Julia Hart glad she took time to ‘1000 percent’ recover after shoulder surgery

Julia Hart is glad that she waited until she was 1000 percent recovered before returning from shoulder surgery.

For more than eight months, Hart was sidelined due to a torn labrum. She suffered the injury in April 2024 and did not return to the ring until the start of January 2025. Her return match took place on the first AEW Dynamite of the new year with Hart defeating Jamie Hayter.

Hart told The Takedown that her shoulder feels fine and she potentially could have returned as early as the end of September 2024, but she’s happy that they took more time than was necessary so that her strength is totally back to normal.

“I feel fine. I didn’t even think about my shoulder during the match with Jamie,” Hart said. “I was just so focused on beating up Jamie.

“I actually was pretty healthy at the end of September. That’s when I was pretty much almost 100 percent. I wasn’t back to full strength, but mobility wise, I was pretty good. I think it was better that I took more time just to relax and to make sure I was 1000 percent, instead of just hopping back in right away in September. (At that point) I would have only been three months out. I’m lucky that I’m young and I fixed it now, instead of down the line. I just worked really hard to get that strength back up and to have mobility. It paid off and I’m glad I took more time than I needed.”

Hart was TBS Champion prior to her injury. She dropped the title at AEW Dynasty 2024 to Willow Nightingale, who later lost it to Mercedes Mone. Hart has listed Mone, Nightingale, Mariah May, Toni Storm, and Serena Deeb among the opponents she is hoping to face.

A Casino Gauntlet Match is taking place on Dynamite tonight to determine who will challenge May for the AEW Women’s World Championship next month at Grand Slam Australia.