10 Wrestlers Who Broke Their Neck For The Business
2. Jose Estrada Jr
The worst possible start to Edge's WWE career was also the worst possible end for Jose Estrada Jr's, after the Los Boricuas star broke his neck absorbing a somersault senton from the newcomer.
The July 1998 squash was designed to highlight the very best of the 'Silent Rage' persona the company had workshopped for the future 'Rated-R Superstar', but the abrupt ending of the squash instead put the attention rightfully on the wellbeing of the otherwise colourless midcarder.
In a rather frightening indictment of the industry at the time, Estrada was too low on the pecking order to take extended time off for surgery or significant healing. He instead worked a limited schedule for the remainder of the year before taking some select appearances on the company's Lucha spinoff 'Los SuperAstros' in 1999 ahead of a premature retirement.
Such was the frenetic pace of the industry at the time, few even noticed Estrada's absence as the Puerto Rican stable were phased down and out of action in sync with his injury. Even the footage doesn't exactly make one weep for his plight - a ring fan responding to the worst moment of the second generation star's career with a crotch chop reflects the hedonistic carelessness of the Attitude Era.