Good day! Here is an updated WWE injury report, along with any notable absentees. Reasons for absence can include suspensions, shielding from the pandemic, or unexplained inactivity.
Updated WWE Injury & Absentee Report
There has been a few changes since the last time I shared a report in June. We’re bound for some surprise returnees soon, given that there are a few who have been out of action for a long time.
Monday Night Raw
- Authors Of Pain — Since Rezar was sidelined with a torn biceps injury back in March, Akam hasn’t been seen either. It was recently reported that WWE was considering bringing back their former manager Paul Ellering before the pandemic hit. Rezar’s injury originally slated him to be sidelined for 6-8 months, so expect AOP to return in the next eight weeks.
- Jinder Mahal — The injury prone former WWE Champion returned to action in April, but found he had a complication with his knee which required surgery. There is no estimated time for his return.
- Becky Lynch — She stopped performing after defeating Shayna Baszler at WrestleMania, and went on maternity leave a few weeks later. Becky is roughly 4-5 months in to her pregnancy.
- Charlotte Flair — It was noted on PWInsider she’d be out for at least six weeks after undergoing an elective surgery. However, she has been inactive for double that time, sitting on the sidelines for over two months : Top WWE Star Expected Out Next Six Weeks
- Brock Lesnar / Robert Roode — According to some unconfirmed reports, Road Warrior Animal claims the reason Brock Lesnar is not on TV is because he can’t cross the border in to the United States from Canada. This would explain why other WWE Superstars, like Robert Roode, have not been seen since the start of the pandemic. His manager Paul Heyman returned this week as the new manager of Roman Reigns. Despite this, he has not proclaimed Brock Lesnar dropping his services.
I should be in the Bahamas right now….. Happy Easter. #Lockdown #isolation
— Robert Roode (@RealRobertRoode) April 12, 2020
SmackDown Live
- Bo Dallas — The lone ‘B Team’ member has not been seen on TV since teaming with released partner Curtis Axel at Crown Jewel in October. He’s sitting at home, probably because WWE creative has nothing for him.
- Lars Sullivan — The controversial superstar remains on the sidelines rehabbing a serious knee injury sustained over a year ago in June 2019. It was recently reported Sullivan is training for a return, so expect him back before the end of 2020.
- Elias — He is recovering from a torn pectoral muscle suffered in late-May, with an estimated recovery time of 6-9 months. Elias should be ready by WrestleMania season.
- Xavier Woods/Ember Moon — Both are out with torn Achilles injuries. Woods recently appeared on WWE TV to congratulate his friends on winning the SmackDown tag team titles. It was suggested that Ember Moon may never get to return to the ring. Some fans are claiming she is a member of the new stable “Retribution”
"I may have a career ending injury." – @WWEEmberMoon #WWEBackstage pic.twitter.com/sBHY2Ke6k7
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) May 20, 2020
- The Forgotten Sons — In June, Jaxson Ryker made some controversial remarks on Twitter regarding Donald Trump (& possibly racist undertones). Many in WWE felt it was unfair to punish them, especially Wesley Blake & Steve Cutler, because they did nothing than be associated with Ryker in the group. Jaxson recently made an Instagram post, hinting at a return for them.
- The Usos — Jimmy Uso is out with a knee injury, so we can naturally assumed his brother Jey is sidelined til he can return to action.
- Kofi Kingston — Unluckily for New Day fans, Kofi is recovering from a knee injury. They lost the SmackDown tag team titles to Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura at Extreme Rules. With he & Woods out, Kingston encouraged Big E to enjoy some singles success.
- Carmella — While she hasn’t been entirely absent from WWE TV (recently appeared on R-Truth’s game show), she has had no bookings since April. Neither Carmella, WWE, or Corey Graves have explained the reasons behind her absence. She is not shielding during the pandemic, and has shared several social media posts of her workouts and impersonations of WWE superstars.
NXT
NXT UK will return soon after months of lockdown restrictions in the UK, along with the controversial sex allegations. There have been no updates on the details of these accusations.
- Pete Dunne, Zack Gibson & James Drake — They remain in England, spending time with their families during lockdown.
Matt wanted us to match
Coming out of quarantine dressed like ultimate stallions pic.twitter.com/GkJEP0Esz9
— Pete Dunne (@PeteDunneYxB) April 25, 2020
- Boa / Xia Li — WWE’s only male Chinese wrestler has been on the shelf since November after undergoing shoulder surgery. Their only female Chinese wrestler, Xia Li, has not wrestled since June, but is still sharing beautiful body pics on her Instagram. There is no explained reason for her absence.
- Chelsea Green / Vanessa Borne — Since dropping Robert Stone as her manager, we’ve seen more of Stone than we have her. Like Moon, some fans have hinted she is a member of Retribution. It is unknown why she is inactive. Vanessa Borne has also not been seen for a long time, but it was reported she moved up to the main roster in January. She was heavily linked to Retribution after debuting on SmackDown.
- Indus Sher, Rinku & Saurav — Only a week after Xia Li disappeared from TV, WWE stopped using Malcolm Bivens’ Indus Sher tag team. Could WWE be saving money? Or is there something else going on here?
- Jake Atlas(?) — It could be storyline, but it looked like Atlas was written off TV when he was injured by Tommaso Ciampa. As of this writing, WWE has not explained the reason behind it.
- Kona Reeves — He might be the longest serving wrestler in NXT history (behind Tyler Breeze?), but has spent much of his time either sidelined with injury, or as an enhancement talent for live events. Rarely used on TV, Reeves is currently out with a torn labrum.
- Dexter Lumis — Unluckily for his fans, Lumis suffered an injury while qualifying for the North American Championship ladder match at TakeOver XXX. His character is getting over, but we’ll have to sit and wait patiently, while staring blankly in to space… while Dexter recovers from an ankle injury.
- Karrion Kross — After getting the biggest win of his career by defeating Keith Lee for his first major title (NXT Championship), WWE announced he worked through it with an injury which was further exacerbated. Picking up a big man like Keith Lee on to a separated shoulder must have hurt like mad, but he did it anyway to give us a powerful end to an understandably tepid encounter. Kross vacated the title on the next episode of NXT, but it’s only a matter of time til he returns for the prize he never lost. “TICK TOCK!”
