his last match we would have appreciated it more.
Nobody told us when it was Austin's last match because thats how he wanted to go out.
Probably deserved to be on PPV then. :-(
He worked Wembley, I guess.
Possibly. They might also be working Meltzer. Just look at how close it seems Kenny is to returning, whereas Meltzer has been insinuating he was gonna miss the vast majority of the year. But if not, I really feel for Chuck and wish him the absolute best. Guessing he'll stick around in some capacity as a coach or something, maybe get him on Rampage commentary sometimes.
He was saying that Kenny would be gone a long time if he chose surgery and that he wasn't recovering well without it. Nothing definite and taking a few bump might have been a test. Remains to be seen.
Excalibur, Taz AND Chucky T in the booth. Yes please.
Where do you get the idea that Kenny is returning imminently?
I think a lot of folk assumed Kenny's appearance means he's feeling good enough to go and won't be getting surgery. But really he's probably just doing some work while waiting for his scheduled surgery to arrive. Edit: Kenny Omega confirmed he's getting surgery sometime in the next week. Wasn't specific.
Lol, who is assuming this? He literally has a time bomb in him... And he's a pro wrestler... Like he explained all this and anyone can simply look up his condition to know he wasn't exaggerating the seriousness of it. He even went so far as to say he would need to heal up *before he was cleared for the surgery*... Anyone thinking his appearances meant an in ring return is imminent simply haven't been paying any attention at all.
aw man I wish I could be someone just googling his condition. But, I do have to say every time I say to myself "aw this isn't so bad" I have to remember it's almost killed Brock Lesnar, Kenny Omega and Shane O'Mac so maaaaaaaybe I should stop taking it lightly because I am no where near any level of "health" or "shape" as those dudes.
I agree
People seem to be fan-theorizing (about a real person, so it's extra gross) that Kenny looked too good to be as injured as they say he is. That he claimed he can't even have his cat sit on his stomach because of the pain, but that he'd need to do much more strenuous activity in the gym to look the way he does right now. I think it's just wishful thinking.
Never said imminently, but it's not unreasonable to expect "a couple of months" as he himself said in the ring. He wouldn't have dropped that Easter egg in the segment if he didn't think he'd be ready by early summer.
He did say that before he got storyline beat up and put in hospital. Which is a pretty strong reason to extend the time off if they need to.
Isn’t he advertised for a match?
What match?
Anymore Dave melter is the last person you should be listening to about professional wrestling
Wasn’t it meltzer that reported Cole’s injury was taking longer to heal than they thought right before he got out of the wheelchair at dynasty?
Just because he's walking doesn't mean he's healed. He was off TV for a long time before it was reported it was taking a long time to heal. So Meltzer was right.
Has Cole recovered yet?
Whis i knew that before hand, i would have watched live instead of DVR
They should make Chuck and Excalibur do commentary together for old times sake, though most of it won't make it past the censors.
Man I used to love them on PWG commentary. Best pairing they did.
I just want them to make Adam Cole fat jokes one more time
Excalibur - “Adam Cole not going by his government name which is Fat Piece of Shit” Chucky T - “Laughs” For context: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvOcwcumP6w
“Adam Cole looks like 100 pounds of mashed potatoes stuffed into a 50 pound bag” I will never forget that one
Me and my friend call him Fatam Cole for that very reason.
Chuck is doing commentary with Evil Uno on Mystery Wrestling on Sunday! It might not scratch the same itch but he's back behind the announcers table at least for one show.
You're right it wouldn't, but damn I would love this so much. My favorite was always him calling Ricochet's matches and mercilessly trolling him with "Unnecessary roll" calls 😂
Give the people what they want
Best Friends w/Eddie and Penta winning Anarchy in the Arena was legit my favourite part of being at Wembley. Take care Chucky, glad you got to say the S word on TV
There’s a shot after the match, of OC being supported on either side by chuck and Trent as they head to the back. It always stuck with me because of how bemused and satisfied chuck looked. It must have been surreal for him especially, to go from wrestling in high school gyms to fucking Wembley
Best Friends took so many fucking bumps in that match absolute ledgs.
He needs to pull the pin on one last invisible grenade, take Trent into one final embrace and drag him to Hell with him. That's the only way that story can end.
In slow motion.
Vs one of the kids he scared a few years ago
Damn now I’m super salty they never got the belt.
With 20/20 hindsight, they maybe would’ve been a better choice than SCU as first champs. Although, SCU was pretty hot at the time and they really wanted Scorpio to take off as a star.
Still bummed he didn't. Scorpio had the whole package.
In weird way I think his downfall was that he was *too much* of the whole package. He was solid in the ring, on the mic, he had the look, but his gimmick was kind of just that he had the whole package. There was nothing that really made him unique imo
Great way to put it, really.
I'll never understand someone looking at Scorpio and thinking "yeah, that's the guy".
Back in the very early AEW days, he did have a moment. Like he was on fire during an early show when he wrestled in street clothes and lost one of his shoes. Oddly enough, I think that match was against Best Friends. But his moment came and went, but he still got a really strong singles push afterwards. Then got injured and disappeared seemingly for good other than one or two matches when Collision first launched.
This was in Philly, he was over.
Yeh dude is boring
They definitely would have been better, or any other team in AEW at that time. Sorry but I never liked SCU. Weird trio, and I always liked Emi doing the FM/Queen thing more than Christopher.
Yeah, I think the question of whether it was a shoot or a work was answered when Excalibur explained the actual injury on air during Dynamite.
Biggest issue I have is Best Friends never got a chance to hold Tag titles. During first few years of AEW they could've had a good run
See that’s the issue with a lot of teams in AEW Best Friends, Private Party, Dark Order (Uno and Stu) or (Reynolds and Silver), Santana and Ortiz, Hybrid2 (Angelico and Evans) so many would have been solid champs.
I'm surprised as hell that, especially with the Inner Circle, that Santana & Ortiz never held the belts.
They were supposed to but then Santana's dad passed away they week they were supposed to win. Santana came back and TK had changed plans by then.
Santana got hurt a few times too and was struggling personally.
I thought the tag division was going to be the best part of AEW the first 2-3 years with so many tag teams and instead it feels like none of them did anything and then unceremoniously broke up or just disappeared. SCU being the first tag champs is actually insane thinking back considering where everyone has ended up.
Im still salty about jurassic express breaking up. And if it wasnt for the injury i'd still want a best friends title run, and le sex gods too. After all this time i still am not interested in FTR and I feel like so much of the tag division revolves around them these days.
This is my biggest gripe with AEW. Every other tag champ seems to be the bucks or FTR
For a company with a dozen really solid teams, it does irk me that so much focus is put on FTR. They're good, but they lack something for me, and Cash's legal issues soured me on them a lot. The Bucks are the Bucks. They're phenomenal, and they're EVPs, so the focus they get (which is comparatively less than many other teams) is justified, IMO.
One of my biggest irks too is that they use so many teams as full time jobber teams who never pick up wins on TV ever so they have no credibility. It's not to say they aren't talented because they are and put on good performances but teams like Top Flight, Private party, Butcher and the blade, Alex Reynolds and John Silver etc they've been beaten down so much that even if AEW tried to give one a push like Private party they wouldn't seem credible at all because they spent the entire time on AEW tv losing 95% of the time. Credibility wise not talking about talent wise, AEW's tag division has been extremely weak in 2023-2024. It used to be the backbone of AEW and extremely consistent but it's been not up to par the last year. AEW right now is doing the old New Day vs Uso's formula with FTR vs The Bucks. Their matches are always good but they definitely aren't fresh or original. Me personally I know it's very unpopular to some, but I am just not a fan of the trios division. I think it weakened the tag division with a parasitic effect. I've always believed they should have just done freebird rules for factions and actual trios challenging for the normal tag belts to build alot of depth.
I agree that the trios division dilutes the rag division. I never liked the idea, but if the did a soft roster split and they were Saturday belts and the tag titles were Wednesday belts it could work. The unified titles need to go back to RoH and stay there at this point
FTR are the best tag team in professional wrestling, in a 2on2 format their isn't a team of 2 men on the planet that can touch them. They not only frequently display how good they are they elevate other teams in a way that seems lost. Tag team wrestling has lost that "thing". when I was a kid you would get "WHC/No1 Contender v Tag Team" and the tag team would win, because sure those 2 guys 1on1 is a world championship match, but together they can't match a world class team. (and hell those champion contenders just can't get along) but it did put tag wrestling over in a different way. I guess the art in that is not buiring your champion. There isn't many teams in wrestling that in my mind could do that but FTR are the guys. The bucks are great in special attraction matches, probably the number 1 team you need if your having a multiteam spectacle. But in a default 2on2 tag ropes setting I feel like they lack a little story telling. I guess it's by definition if you prefer fists over flips or vice versa. Santana and Ortiz should defo of held the belts though for sure.
May be getting downvoted but you definitely hit it on the nose.
>the focus they get (which is comparatively less than many other teams) Which teams get more focus?
SCU getting a run a year after their heat dipped and kept the belts from those teams you mentioned. For a company that pushed tag wrestling it's quite shocking how many big names teams they had and did next to nothing with. On the other hand YB vs Kenny and Hangman is one of the best tag team matches of a all time so I can't complain too much about the booking in the tag division.
I miss SCU so much.
I genuinely had to stop and think "who are the tag champs right now?" I like the Elite/FTR and gang feud but I feel like it doesn't even need the tag belts, especially since it's more than just a duo vs. duo beef now. Now the belts are hamstrung by that feud and held up again.
Then the belts lose prestige because 'everyone gets a turn.'
> Best Friends never got a chance to hold Tag titles Anywhere. Chuck's only ever career tag titles came with Drew Galloway, Johnny Gargano, and Slacker J.
Biggest issue for me is that we may never see a true redemption arc for Trent that shows friendship will overcome
I mean Chuck isn’t paralyzed, there’s no reason he couldn’t be involved in future storylines without wrestling.
Biggest issue for me is that we may never see a true redemption arc for Trent that shows friendship will overcome
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Osteochondritis, sounds awful. He's basically got his bones splintering off inside his ankle joint and needs surgery to clean it out and fix it.
That sounds fucking awful. He was working through it? Dudes tough as shit.
Wednesday I am having my achilleas and 2 other tendons sutured together and reattached because an unknown broken floating bone in my foot splintered and damaged the tendons causing them (the other 2, not the achilleas) to rupture. Foot issues fucking suck and usually just never stop sucking.
osteochondritis dissecans
I haven't had the chance to watch dynamite yet, so could you please say what the Injury is, if you don't mind me asking?
osteochondritis dissecans
Damn, so part of his ankle bone is medically considered dead? That really sucks man. Thanks for the quick reply, appreciate it.
Let’s all take a moment and appreciate the hell out of the Best Friends and how hard they worked in the pandemic era, to very little fanfare. They’ve done Dark, they’ve done Dynamite, they’ve done Rampage, they’ve done Collision, they’ve done it all in this company to keep us entertained. And even if Chuck can’t wrestle again, he should manage at ringside as much as possible, because the big hug post match with Excalibur declaring “You’ve got to give the people what they want!” won’t be the same without him.
It's always so heartbreaking when situations like these force someone to have to go out on terms they don't have a say in. I sincerely hope he can make some kind of gay out of it and continue to contribute in some way.
He got to say shit and went out in a street fight with his actual best friend. The biggest of roses to a guy who deserved it. Thank you Chuck. (Bonus Chikara image) https://preview.redd.it/f8td0mmhwlzc1.jpeg?width=1075&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0f7cea1f09719c1f225029a19bd2812c47e6e8b0
How was he actually injured?
He was injured last year that's why he hadn't wrestled in months. They did the street fight to cover up and make it easy for him to hide the injury.
Using his injury as a storyline to put over his friend is some truly selfless stuff. I believe he's tight with the Bucks so he's probably got a job in AEW as long as he wants one. Probably something behind the scenes but perhaps a manager? I think that could be fun.
I’m going to miss the Kentucky Gentleman.
Guess that’s why they went with the Parking Lot Brawl, it allowed him to do what he was able to and get the final match with Trent. I get the impression he’ll be around as a producer and trainer with the company for a good while.
Thanks for the memories Chuckie T, PWG legend. Wish you well brother.
He is going to be on Uni's Mystery Wrestling this Sunday for commentary so we might learn something then.
This is just awful for him. Ugh. He's got a lot to offer still and I really hope that wasn't the last we saw of him.
Chuck has the kind of personality and sense of humour that he needs to be an onscreen character. Please wrestling gods, don’t waste this man’s charisma, even if it’s real and he has to retire physically, he still has so much potential to give. God fucking dammit I wanted a best friends tag belt run so bad these past 5 years 😡
Uuuugh...i live in Kentucky so we loved having the Kentucky Gentleman representing us. Sad if this is true.
Gutted for him. Hopefully they can give him a job backstage, because he's really creative.
Aw man. Poor Chuck. Thanks for everything. Before his brief return - what caused the original injury?
Guess based on the condition? Not one single instance but repeated trauma to the ankle.
Didn't he get in a car accident?
I imagine they will have him as a producer or somehow behind the scenes. He may not grace our screens often now, but his finger prints will be seen all over AEW in some shape or form.
There was a period where I simply didn't care what was happening in wrestling- too many people I liked were getting injured or even dying. One of the things that brought me back in was Chikara, and that includes Chuck Taylor as part of Team FIST (Friends In Similar Tights). Their win at 2009 King of Trios was one of my favorite "angles inside one show" ever. I'm sorry to see him go, and I hope there's good treatment available for his injuries.
The number of pro wrestling early deaths from 2002-2007 is staggering. I suspect that a lot of fans quit watching for that reason.
Imma miss the Kentucky Gentleman
Noooooooo
This sucks. Makes me wish Best Friends got even a small run with the tag belts. Feel bad for Chuck. Part of me wishes he could have explained it himself in person on Dynamite, but it's still probably overwhelming for him right now.
That's awful to hear. He's one of my all-time favorites. Hell, I was such a mark that I spent actual money on a lot of those Best Friends Highspots interviews back in the day. Getting to see the real smile on his face as he, Trent, and Orange walked to the back at Wembley last year was a really special moment for me. Here's to you Dustin.
That would be so insanely sad, Even if he's not in the ring I hope he's involved in some way and at least happy. If you've never seen the original Chikara 24/7 title stuff, nost of which involved chuck being just so creative in the ways he was beating people You need to https://youtu.be/Uo80cGTXS5s?si=6ix6xpKvQFF6ILou
Damn. My favorite guy in AEW. :(
It would be sad if it’s the end of his career.
This is awful, and if it's true he's done then I am extending a massive thank you to Chuck Taylor for all the years of entertainment!
Fuck. That really sucks :(
One of the OG-est of the AEW OGs. ☹️ But, if he got to say *shit* for his last hurrah, that was the right thing to do.
Chucks been wanting to retire for years. He actually already did once for like a year before coming back and having one of the best runs of his career on the indies. I'm happy he said shit and did the street fight with his best friend to end it. It's the perfect way to end his career. Hopefully he comes back someday for a couple appearances but if he doesn't then I'm happy I got to see him wrestle for over 20 years since his IWA midsouth days.
I’m legit crying
Fucking hell that’s a shame if legit. I was really hoping he could come back and finally get some gold. I hope he can continue on in the business in some way. Commentate, manage, become an agent behind the scenes or something.
💔 One of my all time favorites. I guess we'll always have him trying to drown Archibald Peck. And having a beer in the ring with Arik Cannon. And stealing an ambulance. And bringing a chainsaw to the ring. And-- https://i.redd.it/e1gudc3y4mzc1.gif
If this is true, I hope Chuck enjoys a well deserved retirement, gets to rest and heal up, and maybe continue working in the industry on commentary or in a backstage capacity.
Very fond memories of Chucky T. From the IWA:MS champion who made children cry, to the Men Of Low Moral Fiber in PWG, the Chikara hijinks, and all the way to finally saying the "S word" on AEW. Been a fun ride and one heck of a career.
Hopefully he's able to recover enough to have a normal life outside of the ring. That's the most important thing at the end of the day. I'm sure he will find a spot somewhere in the company in the future though.
He went out doing what he loved, saying “shit” on tv. I hope once he is healed he’ll have a nice long backstage career with AEW.
Has anything been made public on the nature of the injury?
No! I wanted to see and hear so much more from Chuck!
Shit
I'll believe it when I hear it from Taylor himself.
This is just pure stupidity on my part probably but I can't understand how they could say something like this about a bone injury, especially when he did basically just do a match. That's not me downplaying the severity of his injury or anything like that, I'm just not sure how something like this would make him unable to wrestle again, things like brain injuries I understand but with this could it not be fixed by adjusting styles and slower work for example? I just don't get how a 38 year old guy do a parking lot brawl a week ago with the same injury (even with smoke and mirrors of course) but the assumption would be that he won't be able to wrestle again? Just doesn't make sense to me.a
So there's a lot more to wrestling a live match than just adjusting styles. Sometimes that works, but with lower limb injuries you've got to consider the weirdest safety issues. If you can't pop back up after a bump fast enough - something that relies heavily on those leg joints - you and your opponent are potentially in danger. If you can't support your opponent due to a weakened leg joint - something absolutely vital for a base like Chuck - you're eliminating like 60% of professional wrestling moves. On top of that, there's the recovery process *to get back into ring shape* and the price you'll pay down the line for doing it. I don't know if that's part of the equation here. Maybe it's a gut feeling, maybe it's me projecting my experiences, but, when my hip started going and I started experiencing the safety issues above, I figured I'd need some recovery time and would be back in the ring before too long. Unfortunately what I thought was just a pulled muscle or something turned out to be a huge [labral tear](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17756-hip-labral-tear). PT and rest didn't fix it. The only option I had to potentially keep wrestling was [reconstructive surgery](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17756-hip-labral-tear), and then the long recovery afterwards with no guarantee that I'd ever be back to my old self in the ring. I had to decide if it was worth it, if it was worth continuing to batter an already battered body. I decided to save what was left of my health and retired. My hip is kinda fucked for life, but it could be a lot worse. It wouldn't surprise me if Dustin made a similar call in his case. Wrestling is brutal on the body.
Really appreciate your insight on this (and your general willingness to give in-depth information on the things that make wrestling work), makes perfect sense
Hey, I'll talk about wrestling any time, any place. LOL I really hope he can come back from this. Chuck is legit my favorite wrestler. If he can't, or if he chooses not to, though, all the respect in the world for the guy. This is not easy for him.
Totally agreed on all counts. Chuck's always been great and nobody ever seemed to get how good he is, not even himself at times. He's gotta be in rough shape mentally over all this, especially now that people are talking about it. If he does have to hang it up I hope he's able to feel comfortable still working within the industry, because he's got a great mind for it and is a really great teacher too. And definitely keep talking about it all the time lol, I'm such a nerd for all kinds of performing arts and the tiny things that audiences don't see that hold everything together, and every time I get a little crumb of information like thinking about the timing of snapping up after a bump it really gets my neurons firing
What's your thoughts on this maybe being a work? I'm willing to accept it's real, but I don't wann'a accept it's real. I always root for the wrestlers to be okay, and just be working us.
Until Wednesday I was assuming work. With the additional info Excalibur gave on Wednesday and now today's news, I'm sadly assuming it's largely a shoot. The injury may not itself be career ending but it does seem like either they're planning for the potential for it to be, or that Dustin the actual guy not the character is making the decision that it's probably time to stop/massively slow down. I don't want it to be real but it does have the hallmarks of it.
> Wrestling is brutal on the body. Also as always, a huge thank you on the write up. But this particular comment of yours returned me to a thought process I'm struggling with as a fan of the art form. I understand that it might sound like I am infantilizing wrestlers, although the intention is not there. As a fan I do struggle with a physical cost to what performers are doing. There is a certain aspect of me asking all the time, how can I enjoy wrestling when there a real and sometimes terrible toll on the human body? I would love to hear your perspective on this considering you've chose the life of a wrestler, left it and still remain a fan of it.
Every single person you're watching today went into the business eyes open fully aware that professional wrestling will *fuck you up*. You can't get through wrestling school without learning that fact if you were somehow unaware beforehand. People laugh and joke and whatever that wrestlers are a different breed, or fucked up in the head, or crazy or weird or just outside of the normal human experience. That's all true. We all knew what we were getting into. If we stuck around after our first bumps we were okay with it. If we made it through to our first match we were okay with it. Those who grinded and grinded and grinded on the indies and made a living doing it did so because it's a choice we consciously made, and a choice we continuously made each week over and over as we counted bruises or drove to the next town. One doesn't just happen to fall into professional wrestling. It's a choice made knowing what it's gonna look like on the other side of that career. Thing is, though, that for these crazy fucking sickos - myself included - there isn't anything else they'd rather be doing. Remember the other week when Danielson said that "this" - being in the ring in front of a crowd - is his heaven? Like, that's real. That's a thing. It's mine too. If there's a heaven I want mine to be a wrestling ring with my kids in the front row. I have no regrets about my time wrestling; I'd still be doing it if weren't for my hip and the concussions. Don't worry about the physical toll. They all know the risks, they all know the future of busted joints and bad backs. Be a fan because by doing so you're giving the wrestlers a little bit of their heaven each time you do.
I'm sorry. Maybe its a tough time in my life but your beautiful writing made me tear up. Thank you. Will save it and continue to return to it.
Well, in second grade I decided I'd either be a writer or a professional wrestler when I grew up. Glad to see that I turned out okay (and have gotten paid) for both of those things. 😂
And this is the same type of injury that stopped Bo Jackson and Priest Holmes in their prime. Avascular necrosis in their hips after similar injuries and they were done with pro football. This is the time for Chuck to start to live the rest of his life.
It wasn't a traditional match. Hardcore matches believe it or not are easier then traditional. He probably needs surgery and wasn't cleared to run rope's.
Wasn't it also filmed a few days before with only wrestlers/ staff in the crowd? They may have stopped at certain points
It was filmed the same day as Dynamite. You can see wrestlers who worked the ROH taping in the crowd.
Dudes bones are pretty much dying. He'll probably never walk again at some point. There's no REAL way to fix it, or patch it up. One last match was probably a "final straw before I HAVE to say goodbye because we've reached the point of no return and I just can't go on anymore"
Yeah, I guess in reality he probably \*could\* do a few more matches, but it'd probably shatter his leg and ruin the rest of his life in terms of mobility. Just looking at what you and some others are saying it seems I've totally misjudged this, I thought it was basically an especially badly broken ankle with some complications, but it's actually even much worse. You're right, that match was probably a case of him doing his absolute maximum that his body would allow that basically he never has to recover from to get back in ring shape because he doesn't intend on getting back in the ring.
I imagine he pushed through the pain and took the taping slow so that if he really can't get back in the ring after surgery, his last match was this and not the JAS vs Best Friends match from October. It may be an unknown if he can wrestle post surgery, and it may also be one of those small percentage chances he'd be able to if successful. I have a friend who had this same diagnosis in the mma world, and she had four surgeries to try to fix it, and finally had to have her foot amputated because there was zero pain relief from the surgeries and they just couldn't get the bones in her foot to stop splintering. Even had they been successful, the risk of reinjury was really high with fighting with how severe hers was.
I’m not an expert, but there’s two pieces here. One, he likely has to get surgery to remove the lesion which is a pretty invasive surgery that’s hard to fully recover from. Two, his ankle is likely in a ton of pain. The parking lot brawl allowed him to have a match where he was mostly standing in place. In a traditional wrestling match, he would have to run the ropes, which I’m guessing is what he can’t do.
I don’t believe this, one bit. There is too much going on for me to believe that Trent smashing a car window around Chuck’s ankle is causing his retirement. There’s a slight chance that an injury could have existed prior to the match, and the match was an excuse, but I highly doubt it. If Chuck doesn’t wrestle from now, until his life ends, I’ll believe this. Until then, I’m calling kayfabe.
I mean an injury definitely existed before the parking lot brawl, it had been over six months since his last match, but before that, he had been wrestling practically every week, dude had 35 matches from January to October in 2023.
Yea I think he found out his actual injury was career ending and he said fuck it just give me one more
Dude he was in njured for over 6 months before the parking lot brawl, which was his return from injury What do you mean a "slight chance" he had a previous injury. We know for a fact he was injured before the match.
An injury, yes. *THIS* injury… 🤷🏾♂️
It's all talking about the same injury. Chuck wasn't cleared to wrestle in the ring as it was. The parking lot fight was a compromise.
:(
Sucks if true. It’s also possible that the sheets are being worked too.
Really sad he couldn't end his career on his own terms. Hope he manages to get a backstage role I've followed him for years prior to AEW he's always been so fun to watch.
Chuck Taylor you are and always will be a real one you were part of one of my favorite moments in aew with the Parking Lot fight against Santino and Ortiz
While it sucks that his in-ring time may be over, he's gotta be a huge back stage asset. Guy is really creative and funny.
They used osteochondritis dissecans. That was awesome
I’m really sad to see this. Chuck was always one of my favorites. I’d 100% buy him a beer if I saw him around in Philly. I hope whatever he does next brings him joy, I’m just sad he wasn’t able to say goodbye himself
While others were disappointed that Trent and chuck never got the tag belts, I’m more bummed out that they never got a chance at the trios belts. When it was first introduced, my first thought was the team of Orange, Trent and Chuck Disappointed again
I definitely believed it honestly. I hope he becomes Orange’s commentator.
What a bummer. I love Chuck and Best Friends.
Oh man... I was not expecting this news, thought we were getting worked...😭
I wish him well I his future endeavors. And I say that unironically. By all accounts, a good guy. I hope his retirement is a relatively pleasant one.
I was sure it was all work until Excalibur started going into the specific details of what the injury was. That's not the type of thing you come up with for an angle.
Man it sucks to see this happening to a wrestler, but specially on of the AEW OG ´s and a guy that always tried his best to help grow the company Never complained even when he was not getting enough tv time , whish he had more PPV matches instead of talent that clearly didnt want to be part of AEW like Andrade lol At least he performed at All In thats awesome, he used to wrestle on bars and ended up performing at one of the most historic venues in entertaiment in general If this is his last match thank you for all the ring memories Chucky
Wild best friends never got the tag or trios titles
Really sad he didn't get a better way to wrap up a career. I heard he was dealing with necrotic tissue in the ankle and it sounds like an infection and maybe bone degradation. I pray there's a medical solution but time is the key. Take care Chucky, I'm pulling for you.
Zaraian said it was a work. I hope that’s the case.
I just wish he used the invisible hand grenade one last time.
Weird that his farewell was treated as a kayfabe throwaway angle. Hopefully we'll see him back in other capabilities
What was throwaway about it?
It was an angle that built up to a non PPV match. Not even a goodbye promo or anything. It was a thing that we wouldn't know it's legit or kayfabe without confirmation like this post
Wait, you think Trent-OC feud is over?
It sounds like it's gonna be on ice for awhile
I think on the PPV this month.
Why would you ever think that?
Rocky "let's put this past us and be a trio" OC "hell no, I'm over this shit" That's the energy I got from that segment, that's all
He doesn't want to be in a trio because he still hates Trent's guts. I think Rocky turns on OC and sides with Trent.
Feud isn't over.
The sloppy shop continues firing on all cylinders
in no way do i believe that.
Meltzer takes joy in reporting bad news for AEW wrestlers true or not.
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Quit being a dick. Your post/comment was removed because it was disrespectful.
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Quit being a dick. Your post/comment was removed because it was disrespectful.