The WWE was dealt a vicious blow during its current European tour.
WWE world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins injured his knee during a show in Dublin on Wednesday night. The initial hopes were that Rollins only tweaked the knee, but ESPN host (and former WWE personality) Jonathan Coachman reported Thursday that Rollins tore his right ACL, MCL and meniscus. He’s expected to miss six to nine months.
Here’s how Rollins injured the knee:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB-qEKI37eY
According to Coachman, the title will be vacated and the WWE now will hold a tournament at this month’s Survivor Series pay-per-view.
The injury couldn’t come at a worse time for WWE. TV ratings are nearing all-time lows, and the roster already was depleted before the Rollins injury. John Cena is in the midst of time off and isn’t expected to return until the end of December. Randy Orton recently reinjured his shoulder and is out for six to eight months. Daniel Bryan remains out with a concussion and hasn’t yet been cleared by the WWE to return.
The injury issues could also have a major affect on the WWE’s biggest show of the year, “WrestleMania.” The annual event is scheduled for April 2 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with WWE hoping to set all kinds of attendance records. The idea of two stars like Rollins and Orton missing from that show has the potential to be a massive issue for WWE.
UPDATE (2:50 p.m. ET): The WWE has confirmed the news.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@WWE
