Fans haven't seen Lio Rush in action since PWG Battle of Los Angeles 2022 when he suffered a shoulder injury in his second round match against Buddy Matthews.
Rush did show up at NJPW Capital Collision in May, putting the junior heavyweight division on notice, but it was not said when he would return to competition.
Speaking to Denise Salcedo of Instinct Culture, Rush detailed the injury he suffered at PWG.
"What happened at PWG, my shoulder went into my armpit and my arm was stuck. I remember knowing that the match was almost going to be done, I was at the final minutes of the match, I was happy I made it through without getting hurt and I took a buckle bomb in the corner. I remember getting hurt almost five years ago with that and telling myself, 'I hope I don't get hurt with this move again.' I landed in the corner, I didn't get hurt, and I was like, 'Yes.' The very next move is when I got hurt. I was shocked. My shoulder went into my armpit, my arm was stuck, I didn't know what to really do. I rolled to my back, put my wrist in-between my legs, and pulled and popped my shoulder back into place. Once I got to the hospital, I was informed that in the process, I tore some muscles and possibly some ligaments. I had to get a MRI and once I got the MRI, it showed that I tore three different muscles in my shoulder and I had to get surgery. That was a lot to deal with. I immediately snapped into the mode of being angry and disappointed to it being familiar because of my other shoulder injury. I know what to do and know what kind, and how much, work has to get put into this in order to get back where I need to get to be. From that point on, it's time to get to work and that's what I did. It's still rough because I'm away from the business that I love and so much is happening and I'm missing out, but I truly believe things happen for a reason and I hope it's for a reason. I'm in good spirits," he said.
Speaking about his recovery time, "As far as a return, the surgeon did say that I'm expecting a six to nine-month recovery period, which was very hard to hear. I got hurt in January and just had my surgery not too long ago. I have some time. I'm healing a lot quicker than I thought I would. My personal trainer, my surgeon, (both) say that I'm healing a lot quicker. Probably muscle memory, being an athlete my entire life, I'm healing quickly. I'm in no rush to come back. Although I miss it, a lot, I do want to take my time because I want to be healthy and ready, mentally, and want to be in the best shape I've ever been in and I plan on doing that. Hopefully, sooner rather than later."
Rush became a free agent on February 14 when his contract with AEW expired. Even while under AEW contract, he would work various independent dates.
Speaking about his appearance at NJPW Capital Collision, Rush said, "That event, I feel like It was meant to be. I didn't have any kind of plan or goal of when I wanted to come back, I just knew I needed to get heathy and take my time and I needed to be in the right mind frame in order to come back. I can heal physically and be ready physically, but I definitely feel like the wrestling industry is more of a mental game than anything, that's what I've learned and experienced. I wanted to make sure I was ready, not only physically, but mentally, and spiritually. I feel I'm at a time in my life where I'm evolving more into a man. I'm almost 30, which is crazy, because I started my wrestling journey when I was 18 years old. I turned 28 this year. I'm thinking about things differently. When I saw that New Japan was going to be in DC, I went back home from surgery to spend time with my family, it felt right. It felt like I needed to be there and I needed a fresh start. What better way to have that fresh start than do that at home and put my stamp on, when I do come back, I'm going to come back, it's not a cliche, but stronger, faster, healthier than ever before. I'm definitely hungrier than I've ever been, even first starting out wrestling. I feel there's more at stake. I'm excited."
It is unknown when Rush will return to the ring.
Along with his appearance at NJPW Capital Collision, Rush showed up at MCW Spring Fever.
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