Samoa Joe & Bobby Lashley Both Dealing With WWE Injuries?

Lashley and Joe are hurt, but there's no word on how long they'll be out for.

Samoa Joe Bobby Lashley
WWE

Per Dave Meltzer in this week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Samoa Joe and Bobby Lashley are both dealing with injuries at the moment, though the extent of their respectiveissues is currently unclear.

Joe has been kept off television in order to rehabilitate an undisclosed problem. He hasn't wrestled since facing Jeff Hardy on the 9 October episode of SmackDown, and while he is scheduled for a handful of live event appearances this weekend, he hasn't yet been cleared to return to competition and a replacement may be needed.

This could explain why WWE had Joe's Super Show-Down match with AJ Styles conclude with a kayfabe knee injury, and followed up in the Hardy bout three nights later.

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Lashley, meanwhile, has been working through a separated shoulder on Raw. Meltzer writes that he's in a lot of pain, adding that this could be why the big man's physique has looked "less impressive" lately. Whether or not Bobby will actually have to take any time off as a result of this is unclear.

Both injuries are extremely ill-timed, as Joe is coming off a WWE Championship programme and Lashley has found new momentum alongside Lio Rush. Let's hope both make a speedy recovery.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.