The Judgment Day’s JD McDonagh has officially announced a temporary step back from active competition to recover from a series of persistent physical issues. In a post shared on his Instagram Stories on December 15, the Irish superstar revealed he has been wrestling at less than 100 percent for a considerable amount of time.
McDonagh provided a direct update to his fans regarding his current physical state. He wrote: “Been working through some stuff for the last few months, but now is the time to pump the brakes and get put back together. Won’t be long, BRB.”
This announcement follows a grueling and high-impact year for the former World Tag Team Champion. In January 2025, McDonagh suffered a significant injury during a match against The War Raiders on Monday Night Raw, where a moonsault to the outside resulted in broken ribs and a punctured lung.
The injury required months of rehabilitation, including a medical procedure to repair his lung, which kept him out of major events like the Royal Rumble.
JD McDonagh’s WWE Run
Despite the severity of his early-year injuries, McDonagh made a successful return in April and eventually reclaimed championship gold. Alongside his mentor Finn Bálor, he defeated The New Day on the June 30 episode of Raw to win the World Tag Team Championship for a second time. The duo successfully held the titles for 112 days before dropping them to AJ Styles and Dragon Lee on October 20.
His recent comments suggest that while he has been a consistent presence on television, the Irish native has been managing significant pain throughout the latter half of his title reign. While a specific return date has not been set, his promise of a quick recovery offers hope for a reunion with The Judgment Day in early 2026.
McDonagh’s announcement comes at a time when The Judgment Day has reclaimed a dominant position on the red brand. Following the return of Liv Morgan at Survivor Series: WarGames on November 29, the faction has re-energized its quest for total control of Monday Night Raw. On the December 1st episode, Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, and Roxanne Perez made a powerful statement by laying out the entire women’s tag team division.
Meanwhile, Dominik Mysterio has successfully transitioned back into the singles spotlight, having recently reclaimed the Intercontinental Championship from John Cena at Survivor Series. With McDonagh on the shelf, the remaining members—Bálor, Mysterio, Morgan, Rodriguez, and Perez—will likely carry the faction’s momentum as the new year approaches.
