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When you become a professional wrestler, you also sign up for the downsides and pitfalls that come with it. While people dream about becoming Superstars and global icons, you also need to be ready to put your body through unimaginable pain and to constantly be on the road, often travelling at a moment's notice.
Professional wrestling isn't all glitz and glamour. The athletes train their bodies for years, before taking up the rigours of WWE's schedule. Even then, the Superstars understand that injuries are part and parcel of the wrestling business. Even if you're extremely careful in the ring, there is always a chance of you getting seriously hurt.
In 2017 and the beginning of 2018, multiple Superstars suffered the same fate, and have been sidelined. In this video, we take a look at the WWE Superstars that are currently injured, and their potential return date to in-ring competition.
#10 Alicia Fox
Alicia Fox has been with the WWE for ages. While the Foxy Superstar hasn't had much to do over the past few years, 2017 was especially good to her, with her captaining the RAW women's team at Survivor Series.
Fox was scheduled to compete in the first-ever women's Royal Rumble match, but unfortunately got injured on the day of the event. While she was understandably heartbroken, the injury also came about at the worst possible time, with Fox penciled in to compete in the Mixed Match Challenge. It was reported that Alicia suffered a broken tailbone during the pre– rehearsals for the Rumble match, and it was announced that she would be out of action for at least a few months.
Considering a broken tailbone takes anywhere between 8 to 12 weeks to heal, one can realistically expect to see Fox back in the WWE ring by May.
#9 R-Truth
Much has been said about R-Truth's time in WWE. From reinventing himself during his heel run to entertaining the audience with his Little Jimmy gimmick, and finally being relegated to lower mid-card feuds, Truth has endured a difficult time in the company.
However, Truth has given his best, no matter how little screen time he got until last year.
Truth hasn't been seen on WWE TV since October. In December, the WWE Superstar took to Twitter to update the fans about his injury and the fact that he underwent shoulder surgery.
It usually takes four to six months for someone to heal from a shoulder surgery, and taking that period into consideration, Truth should be back in action after Backlash in May.
We haven't seen the conclusion of the feud between him and Goldust, and both the Superstars can resume their rivalry once Truth is cleared to compete by the WWE doctors.
#8 Noam Dar
The current cruiserweight division has just over dozen Superstars, with the departures of Enzo Amore and Austin Aries further trimming the division.
Noam Dar has been with WWE since the Cruiserweight Classic, and while the Israeli – born Superstar hasn't had much of an impact in the company, he has certainly been a utility figure that WWE could turn to.
Dar suffered a knee injury in December last year and underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
He was expected to sit on the sidelines for five months, which could indicate that the cruiserweight will be cleared to compete by May or June this year.
Dar is certainly an underrated talent, and with Amore no longer being with the promotion, we can see him stepping up in 2018, and win the cruiserweight title upon his return.
Source: http://www.wwe.com/shows/wwe-205-live/article/noam-dar-meniscus-tear
#7 Samir Singh
The Singh Brothers have played a pivotal role in pushing Jinder Mahal to the top of the food chain in 2017.
Mahal won the WWE Championship, before dropping the title to AJ Styles. However, The Singh Brothers have been a constant presence throughout his reign, often interfering in his matches, and ensuring that he won by hook or by crook.
In January, Samir Singh suffered a torn ACL during a scuffle with Bobby Roode. Samir and Sunil competed in the WWE Cruiserweight Classic tournament, and were on NXT and 205 Live for a brief period, before being paired with Jinder Mahal.
As it is with ACL tears, Samir is expected to be out of action for at least six to nine months, and is expected to make his return in the final months of 2018.
#6 Big Cass
As far as untimely injuries are concerned, Big Cass's luck definitely ran out last year. Cass was rumoured to be in line for a major push post SummerSlam when he was feuding with his former tag team partner Amore.
However, Cass tore his ACL during a match on RAW, and couldn't hide his frustration on live TV.
Cass was given six to nine months to recover from the surgery and is currently rehabbing his injury at the WWE Performance Center.
He also recently mentioned that he hopes to return before WrestleMania 34, and could make a surprise return during the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal!
Source: https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe/wwe-news-details-on-big-cass-wwe-return
#5 Jason Jordan
When WWE's creative team came up with the idea of pairing Jason Jordan with Kurt Angle, the fans believed that the creative team was looking at a bigger picture.
A decade ago, Vince McMahon was involved in a similar angle, with Mr. Kennedy rumored to be named Vince's son, and receive a big push.
As it turned out, both the angles proved to be detrimental to the Superstars' careers, although Jordan's case was different from Kennedy's.
Mr. Kennedy was suspended for being named as one of the eleven Superstars, who were implicated in the 2007 steroid scandal, forcing WWE to change plans, and go with Hornswoggle as McMahon's illegitimate son.
Jordan however, has been built slowly, with the creative team planning a WrestleMania bout between him and Rollins.
Jordan is expected to undergo surgery, which will relegate him to the sidelines. According to Jordan's 'father' Angle, he will return after WrestleMania. Which means we won't be seeing Jordan for at least six weeks.
Source: https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe/wwe-news-kurt-angle-provides-an-update-on-the-return-of-jason-jordan
#4 Drew McIntyre
Drew McIntyre's WWE return saw him win the NXT Championship, and the Superstar that was once christened 'The Chosen One' by McMahon himself was well and truly on his way to redeeming himself in the company.
McIntyre proved his worth on the indies and impressed the WWE officials enough to earn a second chance.
However, the Scottish Superstar suffered an unfortunate injury during NXT TakeOver: WarGames in November, during his match with Andrade 'Cien' Almas.
He dropped the title to Almas, but suffered a torn bicep during the bout, putting him on the sidelines for a few months.
McIntyre recently gave an interview, where he said that he was targeting the WrestleMania weekend to make his return.
This could see McIntyre playing a role at the NXT TakeOver event during the WrestleMania weekend, or even make his main roster debut, during the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 34.
#3 Jeff Hardy
The Charismatic Enigma returned to WWE last year along with his brother, and while The Hardys won the RAW Tag Team Championship, their return hasn't been as impactful (pardon the pun) as one would've expected.
Hardy had the chance to win the Intercontinental Championship, and just when it looked like his singles career would once again take off in the company, he suffered a shoulder injury in September.
Hardy underwent a surgery in October to repair his torn rotator cuff and was expected to sit on the sidelines for four to six months.
Considering the fact that it has already been four months since the surgery, the former WWE Champion is expected to return to in-ring competition before WrestleMania 34.
WWE reportedly has plans to reunite The Hardy Boyz upon his return, and it is being speculated that he could undergo a character change similar to Matt, thus resurrecting his Brother Nero persona in WWE!
#2 Dean Ambrose
The Lunatic Fringe was expected to team up with Rollins and win the RAW Tag Team Championship late last year.
Rollins, Ambrose and Roman Reigns reformed The Shield in the second half of 2017, and while it was one of the most highly anticipated reunions in recent memory, it didn't quite materialise as WWE would've hoped.
Instead, Ambrose suffered a triceps injury, and was forced to visit the operating room, while Jordan stepped up and took his place. Jordan and Rollins won the RAW Tag Team Championship, before dropping the titles to The Bar.
It was also rumored that Ambrose would turn on Rollins and Reigns on the road to WrestleMania 34, thus setting up a showdown with Rollins had he not suffered the injury.
It was then announced that Ambrose would miss in-ring action for nine months, pushing his return date to August – around SummerSlam season.
WWE could always go back to their original plan, having Ambrose ambush Rollins, setting up a rivalry between the two going into Survivor Series.
Source: http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/article/dean-ambrose-surgery-update-dec-2017
#1 Samoa Joe
Just when it looked like WWE was finally about to pull the trigger with Samoa Joe, he suffered a minor injury, throwing all of WWE's plans out the window. In January, Joe cut a promo on RAW about dealing with John Cena at the Royal Rumble. Oddly enough, he suffered an injury on the same night.
Joe was also pulled from the Mixed Match Challenge, and while his injury isn't deemed serious, he is expected to be out of action until mid-March. It was originally feared that Joe would miss WrestleMania 34, but the latest word making rounds is that Joe will be back in action a couple of weeks before WrestleMania.
Joe even appeared on Booker T's podcast last month and said that it was a 'week–to–week' thing, which was enough to alleviate the fears of Joe missing WrestleMania 34.
While WWE is reportedly working on a match between The Undertaker and Cena at WrestleMania, a showdown between Cena and Joe could provide a lot of intrigue, and could be a good back–up plan in case the rumoured match between Undertaker and Cena doesn't materialise.
Source: Samoa Joe on Booker T's Heated Conversations Podcast
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