Steven Borden appears to have avoided a more serious outcome following the alarming injury scare during AEW All Out.
Borden, teaming with Darby Allin in his in-ring pay-per-view debut, was involved in a No. 1 contender’s match for the AEW tag team titles against Kyle Fletcher and Kevin Knight. The bout took a concerning turn when Borden and Knight collided in mid-air during the match. Borden was attended to at ringside by Doc Sampson, and the match was brought to an end before Borden was removed on a stretcher.
The immediate visuals were understandably unsettling for fans in the building and watching at home. Professional wrestling is built around physicality and controlled risk, but moments involving head, neck, or upper-body impacts can quickly eclipse the competitive stakes of a match. In this case, attention rapidly shifted from the No. 1 contender implications to Borden’s condition.
Tony Schiavone provided an update during the pay-per-view, informing viewers that Borden was awake and on his way to a hospital for evaluation. That initial confirmation was significant after the stretcher removal, establishing that Borden was responsive while medical personnel continued to take the appropriate precautions.
For more background on this topic, read Darby Allin Sees Sting’s Relentless Drive in Steven Borden.
Tony Khan Says Tests Came Back Good
AEW President Tony Khan addressed Borden’s condition during the post-show media scrum. Khan said that Borden’s tests and CT scan had come back good, offering a reassuring update after the injury angle was halted and Borden was taken from the arena.
Khan also indicated that Borden would be able to fly home the next day, Sunday. While an ability to travel does not itself amount to a complete medical clearance or establish a timetable for any future wrestling activity, it was an encouraging development in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
The update is especially important because Borden’s appearance at All Out represented a major moment in his young AEW career. Entering a pay-per-view environment alongside Allin, one of the company’s most recognized risk-takers, brought substantial attention to Borden’s first in-ring outing on that stage. The match was intended to be a showcase opportunity, but the mid-air collision abruptly changed the tone of the night.
Any decision about Borden’s next steps will naturally depend on the medical guidance he receives after returning home and completing any follow-up evaluations. AEW has not announced a return date, and there is no reason to presume one while the focus remains on Borden’s recovery.
Further Update Indicates He Was Expected to Travel
Dave Meltzer offered a subsequent update on Wrestling Observer Radio, saying Borden was doing okay and was expected to be able to make the trip home.
“He’s okay. I didn’t hear if he flew home but I was told that he was going to be able to fly home,” Meltzer said.
That update aligns with Khan’s comments from the post-show scrum. Together, the reports point to positive news following what was a frightening situation at All Out, though neither update should be read as a definitive statement about Borden’s longer-term in-ring status.
In wrestling, a positive scan and the ability to travel are meaningful early signs after an injury scare. At the same time, the physical demands of returning to the ring are very different from being stable enough to leave the hospital or board a flight. Borden’s eventual return, whenever it comes, should be determined by his health and clearance rather than the momentum surrounding his pay-per-view debut.
Reaction to the Collision and Risk in the Ring
Following the match, online discussion included debate over the spot and whether any particular performer should be blamed for what happened. Ricochet responded to that conversation by stressing that injuries can happen in wrestling regardless of whether a move is considered high-risk or low-risk. He described it as an unfortunate part of stepping into the ring and encouraged people to hope that Borden continues to improve.
That perspective speaks to the reality of an industry in which even routine-looking sequences require timing, positioning, communication, and trust. Aerial maneuvers can appear especially dangerous because the margin for error is visible to the audience, but injuries are not exclusive to dives, springboards, or collisions in mid-air. Wrestlers can be hurt during mat exchanges, strikes, landings, entrances, or seemingly simple transitions.
The Fletcher and Knight pairing, as well as Allin and Borden, were competing in a match with a clear prize at stake: a future opportunity at the tag team championship. High-pressure title-contender bouts often lead wrestlers to raise their intensity, and the All Out setting only adds to that atmosphere. Still, the incident served as a stark reminder that the participants’ well-being has to take priority when a match no longer can proceed safely.
AEW’s response in the moment reflected that priority. Medical personnel checked on Borden, the match was ended, and he was transported for further testing. Schiavone’s update that Borden was awake helped clarify the situation for the audience, while Khan’s later comments supplied the most concrete medical-related information available publicly: the tests and CT scan were good.
A Significant Night Interrupted
For Borden, the injury scare came at a pivotal time. A pay-per-view debut is a notable milestone for any developing performer, and sharing the ring with Allin presented a highly visible opportunity. Borden also entered the match opposite Fletcher and Knight, two opponents positioned for a major competitive showcase of their own.
Instead, the match will be remembered first for the collision and the medical response that followed it. That is not the outcome anyone involved would have wanted, particularly when the match had championship implications and represented an important platform for Borden. Yet the encouraging updates after the event have provided some welcome relief.
There is still no announced word on whether the No. 1 contender situation will be revisited, whether the match result will affect future tag team plans, or when Borden may be physically ready to resume training and competition. Those are secondary questions at this stage. The immediate concern was Borden’s condition, and the available information indicates that he was alert, received hospital testing, and was expected to be able to travel home.
Fans will understandably continue to watch for further updates from Borden or AEW. Until then, the clearest takeaway is that a scary scene at All Out has been followed by encouraging news. Borden’s health remains the priority, and the wrestling world will be hoping that his recovery continues smoothly after a difficult and unexpected end to his first AEW pay-per-view match.
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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.