WWE SmackDown Superstar Injured In Pre-Taped Title Match

SmackDown star's championship match was being pre-recorded when disaster struck.

By Michael Hamflett /

WWE.com

WWE SmackDown star Shotzi has suffered a knee injury in a match that won't air until next week and now may not air at all.

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The former NXT competitor returned to her old stomping grounds to compete for the NXT Championship against current titleholder Lyra Valkyria, but was unable to finish the match when she sustained a knee injury that as yet has no clear timeline for recovery. According to reports, Shotzi fell to the floor and hit her knee with the side of the ring in a spot that was planned for a commercial break. Things were immediately brought to a halt from there.

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Per Fightful Select's sources, the latest update doesn't look good;

"After speaking to several sources in NXT, [Fightful's] Corey Brennan was able to confirm that Shotzi was not able to place weight on her injured knee and was forced to hop to the back with assistance from WWE's medical team. It was apparent when Shotzi arrived backstage that she was in a large amount of pain. Officials backstage were said to be very concerned for Shotzi and she was immediately taken for medical evaluation."

Shotzi was scheduled to compete in an Elimination Chamber 2024 qualifying match on Friday's SmackDown, but changes will be presumably be made as result of this latest news.

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