AEW President Tony Khan has provided an update regarding Nick Wayne, a rising star and current ROH World Television Champion, who has been sidelined due to injury. Known for his recent betrayal of Christian Cage at All In, Wayne’s absence sparked speculation about whether AEW would name an interim champion during his recovery. However, Khan confirmed that an interim titleholder will not be appointed as Wayne is expected to return soon.
The 20-year-old wrestler was originally scheduled to team with Kip Sabian against Adam Copeland and Christian Cage at AEW’s Forbidden Door pay-per-view, but a foot injury forced his withdrawal, with Killswitch stepping in as his replacement. The news from Khan during the ROH Death Before Dishonor media call has reassured fans that the promotion remains committed to Wayne as the active champion.
“Tony Khan said that Nick Wayne will be back from injury soon enough to where there wouldn’t be a need for an interim ROH World Television Champion.” —T WrestlePurists, Media Source
Nick Wayne’s Ambition to Break ROH Title Records
Nick Wayne has already made history by becoming the youngest to win the ROH World Television Championship at just 19 years old. In a recent interview with Renee Paquette on Close Up, Wayne revealed his goal to become the longest-reigning champion in the title’s history.
He expressed how holding the championship is an honor, especially following in the footsteps of many of his idols who have held the same title in the past. Wayne’s passion for representing ROH and his desire to cement his legacy highlight his determination to overcome injury setbacks and continue his promising career trajectory.
“Definitely so like saying again, just like following the footsteps of people that I idolize, you know, a lot of people that I idolize went through Ring of Honor once upon a time and a lot of people have like held this championship, so to be able to hold it now and represent something that is like so special, and like feel like it’s a very like big placeholder in this business is a very big honor to me. To win it so young, I believe the youngest to win the title is another just huge honor to me. I want to hold it for as long as I can, maybe become the longest reigning,” he said. —Nick Wayne
Expectations for Nick Wayne’s Return and Future Impact
With Tony Khan’s assurance that there will be no need for an interim champion, the focus is now on Wayne’s recovery timeline. His return will likely bring renewed momentum to AEW and ROH, especially given his rapid rise and ambitious goals within the company. Fans are eagerly awaiting updates on when “The Prodigy” will step back into the ring to defend the ROH title and continue making an impact in AEW.
Nick Wayne’s journey highlights AEW’s commitment to nurturing young talent and maintaining stable championship reigns, even in the face of injury challenges. His eventual comeback is poised to be a defining moment for both his career and AEW’s championship landscape.
