13 Things We Learned From Dark Side Of The Ring: Daffney

8. Everyone Initially Thought It Was A Broken Arm

Dark Side Of The Ring Daffney Shannon Spruill
VICE

Not to downplay the injury whatsoever, but most behind the scenes in TNA figured the worst thing Daffney had suffered after going through the table was a broken arm. Footage of her squirming whilst being worked on backstage is really harrowing, so viewer discretion is advised there. It kinda sneaks up on you when watching the doc too, so take heed.

Former TNA star Taylor Wilde, who was great friends with Shannon, remembers learning that it was a concussion as well. There was a bit of talk about that backstage, but nobody really knew the details for sure. Alarmingly, Foley said that Spruill had no memory of where she was or what had just happened. Mick: “To this day, I feel terrible about it”. 

The injuries Spruill suffered at Bound For Glory '09 didn't go down as some of wrestling's most horrific, but perhaps they should have. They had a hugely negative impact on the rest of her life. Doctors told her not to get back in the ring, but she was worried about losing her spot, said wrestling was her life and that she had to. So, Daffney was rushed back onto screens ASAP, and it was far too soon. Her broken arm hadn't fully healed, but there was brain damage to contend with too.

It took a little longer, but that started to catch up with Shannon and become more apparent as time marched on. Look out for a clip of a concerned Foley standing over Spruill before she's wheeled into an ambulance. This is the kind of footage even TNA's biggest fans have never seen. Shame it had to surface under such rotten circumstances.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.