10 Ways WWE Are Destroying Their Own Roster

WWE's injury list reads like a novella. There are currently well over a dozen wrestlers on the sidelines, and while we can attribute a number to freak accidents and general wear and tear, this argument loses credence when applied to so many different cases.

This is a deeply rooted problem, and WWE's brutal road schedule is one of the main factors. Wrestlers are expected to work 4-6 times a week between lengthy road trips, with little recovery time granted. That's a lot, but after presenting a record 384 main roster shows in 2017, it's clear WWE aren't slowing down.

The company's 'soft' in-ring style is the safest around, but their schedule undoes any benefits reaped from the heavy restrictions they place on what workers can and can't do between the ropes. Say what you will about New Japan's hard-hitting in-ring action, but their injury list is just three names long. Why? Because their wrestlers aren't fighting five times a week, 52 weeks a year. They held just 161 shows in 2017, granting performers long periods of rest & recovery between tours.

Injuries will never be stamped out entirely, and there must be some accounting for accidents, but easing this horrendous schedule would go a long way to alleviating the strain.