For The Record 8.09.09: Injuries In Wrestling

We’ve seen several devastating injuries as wrestling fans. Who among us will ever forget SummerSlam 1997? We saw Stone Cold Steve Austin challenge Owen Hart for the Intercontinental Championship. It was a good match, just as we expected. However, the contest took a scary turn when Owen Hart botched a piledriver and injured Austin’s neck. Austin became lethargic, and slow. He was fortunately able to roll-up Owen for the victory, but the damage was done. Austin’s career was forever altered.

He came back at Survivor Series that year, and won back the Intercontinental Championship. It was a significant moment for the year that was 1997, though it was overshadowed by the Bret Hart-Shawn Michaels-Vince McMahon fiasco. Austin went on to have a prosperous career. He helped take WWE to new heights. But little did we know… that injury was the beginning of the end of Austin’s career.

Austin took on more of a brawling style. He wasn’t quite the ring general that he was prior, but he could still go. Unfortunately, his neck and other injuries caught up to him. He retired at Wrestlemania XIX at the age of 39. It is rare for a main event star to retire in his 30s. But Austin had no choice. He would have put his long term health, and even short term health in jeopardy if he continued wrestling. That’s probably one of the reasons why he’s alive today. Austin got out at the just the right time, but one has to wonder if he would still be wrestling today if it wasn’t for that frightening SummerSlam match from 1997.

Of course, there was also Shawn Michaels’ injury. Shawn Michaels was in his prime at the beginning of 1998. He was the WWE Champion, the leader of wrestling’s most controversial faction, and the unquestioned leader of WWE. HBK, Triple H, and Chyna made every week of Raw must-see TV. As 1998 began, Michaels and Undertaker were continuing their feud. At the Royal Rumble, they went head to head in a Casket Match for the WWE Championship. However, during the match he took a back body drop that resulted in his lower back hitting the casket awkwardly. He suffered two herniated discs from that drop. He then began the road to retirement, though he did what the wrestling world considers honorable. He weathered excruciating pain to put over Stone Cold Steve Austin at Wrestlemania XIV.

We’ve seen other devastating injuries throughout the years. Look back to 2001 when Triple H ripped a quadriceps muscle. He did indeed finish the match and return in 2002 to continue his Hall of Fame career. But his injury at the time made some wonder if he’d ever wrestle again. Major injuries have also haunted Kurt Angle, The Undertaker, and John Cena. We were also witnesses to Randy Orton’s collarbone injury that put him out of commission for half of 2008. Those who watched the WCW Sin pay-per-view in 2001 were appalled to see Sid’s leg contort graphically. Because of that injury, Sid almost retired from wrestling.

Brock Lesnar’s Wrestlemania XIX injury was also hard to watch. When Lesnar misconnected on the shooting star press and landed partially on his head, I feared the worst. He could have been paralyzed or even killed by such a landing. If he wasn’t such a superior athlete, he may not have survived that landing. What a roller coaster of emotions! Lesnar almost went from winning a Wrestlemania main event to living the remainder of his days in paralysis. Fortunately, he recovered, but that match reminded fans of how quickly a career can end.

Finally, we get to Edge.

His most recent torn Achilles tendon injury is severe. He’ll probably return, but he may never be the same. We may see a more conservative Edge that wrestles less dates. We may see someone that ponders retirement well before Wrestlemania 30. He’s had an amazing run, and I’m sure we’ll all enjoy the moment when he wins his tenth world title. But Edge soberly reminded us that wrestlers’ careers are fragile.

What do injuries do? They force fans to appreciate wrestlers. Many fans may hate John Cena. But when Cena is away with injuries, even his most bitter detractors realize something’s missing. We’ve especially felt a void with Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker gone. Sure, they aren’t suffering any major injuries per se. They’re taking time off because of wear and tear. But fans miss them. And when those wrestlers come back, fans will become nostalgic, cheer, and celebrate their returns.

It’s just unfortunate that most wrestlers receive little to no recognition when they return from major injuries.

Closing Time

That’s it for this week. Below is a Jeff Hardy “My Sacrifice” video. Great stuff.