AEW star Dustin Rhodes has provided a new update on his condition as he prepares for his upcoming double knee replacement surgery. In a post on social media Tuesday, Rhodes shared that a pre-op treatment has left him feeling temporarily pain-free.
Dustin Rhodes’ Pre-Op Injury Update
“The Natural” is scheduled to undergo major surgery on August 21. He took to his X account this afternoon to update fans on his progress.
“Pre Op work being done on my knees today,” Rhodes tweeted. “Iovera shots in the nerves hurts like a b*tch. But now my knees feel no pain at the moment. Can’t wait for August 21st to get here. Tired of this pain. Plus the hole in my leg is almost healed thank God.”
A Long Road To Recovery For Dustin Rhodes
Rhodes’ surgery comes after his Chicago Street Fight against Kyle Fletcher for the TNT Championship on the July 31 episode of AEW Collision. The storyline saw Fletcher attack Rhodes’ leg with a screwdriver, leading to the “hole in my leg” that he referenced. This was pure storyline and done to write him off TV.
After losing the title in that match, Rhodes announced that he would be out of action for a while to undergo a “very invasive major surgery.” Despite the severity of the injury, the veteran has vowed that this is “NOT THE END” of his in-ring career. He signed a new six-year contract with AEW in 2024.
The veteran’s surgery and lengthy recovery period leaves his status as a multi-time champion in ROH in question. Rhodes currently holds both the ROH World Tag Team and Six-Man Tag Team Championships, and ROH has not yet announced how the titles will be addressed.
Pre Op work being done on my knees today. Iovera shots in the nerves hurts like a bitch. But now my knees feel no pain at the moment. Can't wait for August 21st to get here. Tired of this pain. 🙏🏼
Plus the hole in my leg is almost healed thank God. pic.twitter.com/P80Oy9p4LX
— Dustin Rhodes (@dustinrhodes) August 12, 2025
