10 Highest Profile Injuries In WWE History

3. Rocky Maivia's Knee Gives Way...To The Rock

10 Flying Finn Balor Seth Rollins SummerSlam
WWE.com

Few could have understood the significance the knee injury suffered by young Rocky Maivia in 1997 would have on the sports entertainment industry.

In reality, it could not have come at a better time. Fans had turned on him something fierce, booing the white-bread babyface act in what amounted to a very vocal rejection of the third-generation star. When he returned from the injury, Maivia underwent a transformation from the young, humble rookie to the cocky, arrogant villain known simply as "The Rock."

Had that knee injury not happened, and Maivia hadn't had to have to have take, time off (and essentially reevaluate the direction his career was headed), who knows if WWE ever would have realised his full potential under his alter ego.

The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment was founded on a knee injury and frustration with the audience, all of whom wanted the redundant blue chipper babyface "dead".

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.