5 WWE Superstars who returned from career-ending injuries

WWE Superstars put their bodies on the line for the majority of the year. Although they are well trained and equipped to endure the rigors of the business, there are times when they suffer injuries. While injuries to Superstars are common in this field, WWE emphasizes heavily on the well-being of the concerned superstars.

However, some Superstars have felt the wrath of injuries over the last decade or so. The likes of Sting and Bret Hart retired due to unfortunate career-ending injuries. Female WWE Superstar, Paige's career, which was shaping up to be WWE Hall of Fame worthy, was cut short due to an unfortunate neck injury at a WWE live event in New York in 2017.

Quite recently, the WWE Universe was left astounded as WWE Hall of Famer Edge made a remarkable comeback from a supposed career-ending injury at the Royal Rumble PPV.

The eleven-time WWE World Champion looked in fantastic shape as he eliminated three Superstars, including Randy Orton.

Although his return is nothing short of extraordinary, there are such cases of WWE Superstars making a comeback from injuries of the same magnitude. Here are five such Superstars who have made similar comebacks from career-ending injuries in WWE.

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#5 Shawn Michaels

Shawn Michaels

One of the best wrestlers to have step foot in a WWE ring, Shawn Michaels has had his fair share of injuries during his illustrious career.

HBK is known for his fantastic skill-set and feuds with the likes of Undertaker and Triple H. He even won four WWE World Championships during his career, which makes him stand out amongst his peers. However, Shawn Michaels endured an injury at the Royal Rumble PPV in 1998, which was viewed as a career-ending one.

'Mr. WrestleMania', a name Shawn Michaels is often associated with, injured his back in a match against the Undertaker, which forced him to take time off from the business. For nearly four years, Michaels had to patiently bide his time on the sidelines while waiting eagerly for another go within a WWE ring.

Much to the surprise and praise of the WWE Universe, Shawn Michaels returned in 2002 to face Triple H at SummerSlam in what was one of the best matches of both DX members' careers.

The build-up to the match was excellent, with the match kicking off a memorable feud between the two. This match was the perfect return for Shawn Michaels as he looked to sustain his legacy in WWE from thereon.

Since then, Michaels hasn't looked behind, with the veteran not compromising on quality till his retirement. He competed in his final match as a full-time WWE Superstar against the Undertaker at WrestleMania 26 and has made a few appearance here and there over time.

#4 Stone Cold Steve Austin

Stone Cold Steve Austin

The 1990s was arguably the best period in the history of WWE with the likes of The Rock and Undertaker starring in leading roles. However, one name that stands out from the Attitude Era is Stone Cold Steve Austin.

The Texas Rattlesnake was a crowd favorite with his no-nonsense attitude and killer promos. However, Austin suffered a significant injury due to a botched piledriver by Owen Hart at SummerSlam 1997.

The injury was deemed to be a career-ending one with Austin being visibly rattled during the aftermath of the infamous incident. Many had written his return off, although Stone Cold had different ideas. He made a sensational return in a matter of a few months, although he was slightly restricted inside the ring.

Nevertheless, Stone Cold enjoyed considerable success after his return as he reverted to a more physical style of wrestling. His epic feuds with Mr. McMahon are still fresh on the minds of the WWE fans.

He finally retired in 2003 after he beat the Rock at WrestleMania 19. Austin has stated on a few occasions that he had to quit wrestling due to the infamous injury.

Stone Cold Steve Austin did manage to end his career on his terms with six WWE World Title reigns to his name during his Hall of Fame career.

Austin has made several appearances since his retirement with his famous 'Beer Celebration' being a trademark of his character. His return from the 1997 injury and the success that followed typifies Austin's legacy, which makes him one of the most prominent WWE superstars to date.

#3 Lita

Lita

The Women's Revolution in WWE is one of the most talked about aspects of world wrestling today. The likes of Rhea Ripley and Becky Lynch continue to defy boundaries with stellar performances consistently.

However, none of this would be possible if not for the platform set by the women Superstars of the previous decade. Alongside Trish Stratus, Lita was a flag bearer of the women's division before the emergence of the women's division that we know of today.

Lita redefined women's wrestling at the start of the century with her daredevilry inside the ring. Her high-flying moves and maneuvers adhered to the WWE Universe, although she did face some trouble on her way to stardom.

Lita suffered cracks in multiple vertebrae in 2002, which forced her to take a leave of absence for over a year. Considering her skill-set, this was deemed to be a career-threatening injury.

However, Lita did return from injury and continued to perform at a high level. During her career, Lita was associated with many Superstars while sustaining her run as a female wrestler. She went on to win multiple Women's Championships during her career, which culminated in a Hall of Fame inclusion in 2014.

#2 Hardcore Holly

Hardcore Holly

Hardcore Holly was a solid wrestler who couldn't achieve the kind of success he would have wanted to in the early 2000s.

In spite of Holly's reputation, he was often overlooked and booked in sub-par feuds for most parts of his career. But who would've thought that a potentially career-ending injury would result in Hardcore Holly being pushed to compete for the WWE Championship?

In 2002, Hardcore Holly broke his neck during a match with Brock Lesnar as a result of a powerbomb. However, he did make an inspirational comeback, which was then used as a storyline as revenge, to push Holly.

Hardcore Holly ended up fighting for the WWE Championship against Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble PPV in 2003. However, the Beast Incarnate proved too good for Holly, who came up second best on the night.

Although he did end up losing the match, it was the closest Hardcore Holly could come to winning a World Championship in the company. What stands out was the grit and determination he showed to overcome a significant injury and step into the ring with minimum fuss.

The veteran left in 2009 after spending 15 years with the company with a couple of Tag Team Championship reigns to his credit.

#1 Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan

The most recent comeback of the five, Daniel Bryan's return from injury was a story written in the stars.

Before his injury in 2014, Daniel Bryan was arguably the most loved Superstar in WWE. The Yes Movement was a massive hit with fans enjoying his rags to riches story as he won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 30.

His run as a babyface in the lead up to WrestleMania 30 even involved a segment where fans invaded the ring to force Triple H to allow Bryan to fight for the Championship.

However, Bryan's dreams of staying Champion came to a halt as he was forced to relinquish his gold due to a career-altering injury. Although he did return to the ring, Bryan couldn't reach the standards he had set for himself during his previous run, which culminated in his retirement in 2016.

In spite of the injury, Bryan did continue in WWE as the General Manager of SmackDown for nearly two years. Upon evaluation and consultation, Daniel Bryan was cleared to do what he loves most as he announced his return to in-ring action at WrestleMania 34.

Along with Shane McMahon, Daniel Bryan beat the duo of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn to kickstart his second coming as a wrestler.

Bryan has since added another World Championship reign to his resume and even broke the record for most time spent in a Rumble match (76 minutes) at the Greatest Royal Rumble PPV in 2018.

Although he did seem lost in 2019, Bryan is seemingly back to his best as he currently eyes another World Championship reign at the expense of the Fiend, Bray Wyatt.