Former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins is just one of the slew of superstars who will miss WrestleMania 32 due to injuries. Photo from WWE.com
Nothing creates more buzz in the pro wrestling circuit than WrestleMania weekend.
The annual spectacle of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is undoubtedly one of the most awaited events of the year, with thousands of fans flocking to the chosen city for a week to remember.
However, this year’s offing could be one of the unluckiest, as a number of superstars will be unable to perform at “the grandest stage of them all.”
Coincidentally, all champions that left WrestleMania 31 in Santa Clara last year were either injured or retired.
Seth Rollins busted his right knee and tore his ACL, MCL, and medial meniscus at a house show in a match against Kane back in November, forcing him to relinquish his WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
He won the title at Mania after cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase during the main event match between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns, before embarking on a seven-month reign.
John Cena, who won the United States title last year, is recovering from a shoulder injury.
The 15-time world champion came back in January following a two-month hiatus, but was shelved anew following the injury that nixed a potential duel with The Undertaker in this year’s WrestleMania.
This will be the first time since WrestleMania XIX in 2003 that Cena will not be in the card, as he is expected to return to action in July.
Daniel Bryan, meanwhile, announced his retirement in February, citing health issues which hampered his last two years in the company. He won the Intercontinental Championship last year.
His wife, Brie Bella, will follow suit after the 5-on-5 women’s tag team match she is in at WrestleMania 32.
Nikki Bella is recuperating from a career-threatening neck injury after setting the record for the longest reign as the Divas Champion in September. She was inactive since losing her rematch to Charlotte in October at Hell in a Cell.
Then-WWE Tag Team Champions Cesaro and Tyson Kidd have also suffered respective injuries since defending their belts last year.
Kidd has been out of action since June after injuring his neck and spine in a dark match against Samoa Joe.
Cesaro, meanwhile, hurt his left shoulder in November, tearing his rotator cuff muscle, but will make his return on April.
Incoming WWE Hall of Famer Sting is also out of action this year. “The Icon” injured his neck when he challenged Rollins in September at Night of Champions.
Main event mainstay Randy Orton is also recovering from a shoulder injury and is expected to return in April.
The injury bug truly spared no one, hobbling superstars weeks before “the show of shows.”
Neville broke his ankle on Raw three weeks before WrestleMania 32. He got injured after performing a baseball slide in a match against Chris Jericho, putting him in the sidelines for two to three months.
It was an unfortunate fate for the high-flyer, who was slated to participate in his first WrestleMania in the seven-man ladder match for the Intercontinental title. He made his main roster debut the Raw after WrestleMania last year.
The Wyatt Family was also conspicuously left off of the WrestleMania card, with two of the stable’s members nursing injuries.
Leader Bray Wyatt has been dealing with a back injury, which explains his inactivity in the WWE Network live event Roadblock and the scrapping of his potential WrestleMania feud with Brock Lesnar.
Luke Harper, meanwhile, hurt his knee on a dark match last week on Raw.
There are also superstars who are working hurt after already being advertised for WrestleMania 32.
Alberto Del Rio, one-fourth of the League of Nations, is suffering a back injury, but will still participate in the 4-on-3 handicap match against WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day.
Titus O’Neil could also be added to the list, as he is still serving his 60-day suspension following his “unprofessional conduct” towards Mr. McMahon at Daniel Bryan’s retirement.
NXT was also not spared from the pain, as Japanese star Hideo Itami is still in the sidelines due to his shoulder injury.
With the growing list of injuries the main roster has had, many fans are expecting a better show on Friday’s NXT TakeOver: Dallas at the much smaller Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center compared to WrestleMania 32 at the 80,000-seater AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
However, Wrestling Observer reports that 84,000 tickets were already sold for the main draw, breaking the previous record of 79,127 tickets at Summerslam 1992. But a portion of those tickets are seen to be bought by re-sellers, which may still dwindle down the attendance numbers come the big day.
Despite the injuries, the show must go on for WWE.
The Undertaker and Shane McMahon will go at it inside Hell in a Cell with huge career implications. If McMahon wins, he gains control of Raw and The Undertaker will be barred from competing at WrestleMania again.
Roman Reigns will also challenge Triple H for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in the main event, while Brock Lesnar and Dean Ambrose clash in a No Holds Barred Street Fight.
But WrestleMania isn’t the biggest show of the year for nothing, and one must be wise to expect a surprise appearance or two come April 3(April 4 Manila time). After all, anything can happen at WrestleMania.