AEW wrestler Eddie Kingston has been absent from the February 25, 2026, taping of AEW Dynamite in Denver, Colorado, due to severe migraine headaches. He has also withdrawn from scheduled independent wrestling events this weekend to focus on his health. No timeline has been provided for his return to the ring.
Eddie Kingston, a prominent AEW star known as the Mad King, is not attending the joint taping of AEW Dynamite and Collision at the Mission Ballroom in Denver, Colorado, on February 25, 2026. According to reports from PWInsider, Kingston is dealing with severe migraine headaches and has decided to take time off to address his health concerns.
In addition to missing the AEW event, Kingston has pulled out of multiple independent bookings. He was scheduled to team with longtime associate Ortiz against Love Doug and TJ Crawford at Beyond Wrestling’s “Ballroom Blitz” on February 27, 2026, in Cranston, Rhode Island. Furthermore, he was set to compete in a singles match against Tracy Williams for Pro Wrestling Junkie on March 1, 2026, in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, and participate in a seminar and meet-and-greet alongside Ortiz. Pro Wrestling Junkie announced the changes, stating, “Unfortunately, due to medical reasons, Eddie Kingston will not be attending any shows this week. We wish him a speedy recovery. All Eddie Kingston meet and greet money will be refunded today. For the seminar, if you still want to attend the seminar with Ortiz, he is willing to do it for free.” Both promotions have adjusted their lineups accordingly.
Kingston's absence comes at a significant time in his career. In November 2025, he announced via social media that 2026 would mark his final year on the independent circuit, limiting bookings to one per month and planning to retire from indies by November 2026. He and Ortiz are also preparing to open a professional wrestling school, with Ortiz confirming the project in January 2026 to pass on knowledge from their mentors.
Kingston's most recent match was on the February 7, 2026, episode of AEW Collision, where he, Ortiz, and The Rascalz defeated Big Bill, Bryan Keith, and the Grizzled Young Veterans in a Parking Lot Brawl. He had returned to action in September 2025 at AEW All Out following a 16-month rehabilitation from a torn ACL and meniscus sustained in May 2024 at NJPW Resurgence. Earlier, he recovered from a torn pectoral muscle and had notable achievements, including winning the inaugural AEW Continental Classic tournament by defeating Jon Moxley at Worlds End in December 2023, unifying the ROH World Championship and NJPW Strong Openweight Championship. In late 2025, he defeated Katsuyori Shibata on AEW Collision to earn a title shot against Samoa Joe at the “Winter is Coming” special.
AEW and the wrestling community have expressed hopes for Kingston's quick recovery, with no specific return date announced.
