Leyton Buzzard is facing an uncertain future in professional wrestling after revealing that he underwent ACL replacement surgery following a serious injury at RevPro’s 14 Year Anniversary event.
The reigning RevPro Undisputed British Cruiserweight Champion disclosed that he completely tore the ACL in his left knee during the opening minutes of his championship match against Nino Bryant at Wembley. Despite the injury, Buzzard chose to finish the match, wrestling through the remainder of the bout with what he described as one functioning leg.
Buzzard, known as “El Capitan,” confirmed that the surgery was successful and took place a week before his announcement. However, while the procedure represented an important step in his recovery, he made clear that he does not yet know whether he will return to the ring.
“Now life has killed the dream I dreamed,” Buzzard wrote. “In the opening minutes of my championship match at Wembley I completely tore my left ACL. I wasn’t gonna let all the hard work be for nothing so I wrestled the rest of the match on 1 leg.”
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The injury is particularly significant given Buzzard’s wider concerns about the physical toll wrestling has taken on him. He noted that he has now dealt with two damaged knees before turning 30, a reality that has made the possibility of walking away from the business while he is still able to do so feel increasingly serious.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me or if that future will be in wrestling,” Buzzard said. “2 busted knees before 30 wasn’t what I was hoping for so walking away whilst I still can is looking like a good option.”
A Championship Match Changed by Injury
Buzzard’s revelation adds a difficult new layer to his match with Nino Bryant at the RevPro anniversary show. The Wembley appearance was a major stage for the Scottish wrestler, who entered the contest as the company’s Undisputed British Cruiserweight Champion. Instead of being able to focus solely on the championship stakes and the significance of the occasion, Buzzard was forced to make an immediate decision after suffering the ACL tear early in the bout.
He elected to continue. That choice speaks to the determination that performers often bring to major matches, especially after extensive preparation, but Buzzard’s comments also make plain how severely the injury affected him in the moment. He did not portray the decision as easy, nor did he minimize the physical consequences now in front of him.
An ACL injury is a major knee issue for any athlete, and Buzzard’s immediate priority is not a return date or an in-ring plan. It is recovery. In one of the most personal portions of his statement, he said that he simply wants to be able to walk his dog again. That perspective underlines where matters stand for him following surgery: everyday health and mobility are more important than trying to make a quick decision about wrestling.
“Right now I just want to walk my dog again,” Buzzard wrote.
There is no timeline attached to Buzzard’s potential return, and he has not announced a retirement. His message instead reflects an honest uncertainty at a moment when a definitive answer may not be possible. Successful surgery does not resolve the larger question he raised about whether his body can withstand the demands of a continued wrestling career.
A Quiet Moment Before Going Backstage
Buzzard also shared the emotional weight of what happened after the match. Before heading backstage, he asked for a moment alone in the ring so that he could absorb the occasion and reflect on what he had achieved. He explained that the image accompanying his statement captured that moment.
For Buzzard, the scene was not simply a post-match pause. It was a moment of reflection in which he considered the possibility that the match could prove to be his last. He looked back at his career and the path that brought him to a championship bout at Wembley, concluding that he had done well if that ultimately became the closing chapter.
“In that second I thought to myself if this is it, I’ve done alright, not a bad way to go out,” Buzzard said. “Thank you for everything.”
Those words understandably leave his future open to interpretation, but they should not be read as a formal retirement announcement. Buzzard did not say that he has finished wrestling. What he did say is that stepping away is an option he is seriously considering as he navigates surgery, rehabilitation, and the reality of having suffered significant injuries to both knees at a young age.
That distinction matters. The immediate story is not a confirmed end to Buzzard’s career. It is that one of RevPro’s champions has undergone surgery after a major injury and is uncertain whether continuing as a wrestler is the right choice for him.
Buzzard’s Place in RevPro
Buzzard remains the RevPro Undisputed British Cruiserweight Champion, giving the situation added importance for both the wrestler and the promotion. Championship reigns are ordinarily built around momentum, title defenses, rivalries, and the next major challenge. Buzzard’s injury places all of that in the background while he focuses on his health.
No decision regarding the championship was included in his statement. There was also no indication of when he might be able to return to RevPro, whether he will be able to defend the title, or what plans may exist for the division while he recovers. Until further information is announced, the only certainty is that Buzzard is recovering from surgery and assessing a future that he cannot yet define.
The uncertainty will be difficult for fans who have followed his rise, but Buzzard’s own message gives the clearest priority. He is taking stock of the cost of competing, not only in one painful match but across the accumulated wear on his knees. His willingness to finish the Wembley contest demonstrates his commitment, while his remarks afterward show that commitment alone cannot settle the decision ahead.
Recovery Comes Before Any Return Decision
Professional wrestling often encourages performers and audiences to focus on resilience: the ability to continue, to push through pain, and to return from setbacks. Buzzard’s statement contains that toughness in abundance. He suffered a complete ACL tear in the early stages of a title match and finished what he started. Yet the message is also a reminder that recovery and long-term well-being must come before any discussion of another match.
His comments do not offer easy certainty, and that appears to be intentional. Buzzard is not promising that he will be back by a particular event. He is not mapping out a comeback story. He is dealing with the consequences of a serious injury and leaving room for the possibility that his health may lead him in a direction away from the ring.
For now, Buzzard’s successful ACL replacement surgery is the first positive step. The broader journey remains unresolved. He has the support of those who have watched him reach a championship level in RevPro, and he has a career he can look back on with pride. Whether that career continues after rehabilitation is a question only Buzzard can answer in time.
Until then, “El Capitan” has made his position clear: his focus is on healing, regaining normal movement, and deciding what is best for his life beyond the immediate pressure of the next bell. As he put it, he does not know what the future holds. For a wrestler who gave everything to complete a match at Wembley after a devastating injury, that future deserves to be determined on his own terms.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.