Shawn Spears opened up about his AEW absence following his return to the ring at AEW Rampage.
On the October 14 episode, Spears teamed with Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler of FTR to defeat Brian Cage, Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona in six-man tag action.
This was Spears’ first match since losing to Wardlow in a cage bout on the May 25 edition of Dynamite.
AEW has now shared an exclusive clip from after Rampage, featuring Shawn Spears addressing the Toronto crowd. Spears revealed that his mother passed away during his AEW absence. Spears noted that he was grateful that he had the opportunity to tell her that he was going to become a father before her passing.
Spears said:
“Oh, goddamn, I missed you. To Dax’s point, no better place in the world to be [than Toronto]. But Dax’s point last night, the reception you guys gave FTR, it brought a tear to my eye as well, but for different reasons. I had to follow it. But like they said, well deserved.
“So I’ve been gone for a long time, and there’s been some speculation as to why. Injuries, different plans, none of that’s true. I don’t know if it’s because I’m in Toronto. I don’t know if it’s because I’m home. I’m a pretty private person, but I feel like I owe you all an explanation.
“Two months ago, I lost my mom. She would have been front and center like she has been at every other show if she was here tonight. But that woman is a perfect 10 in every way, shape, and form. Two blessings came out of that. Number one, we had time to say everything we ever wanted to say, to make her feel as loved as she possibly could. Most people don’t have that luxury.
“The second blessing was that on this Mother’s Day, she was the very first person to know that I was gonna be a father. So the way I see it, there’s a guardian Angel looking over my soon-to-be beautiful baby boy. So I’ve been pulled in a bunch of different directions mentally, emotionally.
“I knew that coming home, each and every one of you would show up. Goddamn, did you ever. From the bottom of my heart, I will never, ever forget this day, and I have you all to thank for that. In this ring stands four men that I greatly admire.
“I admire them all as talents, I admire them all as men. Hey, Dax, if I could be half the father that you are to Finley, then I’m gonna be okay. I love you, Canada. Thank you for having us. We will be back.”
Shawn Spears Explains His Absence Form AEW TV
