5 WrestleMania's that were rocked by injuries

WrestleMania is the Showcase of the Immortals. It is the greatest live event in sports and entertainment. But despite the grandeur of the Show of Shows, it is not bulletproof.

The effect that a single injury could have on the entire event cannot be ignored. There have been times in the past where injuries forced WWE to throw some of their WrestleMania plans out of the window.

Vince McMahon has dealt with the blow of seeing a major Superstar miss WrestleMania through injury, as well as some injuries taking place on the 'Grandest Stage' itself.

Injuries to top stars in the lead up to WrestleMania could prove to be fatal to the box office appeal of the show, as well as it's overall quality. Whether they happened before the event or during it, pretty much every 'Mania has seen a couple of injuries.

Here are the five cruellest times when injuries rocked WrestleMania.

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#5 WrestleMania 23

The main event of 'Mania 23 was changed.

Out of the five Superstars fighting for the WWE or World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 22, only two of them wrestled at the following year's WrestleMania. Randy Orton and John Cena. Kurt Angle had been released, while Triple H and Rey Mysterio were out with serious injuries.

The Game had proven to be a huge part of WrestleMania for many years, wrestling in the main event at 4 of the last 5 editions. He was scheduled to headline once again alongside John Cena, and possibly Shawn Michaels, for the WWE Championship.

However, The Game tore his right quadriceps at New Year's Revolution during a tag team match between DX and Rated RKO. The subsequent surgery kept him out until the summer of 2007. Rey Mysterio was also out until the summer, with a knee injury sidelining him from late 2006.

Mysterio also would have likely commanded a decent spot at WrestleMania 23, considering he walked out of the previous 'Mania with the world title. These injuries did not necessarily hurt business, but the quality of the show would have likely improved had two of their bigger stars been a part of it.

#4 WrestleMania XIX

One of the most unique 'Mania main events in history.

SmackDown had been on fire from the end of 2002 until early 2003, with Paul Heyman at the helm, but a couple of injuries threatened to ruin the plans for WrestleMania 19. Two of the 'SmackDown Six' suffered major neck issues heading into 'Mania.

Edge, one of the company's fastest rising stars, was sidelined for over a year. He missed out on a triple threat tag team match at WrestleMania, where he and Chris Benoit would have faced Los Guerreros and Team Angle for the WWE Tag Team Championships. Rhyno ended up in Edge's place.

Kurt Angle had banged up his previously broken neck and seemed to be ruled out from WrestleMania, but he was determined to defend his WWE Championship in the main event of the show and put Brock Lesnar over. One misstep in the match would have proven to be fatal.

To make matters worse, Angle tore his hamstring early into the action. And most infamously, Brock Lesnar suffered a terrible concussion after a botched Shooting Star Press at the end of the match. Amazingly, despite all the injury woes on both sides, Angle and Lesnar put on a great match. The main event of WrestleMania 19 could have gone horribly wrong, but it has aged well over time.

#3 WrestleMania 2000

WWF in 2000 was bulletproof, but WrestleMania 2000 was not.

2000 may have been the greatest year in WWE history, but that year's WrestleMania suffered from a couple of problems. Aside from the convoluted nature of the show's main event, a couple of megastars were ruled out due to injury.

Both, The Undertaker and Steve Austin had to sit out WrestleMania 2000. Austin had to take a year off to have his broken neck fixed, while 'Taker was dealing with a groin and pectoral problem, among other injuries.

Sure, this led to The Rock ending up as the biggest babyface in the company. But the inclusion of the Rattlesnake and the Deadman/American Badass to the 'Mania card, possibly against each other, would have made the show so much better than it actually was.

WrestleMania 16 came at the peak of the Attitude Era, but business for the show did not show that. Having Austin, Undertaker, or both, would have surely helped 'Mania crack 1 million buys. Their presence was sorely missed, on a card built on chaos and uncertainty.

#2 WrestleMania XXX

This 'Mania was a tale of two injuries.

Despite the overwhelming feel-good nature surrounding Daniel Bryan's victory at WrestleMania XXX, the Superdome show was a tale of two major injuries. They happened a year apart but both of them hurt the Show of Shows.

The Rock suffered a torn abductor and an abdominal muscle injury during his second WrestleMania main event against John Cena. And despite finishing the match, the injury was severe enough for him to miss the following night's episode of RAW, where the Great One was likely supposed to encounter Brock Lesnar and set up a match for next year's 'Mania.

This would have been a huge match, over a decade in the making. However, between the two WrestleManias, The Rock's agents and insurers advised him not to wrestle, following the major injury suffered at WrestleMania 29. Lesnar ended up fighting The Undertaker at the milestone 30th edition of the event.

As we all know, that was the night that the Deadman's legendary WrestleMania streak ended. He suffered a terrible concussion during the match, affecting the quality of the match between him and Lesnar. After returning backstage, 'Taker collapsed and left 'Mania in an ambulance.

It was so severe, that Vince McMahon apparently accompanied the Undertaker to the hospital and left WrestleMania midway, not being present for Daniel Bryan's big moment.

#1 WrestleMania 32

WrestleMania 32 was significantly damaged due to injuries.

WrestleMania 32 was slated to be the largest in history, with the event expected to sell out the AT&T Stadium with over 100,000 WWE fans in attendance. The company had big plans for 2016's Showcase of the Immortals, with big-time matches like Triple H vs The Rock and John Cena vs The Undertaker.

The Rock would not wrestle due to the aforementioned insurance issue, but there was still a lot of star power. However, as 2015 progressed, more and more main event Superstars got injured. Daniel Bryan, Sting, Randy Orton, and Seth Rollins all got major injuries that would rule them out of WrestleMania 32.

At least we would still get John Cena vs The Undertaker, right? No!

Cena suffered a shoulder injury at the start of 2016 and could not wrestle at the event. He did make an appearance though. It was still devastating for WWE. Talents like Neville and Cesaro, among others, also missed WrestleMania, making the 32nd edition the most injury-afflicted 'Mania in history.

WWE had to tape together a card for WrestleMania 32, with Triple H vs Roman Reigns and Undertaker vs Shane McMahon as the headline matches. This was nowhere near the box office heights that the company had envisioned for the biggest 'Mania in history. There may have been a record attendance, but it was not exactly a standout edition of the event.

WrestleMania 32 will always be looked back on with one question: What If?