10 Highest Profile Injuries In WWE History

4. Shawn Michaels Breaks His Back In Classic Casket Match

10 Flying Finn Balor Seth Rollins SummerSlam
WWE.com

Shawn Michaels may or may not be the best wrestler of his generation, depending on whether you are a Bret Hart fan or not, but there was no denying how important he was to the WWF during the 1990s. He was one of the marquee stars, a performer whose work between the ropes made all of the B.S. employers and peers had to deal with behind the curtain just about tolerable.

If that guy went down with a significant injury, Vince McMahon would be left to scurry for a Superstar replace him.

He was faced with the situation in January 1998 when Michaels severely injured his back taking a back body drop over the top rope. Defending the WWF Championship against The Undertaker in a Casket match, Michaels soared over the rope and smacked the small of his back on the edge of said casket.

The injury made daily life miserable for Michaels, and necessitated a four-year retirement from the squared circle. As a result, Michaels missed out on an Attitude Era he was essential in developing - the greatest boom period the sport had ever seen. Given how hard he worked for WWE during the down periods, it had to have been immensely disappointing for the performer.

Contributor
Contributor

Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.