5 WWE superstars that have come back from a major injury

WWE superstars put their bodies on the line every time they step into the ring. They're so highly trained that they are able to perform even the riskiest move safely. Sadly, like any physical activity, injuries happen, and sometimes they can be career-ending.

When the unthinkable happens, WWE superstars are forced to step away from the ring. There are also major injuries that take years of recovery.

That being said, let's take a look at five WWE superstars that have come back from major injury.

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#5 Daniel Bryan returned to WWE after retiring from the ring

Daniel Bryan's career in WWE hit its pinnacle when he captured the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania in 2014. After months of fighting The Authority on-screen, he defied the odds to win the prestigious gold in the main event.

The American Dragon defeated Randy Orton and Batista in a triple threat match. Bryan had to defeat Triple H at the start of the event to get himself inserted into the bout.

Sadly, things didn't play out the way everyone had hoped once he captured the championship. Bryan began to suffer a loss of strength and required neck surgery. He underwent successful surgery and eventually returned, but it was only short lived.

On the February 08, 2016, episode of RAW, Daniel Bryan officially announced his retirement from the ring to the shock of the WWE Universe. He retired as he had suffered too many concussions throughout his career. Bryan continued to experience post-concussion symptoms and was no longer able to perform. WWE doctors would no longer clear him to compete.

Fast-forward two years and the shock of all shocks happened. WWE tweeted out that Daniel Bryan had been cleared to compete. He discussed his return that night on the March 20, 2018, episode of SmackDown. It had been a long journey for the former Intercontinental Champion, who was cleared by external doctors prior to WWE's clearance.

WWE executive Triple H spoke with USA Today's For The Win about Bryan's return in 2018:

"It’s been an amazing process. One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do is tell talent that they can’t do this anymore. That you can’t live your dream. And for somebody like Daniel, man, it was soul-crushing. He went through *a lot* to try to get back to where he was, without any guarantee that it would ever work. But you take the advice of the doctors, the same doctors that told you he couldn’t, tell you he can… man, it’s like a second lease on life for him. Really excited, really happy for him. Watching him on TV the other night, just sitting at the monitor watching was unbelievable." Triple H said. (h/t PW Mania)

Bryan's return match was at WrestleMania 34 where he teamed up with Shane McMahon to face Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Bryan is still competing today, performing for All Elite Wrestling.

#4 Christian returned to the ring following his quiet WWE retirement

On the March 24, 2014, episode of Monday Night RAW, Christian won a shot at the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Captain Charisma never got that opportunity, as a concussion ruled him out of action. No official announcement was ever made, but Christian quietly retired from the ring due to multiple concussions suffered throughout his career.

On an episode of After The Bell with Corey Graves, Christian discussed his retirement:

"It's a tough thing to swallow. It's a bitter pill to swallow. It's taken out of your hands. You don't have a say in it. When I talked to a doctor, it's like any prize fighter. You can have a chin made of granite and get hit a ton of times and nothing happens. But that one time you get a bad one, you're never quite the same and it's easier to get them after." Christian said. (h/t The Sportster)

To the surprise of the WWE Universe, Christian made an in-ring return in the men's Royal Rumble match in 2021. He was briefly reunited with his former tag team partner Edge, before being eliminated by Seth Rollins. He left WWE following this match and signed for AEW, where he continues to wrestle.

#3 Shawn Michaels made a return to WWE following his first retirement due to injury

Shawn Michaels was one of WWE's biggest stars throughout the 90's. Sadly, at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view in 1998, HBK sustained a career-ending injury. In a Casket Match with The Undertaker, Michaels' received a back body drop onto the casket.

His lower back collided with the casket and herniated two disks, completely shattering one of them. It was a devastating moment for the then-WWE Champion.

It was a difficult time for WWE and Shawn Michaels, as WWE was at the peak of the Attitude Era competing against WCW. Michaels would eventually get surgery on his back. He quietly retired from in-ring competition and returned on-screen as a commissioner.

In 2002, some four years after first sustaining his injuries, Shawn Michaels signed a new contract with WWE, which was a performers contract. Michaels made his return to action feuding with long-time friend Triple H. It was a massive coup for WWE, as HBK is considered to be one of the greatest ever performers to step into the ring.

#2 Triple H twice returned to WWE after sustaining a major injury

Triple H was on top of the WWE world during the height of the Attitude Era. He was one of the key players in beating WCW in the Monday Night Wars.

On the May 21, 2001 episode of Monday Night RAW, The Game suffered a career-threatening injury. He teamed up with fellow WWE Tag Team Champion, Stone Cold facing Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit. During the match, Triple H suffered a tear in his left quadriceps muscle, ripping it completely off the bone. It was the first major injury of the Cerebral Assasin's career.

Following surgery, Triple H was in rehabilitation for eight months before making a triumphant return inside Madison Square Garden on January 7, 2002. Sadly, the same injury happened again a few years later, in similar circumstances. At the New Year's Revolution pay-per-view in January 2007, in a tag team match, The Game suffered another tear, but this time in his right quadricep.

Of course, Triple H wasn't to be kept down, and returned that August at SummerSlam to defeat King Booker.

#1 Edge made a return to WWE following a life-changing injury

April 11, 2011, will not be a date the WWE Universe will ever forget. It was the night that Edge shockingly announced that he had been forced to retire from the ring. Following a successful World Heavyweight Championship defense at WrestleMania, Edge emotionally declared his in-ring career was over.

It was revealed that the Rated-R Superstar had cervical spinal stenosis. It potentially could have led to his death if he had taken any hard landings. His career was over, and he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame the following year. It looked like Edge would never wrestle again.

Then, at the SummerSlam pay-per-view in 2019, Edge got physical on the pre-show by spearing Dolph Ziggler. It sparked a flurry of speculation that he was once again cleared to compete.

The unthinkable happened just a few months later. Edge entered the men's Royal Rumble match to leave the WWE Universe stunned and elated at the same time. He had been cleared and continues to wrestle for WWE on a part-time basis.