Is Bobby Lashley's injury real or storyline? What we know amid his absence from WWE SmackDown

Bobby Lashley was not seen on Friday Night SmackDown for the second week in a row, as he was said to be sidelined due to an injury. There have been numerous times when WWE played out injury angles to have progressions in the ongoing storylines and make it more riveting.

Therefore, Lashley's absence from WWE television has left a whirlpool of speculation among fans, as many believe that this could be part of the storyline to keep him away from the 2024 King of the Ring tournament. However, that is not the case with the former WWE Champion.

Bobby Lashley suffered a legitimate injury. Although the nature of the injury remains obscure, he could be away from in-ring action for some time. A recent report states that WWE was well aware of the situation in advance and the people backstage were prepared for the changes to be made in the 2024 King of the Ring tournament.

The fact that The All Mighty was pulled out of the 2024 King of the Ring tournament in advance, followed by an immediate replacement, seems to indicate that he sustained a serious injury and is not part of the storyline.

However, WWE did not provide any further updates on Lashley's medical condition. It remains to be seen how long he remains on hiatus and what is next for the Street Profits amid his absence.

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Possible timeline of Bobby Lashley's WWE return

The nature of Bobby Lashley's injury remains a big question, as there are currently no updates about whether he requires surgery or not. However, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis revealed that The All Mighty sustained the injury while training during his announcement last week, which seems to indicate that the injury is a minor one.

The fact that WWE did not make any major announcements about Bobby's situation implies that he may be out of action just for a while. The Stamford-based promotion often provides an official update along with the duration of the hiatus in case a superstar is sidelined for a considerable period.

Bobby Lashley might make a comeback following the 2024 King and Queen of the Ring Premium Live Event since the company is now preoccupied with the impending show. Once things settle down, the former WWE Champion might return and start a fresh feud on SmackDown.

It will also give Lashley adequate time to recuperate from his injury while the company focuses on the upcoming King and Queen of the Ring Premium Live Event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Hence, there is a possibility that The All Mighty will return the following week after the premium live event.