JD McDonagh has announced that he is taking a step back from the ring to address some lingering physical issues. In a post on his Instagram Stories, The Judgment Day member revealed that he has been competing while not at 100 percent for some time and needs a break to recover.
“Been working thru some stuff for the last few months, but now is the time to pump the brakes and get put back together,” McDonagh wrote. “Won’t be long, BRB.”
The announcement comes at the end of a turbulent and physically demanding year for the Irish superstar. Notable matches and significant injuries have defined McDonagh’s 2025. He previously missed several months of action earlier in the year after suffering broken ribs and a punctured lung during a match against The War Raiders on the January 27 episode of Raw. That injury occurred after a moonsault to the outside went wrong, causing his body to bounce off the announce table.
Despite the severity of that injury, McDonagh returned to action in April and enjoyed considerable success alongside Finn Bálor. The duo captured the World Tag Team Championship for a second time on the June 30 episode of Raw by defeating The New Day. They held the gold for 112 days before losing the titles to AJ Styles and Dragon Lee on October 20.
It appears the grind of the title reign and his previous injuries have caught up to him. McDonagh’s reference to “working thru some stuff for the last few months” suggests he may have been managing pain or minor injuries throughout the latter half of his title run. While he did not provide a specific timeline for his return, his assurance that it “won’t be long” offers some optimism for fans of The Judgment Day.
We wish him a speedy recovery.
