AEW: The Butcher Announces Return of Butcher & The Blade Team, Backstage Update on Jake Something’s Ring Name Change to Jake Doyle in AEW, Kota Ibushi Provides Update on His Broken Femur Injury & Surgery Recovery

The Butcher Announces Return of Butcher & The Blade Team

The Butcher and The Blade have been absent as a tag team in AEW since January of 2024 due to The Blade had been dealing with a back injury and spinal fusion surgery. The Butcher and The Blade reunited as a team at an indie event this past December.

The Butcher provided an update on Thursday on Instagram announcing the return of The Butcher & The Blade and them returning soon to AEW’s tag team division.

“Butcher and Blade are back bitch. Watch your mouthes tag teams.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Andrew Williams (@andycomplains)

Backstage Update on Jake Something’s Ring Name Change to Jake Doyle in AEW

As noted before, former TNA talent Jake Something made his surprise official debut for AEW earlier this month and was revealed as the newest member of the Don Callis Family. Something was also announced to be going under the new ring name of Jake Doyle in AEW.

In a recent Q&A article, PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that the reason for Something’s ring name change in AEW was not due to any trademark-related issues with TNA.

Johnson reported that the name change very likely was a decision made by AEW CEO Tony Khan to have Doyle go by his real name for his ring name in the company.

---

Kota Ibushi Provides Update on His Broken Femur Injury & Surgery Recovery

As noted before, Kota Ibushi has been out of action for AEW since this past October due to a broken femur injury and surgery. Ibushi made a special appearance for NJPW at their Wrestle Kingdom 20 event earlier this month in Tokyo, Japan to be part of Hiroshi Tanahashi’s in-ring wrestling career retirement ceremony.

Ibushi provided an update on Thursday on Instagram stating that he is still is one year and nine months away from being medically cleared for a potential in-ring return but he is currently hopeful of being able to be back in AEW at some point in 2026.

“I’m so sorry, Kenny. There’s no guarantee, but medically, I have one year and nine months left. I’ll cure you in nine unnecessary months! That means I’ll be back in 2026. I’ve caused trouble for Kenny. In return,I can’t say for sure, but I’ll do it! I’ve gained the power to send out new energy. Shall I teach you bald guys that you have no chance of winning? Yesterday, for the first time in a while, I was able to enter the Budokan in costume for a live performance by the band that plays my entrance song. I think I’ve fulfilled another ambition. And to Tony Khan, I’ll be making a comeback once again!

I’m not sure if my English will be understood, but I’ll do my best anyway.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 飯伏幸太 (@aew_kota_ibushi)