Add as a preferred source on Google Kyle Fletcher addressed what happened after his match against El Phantasmo on AEW Collision, when fans in attendance believed he had suffered an injury.
The match was taped on July 2 in San Diego, California. Right after picking up the win, Fletcher left the ring, tried to hide under the apron, and was helped to the back showing signs of dry heaving.
At the time, Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer reported that Fletcher was fine, and that the issue was likely caused by dehydration.
In a new video on his YouTube channel, Fletcher revealed that doctors attributed the reaction to a combination of stress, fatigue, and insufficient hydration. The episode also left him feeling pretty anxious heading into his match against Konosuke Takeshita at Beach Break.
“That last match that I had with El Phantasmo, people at the show thought I got hurt and then it came out that I was just dehydrated. What happened was literally as soon as the match finished, you know that feeling when you dry heave? Like you haven’t got anything in your stomach and then you just start having that reflux? I rolled out of the ring and I tried to hide myself under the apron. I think someone got a video of that, which is lovely. Thanks so much for that.
They got me over to the doctor’s area. Same thing again. I just was on all fours. They were pouring water over my head trying to cool me down.
I wasn’t hurt. Speaking to the doctors and stuff, it was an accumulation of stress, fatigue, not eating enough, not drinking enough. It was a combination of all these things. Just kind of made my body react that way. Like, I was just so done on nutrients and whatever. It was like my voluntary involuntary response.
Knowing that I had this match with Takeshita coming up, having that happen right before the biggest match I’ve had in months, it stressed me out a lot and made me feel very anxious about this match, especially more so than I was already. And then also add on to that that it’s incredibly humid here, super hot. Like people were talking about it the week before saying that it’s going to be ridiculous.
There was one moment in the match [with Takeshita], hopefully you can’t see when. And then right after the match finishes, I had that feeling again. I had that involuntary kind of reflux and I went, ‘Oh crap, here I go again.’ I was able to push through. Got through everything I was supposed to. Didn’t have to change anything.
Talking to the incredible doctors here at AEW… it might be more of a mental thing now at this point because I was okay. But I think because I was worried so much about that happening that it kind of made my body react that way. I kind of manifested it within myself because I was so anxious about this happening that then it happens and then you go into overdrive again and you’re going, ‘Oh my god, it’s happening. I knew this would happen.’ It’s just not a nice feeling, that kind of panic.
I was able to maintain my composure, I think, I hope, and get through the stuff.”
Despite feeling the same issue during and right after the match with Takeshita, Fletcher was able to follow through with everything as planned. Six days after the scare against El Phantasmo, he defeated Takeshita to win the AEW International Championship at Beach Break.