Samoa Joe and Hook Out with Injuries — Latest on AEW Return Timelines

Samoa Joe and Hook, two leaders of The Opps, are currently sidelined with separate injuries. Both men enjoyed a big 2025 together, but 2026 has brought setbacks and uncertainty about when they will return to action.

Big 2025 for The Opps

In 2025 Samoa Joe won the AEW Men’s World Championship at Full Gear. He also held the AEW World Trios Championship with Powerhouse Hobbs and Katsuyori Shibata. The group was a central part of the Death Riders storyline that led into All In Texas.

Current injury updates

Samoa Joe was sidelined with a concussion in January and has not yet been medically cleared. A reporter who has covered AEW says the situation is a “wait and see” matter and there is no firm timeline for his clearance.

Hook was made the interim leader of The Opps during Joe’s absence. He aimed to chase the AEW National Championship but was pulled from the Blackjack Battle Royal at AEW Revolution with an undisclosed medical issue. When Hook was sidelined in 2025, the company expected a shorter absence. It was reported that Hook would have tried to wrestle through the problem if officials had cleared him to compete.

Other team changes and recent appearances

Powerhouse Hobbs has since moved to WWE and now performs under the name Royce Keys. Katsuyori Shibata returned to Japan for a break but did appear in the Blackjack Battle Royal for the AEW National Championship at AEW Revolution.

At a recent “For The Love of Wrestling” convention in the United Kingdom, Samoa Joe told fans he expects to be back in AEW sooner rather than later. That comment offers hope, but no medical clearance has been announced yet.

What fans should expect next

There are no exact return dates for Joe or Hook. Both men remain important pieces of The Opps story, and AEW appears to be cautious about their recoveries. If medical clearance is given, expect both names to be part of major storylines when they return.