Eddie Kingston has given fans an update.
‘The Mad King’ Eddie Kingston has been out of action since May 11 of last year when he got hurt during an NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship clash against Gabe Kidd. The former champion suffered a tibular fracture as well as a torn ACL and Meniscus in the match and is hopefully looking at a return later this year.
In a new interview with Will Turner of Wrestling With The Narrative, Eddie Kingston gave an update on his mental and physical health.
“Physically, I feel like shit. Mentally, I feel like shit. So everyday, I’m just working on getting better, you know what I’m saying?
Kingston went on to provide a candid update on his struggles with physical therapy, detailing how stomach issues delayed his rehab process and how stress has played a significant role in his overall well-being.
“Physical therapy, it’s been tough just to get to physical therapy because of my insurance. I just got new insurance and then right when I was ready to start my new PT place, I started getting stomach issues. I had to wait a long time, they had to do a thing where they put a camera down my throat. Good that it’s happening now when I’m off, but I was in a lot of pain. As of right now, it was nothing serious because I’m still awaiting for results, but from the initial thing he was like no cancer, no ulcer, no nothing. My primary doctor was like, ‘How’s stress for you?’ [laughs] I said, ‘How long do you have, do we need a therapist to come in here?’ They’re trying to get me to not stress out, calm down.”
-Eddie Kingston
Kingston’s struggles with stress and health haven’t dulled his passion for pro wrestling. For him, stepping into the ring isn’t just a job—it’s an escape.
“Pro wrestling is something very serious to me, because it’s the only place I find happiness, in the ring. People think I’m joking or it’s a cute little thing… Look, I may be nuts, and I don’t care, but it is truly a euphoric feeling being in the ring and its the only time I feel free. In my whole life I’ve never felt more free than when I’m in the ring because there’s nothing else that matters but the fight”
-Eddie Kingston
Being away from the ring has taken a toll on Kingston’s mental state, but he’s grateful for the support system around him. Even if he’s hesitant to name names, he acknowledges the friends and loved ones helping him through.
He’s also embraced a new look during this time, joking that he’s entered his “Brody era” – a nod to the legendary Bruiser Brody, as pointed out by both his mother and longtime mentor Homicide. Despite everything, Kingston reassures fans that he’s hanging in there.
“Not having that has really messed with my head. Thank god I have a good lady and I got good friends around me, I’m not gonna mention who because some work at other companies [laughs] and I don’t want to ruin their stuff. I have good people around me, I really do and it just takes me a while to open up about it. As you can see, no haircut, no shave, going through my Brody era. Homicide and my mother said I look like Brody. She goes, ‘You look like that crazy guy you used to always watch.’ So, yeah, I’m doing okay. That was long just to say I’m doing okay.”
-Eddie Kingston
Despite the support around him, Kingston admits that doubts have crept in about whether he should call time on his career, but his passion for wrestling and the goals he has yet to accomplish, including competing at the Budokan, keep him pushing forward.
“There’s been thoughts in my head like ‘man, maybe I should just stop.’ You know? There’s been moments. But it goes in and out with that stuff. In my mind I still have goals to reach, and people who know me know the main goal is Budokan, and after that I’ll keep the other goals to myself until they happen. But I still got things to do and I gotta keep going. I gotta keep going until legit my body is like ‘you’re done.’ Because everything else feels good. My shoulders have been bothering me for years, they feel great now. My neck’s been bothering me for years like little kinks here and there, it feels great (now). It’s just tryna get this leg going again. Im further along than I’ve been in a long time, but it’s just a slow process with ACLs.”
-Eddie Kingston
Whilst AEW fans are eagerly awaiting Kingston’s return, the man himself has avoided watching AEW and modern New Japan, instead diving into classic Kings Road, early NOAH, and old-schood NJPW, with the one exception being AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita.
“I haven’t watched anything but stuff I wanna watch. I haven’t watched AEW, I haven’t watched New Japan. I’ve watched old New Japan, I’ve watched my Kings Road stuff and I’ve watched early NOAH. And that’s it, I don’t wanna watch anything new because it’s just gonna piss me off, I know it is. There’s one person I’ve been watching. Takeshita, I’ve been watching. He’s the only person I’ll watch.”
-Eddie Kingston
Eddie is one of the most unique performers in all of wrestling and he’s certainly been missed by AEW fans while he’s been away. Of course, we continue to wish Kingston all the best with his recovery and hope to see him back in the ring as soon as he’s medically able.
As always, we’ll aim to provide any further updates on Eddie Kingston’s injury status as soon as we hear more.
H/T to Fightful for the first, second and fourth quote.
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