10 Strangest Ways Wrestlers Were Written Off TV

Professional wrestling isn't a business famed for its compelling realism.

Though the majority of the manoeuvres we see go down in the squared circle are legitimate and involve stars frequently putting their bodies on the line for our entertainment, the storylines these wrestlers are part of are often about as far from authentic as you can get.

However, there have been times when wrestling companies have tried to trick audiences into believing an element of a programme was 'real' in order to get a wrestler off television for an extended spell. This is largely done by believably 'injuring' a star on screen who is coming towards the end of their contract, requires surgery on a genuine injury or just needs some time away from the ring.

But, as this is the insane world of pro wrestling, not every write-off gets the convincing kayfabe injury treatment.

Exploding vehicles, nightclub stabbings and literal burials have all been used to get various wrestlers off TV for multiple reasons and each of these moments have proven exactly why you should always expect the unexpected when it comes to this whacky (and sometimes quite disturbing) industry.

Jumping straight into the latest example of WWE going down the batsh*t route when it comes to writing off a legend, here we have Rey Mysterio and his eye situation.

After the 'Master of the 619' initially had his peeper injured by Seth Rollins on an episode of Monday Night Raw in May, fans were left wondering just where this programme would end up going. The image of Mysterio's eye being jammed into the steel steps was actually quite unsettling - minus Rollins' nutty eyes - so could this possibly turn into a genuinely dramatic storyline?

Well, things definitely got taken up a notch when Mysterio finally challenged the Monday Night Messiah to an Eye for an Eye match at The Horror Show at Extreme Rules. However, the surreal contest's conclusion left both the masked legend's and fans around the world's eyes rolling.

Mysterio was then sent to hospital to be treated for a potential globe luxation, but WWE later confirmed there was a chance he could maintain his vision. Dave Meltzer confirmed that WWE's decision to write him off television in this way was due to him not having re-signed with the company. So, Vince McMahon purposefully kept things open-ended just in case he decided to return.

We've definitely seen some odd stuff during this unprecedented crowd-less era, but a former World Champion rolling around on the floor with a prosthetic eye is definitely up there.