Wrestlers sacrifice their bodies every time they step into the ring, and unfortunately, injuries do occur. Whether it be scars, altered body parts, or general markings, these bouts left wrestlers with irreparable and permanent damage.
1. Mick Foley (Ear)
A hardcore icon, Mick Foley infamously left more than just a legacy in the ring – he left part of his body in Munich, Germany.
During the match, the future-Mankind attempted a hangman (a wrestling move where wrestlers get their head knotted between the ropes). Earlier that night, the ropes had been tightened after a wrestler complained about them being too loose. In addition, the material used for the ring ropes that night was not the typical and traditional roping, but rather elevator cable. It was a recipe for disaster.
With Mick Foley stuck in these immensely tight ropes – and with the looming risk of passing out, possibly resulting in permanent brain damage, Foley ripped himself out of the ropes. In the process, his ear was torn.
With his ear now weakened, after a stiff punch by Vader, the dangling ear fell clean off of Foley’s head. The referee picked it up off the mat to hand to a member of ringside personnel, having no idea it was one of the competitor’s body parts. Soon afterward, WCW stopped allowing the two wrestlers to face off.
Recommended reading: Mick Foley Has the Longest Day of His Life in Japan
2. Cody Rhodes (Forehead)
The son of a wrestler known for his blading, Cody has seen his fair share of the red stuff over his time in wrestling.
However, some of Rhodes’s most distinctive markings took place in AEW. Whether it was taking ten whips from MJF or his head being legitimately busted open by a chairshot at the hands of Shawn Spears, Cody is certainly willing to put his body on the line for his promotion. However, one of his most famous injuries took place in a significant pay-per-view bout.
Facing off against world champion Chris Jericho at AEW Full Gear 2019, the stipulation was that if the ‘American Nightmare’ lost, he could never again challenge for the world title. With this in mind, Cody went all out (no pun intended) in putting his body on the line, with the former ‘Dashing’ Cody Rhodes risking some of his good looks for the bout.
3. William Regal (Eyelid)
Wrestling since the age of 15 and famously working a very European ‘snug’ style, it will likely be no surprise that Willaim Regal wears some memories upon his face.
Likely ‘Sir’ William’s most famous injuries came in a historically brutal feud with long-time friend and rival: Fit Finlay. As well as a hard-hitting parking lot brawl on an episode of Nitro, the two squared off in a memorable stiff encounter at Uncensored 1996.
Combining technical holds and vicious strikes, this painful-looking match between the brutes would not only make audiences wince but end up taking its toll on the future NXT GM. About 15 minutes into the contest, the Belfast Bruiser (Fit Finlay) punched Steven Regal so hard it broke Regal’s nose, fractured his cheekbone, and forced him to bleed buckets, as an impromptu DQ finish had to be called.
4. Sabu (Arm)
The nephew of hardcore innovator The Sheik, Sabu similarly has marks on his body that show the effects of hardcore competition.
Against esteemed grizzled hardcore veteran Funk, the “Homicidal, suicidal, genocidal, death-defying” man from Bombay, Michigan, fought in a No Ropes Barbed Wire match – a popular fixture in Japan at the time. The former ECW world champion attempted a corner splash on the Funkster, only to get caught up in the wire. This failed ‘Air Sabu’ attempt badly tore open his bicep, with the muscle nearly hanging out of the 11-inch gash.
5. Shawn Michaels (Eye)
Early in his career, the “Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels played the role of the good-looking boy next door before turning heel and becoming the despicable pretty boy. However, from 2004 onwards, this would change.
Kane hit the former Rocker with the steel steps and slammed him through the announce table, but it is unclear at what exact point HBK sustained the injury. This seems to be a freak accident as the monster-turned-mayor is regarded by many as one of the safest in-ring workers.
Recommended read: The Rockers – Why Their WWE Championship Win Isn’t Recognized
6. Harley Race (Hernia)
Despite his success in the NWA and remaining a top draw for years, it did not take long for things to go wrong during the run of ‘Handsome’ Harley Race in the WWF.
During a Saturday Night’s Main Event taping in March of ’88, Race went for what looked like an apron headbutt on a prone Hogan. This table was not today’s more breakable table but rather a catering table. The table seemed too close to the ring, and after Hulk moved, Race crashed stomach first onto the table’s solid metal edges, sustaining a hernia in the process.
Forcing its way up Harley’s abdomen, this kept Race out of active competition for an extended period of time. Being regarded as one of the toughest men behind the curtain, he returned sooner than expected eight months later in November.
Read, if you dare! –> Harley Race – 10 Tales on His Tenacity and Strength
7. Tyson Kidd (Neck)
A former 3-time tag team champion in the WWE, Tyson Kidd had a few great years ahead of him before a catastrophic injury nearly ended his life.
Something went wrong this night, and Kidd needed immediate surgery for his neck – a surgery that required 16 staples, 4 nails, and a rod to fix. With a 5% chance of survival and, on top of that, a 99% chance of being paralyzed if recovered, it is a miracle that Tyson Kidd is in the good shape he is today.
8. Hardcore Holly (Back)
Despite runs as a member of a self-aware jobber, a faux NWA tag team, and a mullet-rocking Nascar driver – his most memorable gimmick was as a no-nonsense veteran who would rough up his wrestlers. However, on this occasion, it was Bob Holly who would be left scarred.
In September, on an episode of ECW TV, Holly took on fan-favorite Rob Van Dam in an extreme rules match. During the bout, the former hardcore champion suplexed RVD off the apron through a table on the outside. As we cut to break, Holly is gritting his teeth and visibly is in pain – most fans likely believed this was just the veteran selling the spot. However, when we returned from break, the opening shot was a close up of a huge, bloody gash over his back.
Having hit his back on the table’s metal lining, Holly received 24 stitches for the mark after the bout but continued the match, eventually being pinned by the master of the 5 Star Frog Splash. Hardcore’s valiant continuation of the encounter gained him a standing ovation from the fans afterward, as well as Holly turning face as a result of his determination.
Here are five more articles detailing unfortunate injuries sustained in the ring:
- 3 Accidents In the Ring That Ended Careers Too Soon
- Joey Mercury – The Injury That Brokedown a Promising Career
- Vader and the Time His Eye Popped Out During a Match
- Steve Austin – The Neck Injury That Changed His Life Forever
- Droz and D’Lo Brown – How A Disastrous Moment Brought on Strength
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