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With WrestleMania 34 just a couple of months away, storylines are beginning to develop on Raw and SmackDown Live and WWE fans are waiting to find out who will face who at this year’s “Show of Shows”.
However, sadly for some of the company’s performers, a total of 13 of them have suffered injuries over the last few months and face a race against time if they’re to be involved in New Orleans.
In this article, we take a look at those who are currently on the injured list and weigh up their chances of returning in time for ‘Mania.
#13 Alicia Fox
Alicia Fox posted social media updates all day leading up to the first-ever women’s Royal Rumble, only to miss the match with a broken tailbone. It’s unclear how the injury happened but reports suggest she sustained it as she was preparing for the historic match.
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WWE is yet to provide an update on Fox’s status, other than announcing that she has been removed from the Mixed Match Challenge, but PWInsider is reporting that she is expected to miss “the next few months”, which would rule her out of WrestleMania 34.
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#12 Big Cass
Just as WWE began to push Big Cass as a dominant heel on Raw, he tore the ACL in his knee during a match against Enzo Amore in August 2017 and we haven’t seen him on our screens since.
The good news? He is rehabbing every day and trying to get back in a WWE ring as soon as possible. The bad news? While he is right on schedule, the 7-footer revealed on The Sam Roberts Wrestling Podcast in November 2017 that he is not expecting to return until shortly after WrestleMania 34.
#11 Big Show
Big Show was written off WWE television after being launched through a steel cage by Braun Strowman on an episode of Raw in September 2017. In reality, he underwent surgery on his hip and he is expected to make his return soon.
Whether he'll be back before or after WrestleMania 34, we’re not so sure. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him return the night after ‘Mania, but then can you really have an Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal without “The World’s Largest Athlete”?
#10 The Brian Kendrick
The Brian Kendrick suffered a fractured orbital bone and a fractured nasal bridge after taking a GTS from Hideo Itami in December 2017. With no surgery required, he was only ruled out for around two months.
That means it’s entirely possible that Kendrick will be back for WrestleMania 34. However, with the First Round matches in the Cruiserweight Championship tournament (which culminates at ‘Mania) currently taking place, he’ll have to return pretty soon to be in with a chance of featuring in New Orleans.
#9 Dean Ambrose
Dean Ambrose has been on every WrestleMania card since he was called up to WWE’s main roster in November 2012. However, unless WWE has masterminded the biggest swerve in history, he will almost certainly miss WrestleMania 34.
“The Lunatic Fringe” had surgery on a high-grade triceps tendon injury in December 2017 and Raw commentator Michael Cole announced that he could miss up to nine months of action.
#8 Drew McIntyre
Drew McIntyre was reportedly set for a call-up to Raw or SmackDown Live after his NXT title match against Andrade “Cien” Almas at TakeOver: War Games in November 2017.
However, he suffered a serious bicep injury in the match and he is expected to be out of action until April 2018. When he returns, he’s likely to remain on NXT – he’s since tweeted that he wants to reclaim the NXT title – which seemingly rules out a swift call-up to WWE’s main roster before WrestleMania 34.
#7 Epico Colon
The Colons have been hit by injuries ever since they switched to SmackDown Live in the April 2017 Superstar Shake-Up. Primo Colon was ruled out for several months after undergoing knee surgery in July 2017, and it was recently revealed that Epico Colon has had surgery on his shoulder.
While no timescale has been announced for his potential return, it’s safe to assume that Epico will miss WrestleMania 34.
#6 Jeff Hardy
Just when Jeff Hardy appeared to be heading towards a singles run on Raw, he suffered a serious shoulder injury in September 2017 and required surgery.
The former WWE champion revealed in November that he is recovering well and is scheduled to make his comeback around April 2018, which means there’s a small possibility that he returns at WrestleMania 34.
But, given that Sheamus, Cesaro, Finn Balor and many others made their long-awaited returns from injury the night after ’Mania in recent years, we can probably expect to see him make his comeback on Raw instead.
#5 Noam Dar
Noam Dar suffered an injury to his left knee in a Fatal-4-Way match against Rich Swann, Akira Tozawa and Ariya Daivari in November 2017. He competed in two more matches in the following week before it was confirmed that he would require surgery.
“We don’t have any confirmed timeframe just yet because I obviously need to see the post-op, but it’s more than likely going to be around the five-month mark,” Dar told WWE’s official website in December.
#4 Paige
While it’s not been officially confirmed by WWE yet, it was reported by PWInsider in January that Paige is “done” as an in-ring performer.
The former Divas champion struggled to get back to her feet after taking a kick to the back from Sasha Banks at a live event in late December 2017 and she was removed from the women’s Royal Rumble match.
WWE has reportedly informed Paige, who only returned from injury in November 2017, that she will not be cleared to wrestle again following her latest setback.
#3 R-Truth
R-Truth underwent surgery in December 2017 to remove some loose bone from his shoulder and no update has been given on when he could potentially return.
Like many others on this list, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the former United States champion return in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. But, as yet, it looks like we’re no closer to seeing Truth back in a WWE ring.
#2 Samir Singh
SmackDown Live Superstar Samir Singh suffered a torn ACL in mid-January and has undergone surgery in Birmingham, Alabama. It’s not clear when he’ll return but, judging from his social media posts, he can’t wait to get back inside a WWE ring.
He posted this week on Instagram: “I heard something pop in my knee. While standing on the stage, I kept thinking, I’ve been down before, I’ll be back.”
#1 Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe suffered a foot injury during a match against Rhyno on Raw in January, ruling him out of the Royal Rumble and the Mixed Match Challenge.
Dr. Chris Amann, WWE's Senior Ringside Physician, revealed to the company’s official website that Joe felt a pop in his foot and that treatment includes a period of immobilization in a boot with crutches
"The Destroyer" appeared on the NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia kickoff show but didn't give a timescale on when he might return from the injury.
