In a recent interview with FOX News Digital, AEW’s Dustin Rhodes told the publication after his mastiff, Beast took third place at a dog show competition in the United Kingdom, he will probably be back on AEW programming in two to three weeks. He underwent a double knee replacement surgery this past August.
“I just had double knee replacements. So, they’re brand-new knees. They’re feeling pretty good. It’s a little tired today from all the walking – this is such a huge venue. But probably two weeks, three weeks I’ll be back – TBS, TNT, HBO Max.”
Rhodes said AEW is more about the wrestling that entertaining, which sets the promotion a part from WWE.
“I think it’s the fact that we’re just not all entertainment. We are about wrestling, about putting on the best matches that we possibly can. It’s the alternative to WWE. I was with WWE for 24 years, and I’ve been with AEW for seven now, going on eight. I’m gonna finish here and retire in the next couple of years. And then there’s still work behind the scenes as a producer. I love it. It’s great. My boss, Tony Khan, and Shad Khan, the owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulton Football Club over here, we’re doing amazing. We’re growing year by year. It’s where the best wrestle. We do have entertainment segments but the majority of it is just all wrestling. That’s what’s different than the WWE product.”
Rhodes won the TNT Championship at All In Texas back on July 12, 2025, but dropped it 19 days later to Kyle Fletcher on the July 31 episode of Collision. He would then announce on Dynamite the following Wednesday that he needed double knee replacement surgery, also being forced to vacate the ROH World Six-Man and ROH World Tag Team Championships.
In February 2025, the 56-year old Rhodes signed a new six-year deal with AEW.