Top 20 Heartbreaking WWE Injuries
20. Seth Rollins Shoulder Injury
Seth Rollins’ major, documented injuries include the torn ACL/MCL/meniscus in November 2015 (vacated title, out 6–9 months). And now in 2025, he underwent significant shoulder surgery after a legitimate in-ring incident at the Crown Jewel PLE against Cody Rhodes and was written off TV while recovering. Moreover, he was even kicked out from The Vision faction because of this.
19. Ridge Holland's Ankle Dislocation
During an October 2020 NXT angle where he attempted to catch Oney Lorcan, Holland’s leg buckled and WWE reported an ankle dislocation and fracture along with patellar dislocation/rupture to the other knee; he underwent surgery and was out for months before returning in 2021. Now, another layoff due to a neck and ankle issue has resulted in his WWE release in 2025.
18. John Cena's Nose Gets Shattered
On the July 27, 2015 episode of Raw, Cena’s nose was legitimately broken by a knee strike from Seth Rollins. WWE confirmed the broken nose and photos showed him being treated backstage before he returned to finish the show.
17. Paige's Neck Injury
Paige had earlier neck surgery in 2016 and after high-risk symptoms returned, she suffered another neck injury at a December 2017 house show (kick from Sasha Banks) that caused temporary paralysis and led to her retirement from in-ring WWE competition. The former Divas title holder later returned to the ring in AEW as Saraya after years of recovery and clearance.
16. The Undertaker Gets Hit By Fire
At Elimination Chamber 2010, a pyrotechnics malfunction ignited part of The Undertaker’s entrance, causing first-/second-degree burns on his face/chest. He wrestled the match despite the burns and later publicly criticized the pyro technician. At a later stage, WWE reportedly fired the employee.
15. Hardcore Holly Receives A Botched Powerbomb
In 2002 during a SmackDown match, Brock Lesnar botched a powerbomb/reversal on Hardcore Holly, resulting in Holly suffering a fractured neck/vertebra injury that kept him out for more than a year. He later returned but the botched powerbomb is a well-documented career-altering accident.
14. Cody Rhodes's Scary Looking Pectoral
Cody Rhodes suffered a partially torn pectoral before the June 2022 Hell in a Cell match against Seth Rollins. Moreover, the tendon later tore more fully during preparation, and he underwent surgery. 'The American Nightmare' competed through visible chest injury at Hell in a Cell and then rehabbed before returning at the 2023 Royal Rumble.
13. Finn Balor's Momentum Comes To A Complete Halt
At SummerSlam 2016, after winning the inaugural WWE Universal Title against Seth Rollins, the Irishman dislocated his right shoulder during the match (he reportedly popped it back in for the finish). MRI revealed a torn labrum and he underwent surgery. Moreover, he relinquished the title the following night on Raw and has since not been able to regain that momentum from 10 years ago.
12. Mick Foley's Entire Career Is Filled With Horrible Injuries
Mick Foley’s hardcore style produced many major injuries across promotions: the Hell in a Cell (1998) falls, broken bones, concussions, ripped ear incidents and long-term spinal/neck/back issues. The Hardcore legend has suffered numerous operations and lasting health effects yet became one of wrestling’s most enduring performers and authors.
11. Triple H Tears His Quad
On the May 21, 2001 episode of Raw, Triple H tore his left quadriceps so badly it partially detached from the bone. However, in a testament to his toughness, he finished the match which included a brutal Walls of Jericho angle against Y2J. 'The Game' later needed surgery and was sidelined until early 2002, returning right before the Royal Rumble to a major pop at Madison Square Garden.
10. Kevin Nash tears his Quad
On July 8, 2002, during a multi-man tag on Raw, Kevin Nash tore his quadriceps muscle while simply running across the ring. Eyewitness and later interviews describe it as a sudden, severe tear that kept him out for months. It became one of the recurring injuries that hampered the later part of his career.
9. John Cena's Pectoral Muscle Injury
During a Raw match with Mr. Kennedy on October 1, 2007, John Cena tore his right pectoral tendon delivering a hip-toss. This resulted in the the muscle being detached from the bone and required surgery. He was expected off long-term but made a shock return at the 2008 Royal Rumble after just four months.
8. Sting's Temporary Retirement
At Night of Champions 2015 Sting suffered a cervical injury during his match with Seth Rollins for the WWE title. Medical exam revealed cervical spinal stenosis concerns. He announced his in-ring retirement from WWE in 2016 for health reasons (though he later returned to perform in AEW under a modified style).
7. Seth Rollins Blows Out His Knee
On November 4–5, 2015 (house show/Dublin), Rollins tore his right ACL, MCL and medial meniscus while taking a sunset-flip powerbomb spot. WWE announced he would be out roughly 6–9 months and he vacated the WWE World Heavyweight title and missed WrestleMania 32 as a result. He later returned in mid-2016 after surgery and rehab.
6. Joey Mercury Takes A Ladder To The Face
During the 2006 Armageddon fatal-4-way tag ladder match, Joey Mercury took a ladder to the face in a botched spot (with MNM vs The Hardys). The impact shattered his nose and orbital bone; he required many stitches and months of recovery.
5. Shawn Michaels and his back issues
In the late 1990s, HBK battled serious back problems (including severe disc damage after a casket bump in early 1998) and other personal issues. As as result, he stepped away from full-time wrestling for several years. After putting over Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 14 for the world title, he retired from WWE in 1998. However, he returned to the ring in 2002 after recovery and went onto have another legendary phase till 2010.
4. Big E Breaks His Neck
On the March 11, 2022 SmackDown, Big E took an overhead belly-to-belly suplex from Ridge Holland, landed on his head and fractured his C1 and C6 vertebrae. Doctors reported no spinal-cord displacement or ligament damage and no surgery was required, but the injury sidelined him and cast doubt on a full in-ring return.
3. Steve Austin Breaks His Neck
At SummerSlam 1997, Austin was dropped on his head during a botched piledriver by Owen Hart, causing a serious neck injury and temporary paralysis/numbness. Austin continued to wrestle afterward but carried chronic spinal problems that affected his career and contributed to his eventual retirement in 2003.
2. Tyson Kidd's Freak Accident
In June 2015, during a dark match with Samoa Joe, Kidd suffered catastrophic spinal/neck damage after a Muscle Buster-type sequence. Surgeons inserted metal hardware (reported as staples, screws and a rod) and doctors described the injury as life-threatening. The Canadian has not wrestled since and moved to a backstage/producer role.
1. Droz Breaks His Neck Left Him In Wheelchair For Life
On October 5, 1999, during a SmackDown taping in Long Island, a running powerbomb by D’Lo Brown was botched and Droz landed on his head. He fractured vertebrae in his neck and was left severely paralyzed; he spent the rest of his life with very limited mobility. The match footage was not shown on TV and Droz later remained involved with WWE in non-wrestling roles.
