An AEW star has addressed “sitting on the sidelines” for almost two years prior to his return at last night’s AEW Worlds End 2025 event.
During the Zero Hour pre-show of AEW Worlds End, Eddie Kingston took on the Grizzled Young Veterans’ Zack Gibson in singles action, with Kingston getting the win.
However, much like they did during AEW Collision Holiday Bash, Gibson and tag team partner James Drake would attack Kingston two-on-one after the match, leading to the surprise return of AEW veteran Ortiz.
With his last televised match coming back on the January 20 episode of AEW Collision, Ortiz returned to fight off the GYV, seemingly setting up a new allegiance between he and “The Mad King” on AEW programming heading into 2026.
In a social media exclusive interview after his return, Ortiz addressed his absence and sent a warning to Drake and Gibson:
“18 months I’ve been sitting on the sidelines watching scum like the Grizzled Young Vets run rampage all over AEW.
“Disrespect, you call yourself veterans and then you have the audacity to treat a true veteran the way you’ve been treating him.
“Well guess what? I’m hungry, I’m healthy and I’m ready to eat some food. And you best believe Grizzled Young Vets, that I’m coming with that fire.”
If you use this transcription or any portion of it please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.
Eddie Kingston would then send his own message to the Grizzled Young Veterans, challenging the English pair to a fight “any time”, “anywhere” and in “any promotion”:
“Look, Grizzled Young Vets this ain’t over. Now I’ve got my homeboy back finally and now we’re gonna go to war with y’all.
“You guys don’t what this, you don’t want this because I’ll tell you why, we want this. We’ve been dying for this. We’ve been dying for war.
“I know he’s empty without war, I’m empty without war. I’m not the same without a fight. “Come on boys, bring it. Any time anywhere, any promotion, it doesn’t matter dog.”
If you use this transcription or any portion of it please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.
In other news from AEW Worlds End, Konosuke Takeshita has addressed his controversial loss to Kazuchika Okada in the semifinals of the AEW Continental Classic – click here for full details.
"We've been dying for war … We're not the same without a fight."
EXCLUSIVE: @Ortiz_powerful made his return to AEW, saving long-time friend Eddie Kingston from the hands of the Grizzled Young Vets! Now, they're angry and hungry for a fight – anytime, anywhere! pic.twitter.com/OZ7JVI4hru
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 28, 2025
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