Injured WWE Star Expected To Be Out For "About Nine Months"
This WWE SmackDown star confirms a torn ACL with keep them on the shelf for "about nine months".
Having suffered a knee injury on last night's NXT broadcast - in a match taped last week - WWE's Shotzi has now provided an update on this injury.
Taking to Instagram, Shotzi confirmed that she tore her ACL, which means she's expected to be out of action "for about 9 months".
From Shotzi's Insta:
"I tore my ACL which means I will be out of action for about 9 months. Thank you to everyone who has checked up on me. I am so sorry if I haven't responded. I am just extremely devastated and angry. Some of you know, I have been through a lot the last few years and it has been so hard to keep up with what I think is expected of me and honestly my mental health had been at an all time low. But I've pushed through and I was feeling motivated and like myself again. I was hoping to go to NXT to prove myself again, earn some respect, build back my confidence and start putting the heartache from the past 2 years behind me. I feel defeated right now but I'm simultaneously feeling the most motivated I have ever been. I have been through way worse. I've watched my sister, who is fighting cancer, fight tougher battles. I'm just taking this as a sign to slow down. I didn't take time off when both my stepdad and my dad passed and that really affected me. Now I am looking forward to coming back not just physically stronger, but mentally also."
As mentioned, the match where this injury occurred happened during last week's NXT tapings, where, due to certain NXT crew heading to Australia for WWE Elimination Chamber, this week's NXT show was taped ahead of time.
At these tapings, Shotzi took on NXT Women's Champion Lyra Valkyria. The injury occured when the SmackDown star went for her fairly standard drop DDT from the apron, and it was immediately visible that something was wrong when Shotzi landed on the ringside area.
Initially, Shotzi was scheduled to face Tiffany Stratton on last week's SmackDown to qualify for a spot in the women's Chamber match at this weekend's Premium Live Event. Instead, the 31-year-old California native was replaced by Zelina Vega in that bout - with Stratton defeating Vega to earn herself a ticket to Perth, Australia.
All the best from us at WhatCulture Wrestling to Shotzi on her road to recovery.