AEW: Dean Malenko Underwent Brain Surgery, QT Marshall Departure Update, Swerve Strickland on AEW World Title Goal

Dean Malenko Underwent Successful Brain Surgery for Parkinson’s Disease Health Issues

AEW coach and former wrestler Dean Malenko recently underwent brain surgery, according to Jim Ross.

In a recent episode of the Grilling JR podcast, co-host Ross stated that Malenko had recently underwent successful brain surgery due to health issues related to his current battle with Parkinson’s disease.

“I saw Dean Malenko. Malenko’s had some health issues. I saw him there and he’s had brain surgery. It stops the shakes from Parkinson’s and he’s had the surgery. He’s such a sweetheart of a guy.”

Ross also praised Malenko for being an MVP of AEW for his hard work as a coach helping out talent in AEW.

“He’s one of those unsung guys and he’s such an MVP at AEW because of his guidance and his coaching. He encourages the talents to bring to him what they want to do or what they’ve been loosely structured to do, and then he helps them. He contributes and he’s teaching. All that is is coaching and he’s really good at it.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

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More on QT Marshall’s Departure from AEW

As noted before, QT Marshall resigned from AEW in late November and will be officially departing from the company at the end of this year.

Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that while Marshall’s contract with AEW is set to expire on January 1, 2024, Marshall has already finished up his commitments with the company and has already left. It was reported that Marshall has not been in attendance backstage at AEW shows in recent weeks.

It was reported that Marshall has been getting some interest from other promotions interested in working with him and Marshall himself currently has plans involving his recent trademark for Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling. Marshall reportedly is still planning on wanting to continue his in-ring wrestling career while he is still in his prime.

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Swerve Strickland on His Current Goal to Become AEW World Champion in 2024

News4Jax held a recent interview with Swerve Strickland. One of the topics discussed included Strickland’s thoughts about his current goal of wanting to win the AEW World Championship in 2024.

“Not just any type of gold. AEW world championship. Only to the top and I said in the middle of this year, if I had gotten the opportunities that Hangman Page would’ve gotten my first year, I would have been the first African American AEW world champion. And I do believe that. I can still do that

Strickland also gave his thoughts about MJF’s work as current AEW World Champion.

“I think I could do better. Without a doubt. Without a doubt.”