6 Superstars who relinquished their title due to injury or illness

Roman Reigns had to relinquish the Universal title on RAW after being diagnosed with leukaemia
Roman Reigns had to relinquish the Universal title on RAW after being diagnosed with leukaemia

It is a well-documented fact that WWE Superstars have a hectic schedule, wrestling and travelling for a majority of the year, away from their families and home for a long period.

The in-ring wrestling can be brutal, and that coupled with the constant travelling, can take a toll on a Superstar's physical, and even mental health.

There have been numerous instances when injuries have ended careers, while some others, like we found out about Roman Reigns recently, have illnesses that force them to step away from the ring and what they love to do best - entertain the millions of fans worldwide.

Here, we take a look at 6 Superstars who relinquished their title due to injury or illness:


#1 Roman Reigns

On the 22nd October 2018 episode of RAW, when Roman Reigns made his way to the ring, something was amiss. He was wearing a t-shirt and jeans, and not his usual Shield gear. Reigns announced that he has leukaemia, and after fighting it off almost a decade ago, it had returned.

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An emotional Reigns thanked the WWE fans and the WWE management who had given him a chance nearly a decade ago. The Big Dog promised fans that he would return once he "whooped leukaemia's ass" and that it wasn't a retirement speech.

Reigns relinquished the Universal title, which he had won at SummerSlam when he defeated Brock Lesnar, winning the Universal title for the first time. He was scheduled to defend his title at the Crown Jewel PPV against Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman, which would have also been his first meeting with Lesnar after The Big Dog defeated The Beast at SummerSlam.

#2 Finn Balor

Balor suffered a shoulder injury at SummerSlam in 2016
Balor suffered a shoulder injury at SummerSlam in 2016

Finn Balor is probably one of the most unlucky men in the WWE locker room currently. Destined to be one of the top guys in the business, Balor has had obstacle after obstacle thrown at him, which has halted his progress to the top.

After he was drafted to RAW in 2016, Balor was immediately thrown into the mix, as he won a fatal four-way match and then defeated Roman Reigns to have a chance at the inaugural Universal championship.

He faced off against Seth Rollins at SummerSlam later that year, where he also went to win the Universal championship. But, Balor then suffered heartbreak as he sustained a shoulder injury during the match, which meant that he had to relinquish the belt the next night on RAW.

Since his return on the night after WrestleMania 33, his progress has been stop-start and he hasn't won a title yet.

#3 Shawn Michaels

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Shawn Michaels had one of the most heated rivalries in pro wrestling history with Bret Hart in the 90s, when both wrestlers hated each other on and off screen.

During their incredible rivalry, which ultimately led to the infamous Montreal Screwjob, Michaels had to almost retire from wrestling in 1997, due to a serious knee injury.

Michaels, who was the WWF Champion, had to relinquish the title on a Thursday edition of RAW, as he told fans that he had to retire from wrestling due to the injuries, telling fans that he had "lost his smile".

Following surgery, Michaels returned to the WWE and wrestled once again, and then the iconic Montreal Screwjob happened.

After Michaels relinquished the title, his old rival, Bret Hart, won the title in a fatal four-way match against The Undertaker, Vader, and Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Michaels has had a long list of injuries in his WWE career, including injuring his back in 1998 which forced him to retire once again.

#4 John Cena

John Cena
John Cena

John Cena has been a regular fixture on WWE programming for over a decade and has only recently moved away to be a part-time wrestler, making appearances at big events.

Cena, who is a 16-time world champion, has rarely been away from the ring due to injury, except for the one time in 2007, when he tore his pectoral muscle. On a match on RAW against Mr. Kennedy, Cena suffered the injury while using a hip toss on his opponent.

Cena was the WWE Champion at the time and the longest reigning one for almost two decades, but after his injury was diagnosed by doctors, he was stripped of his title by Vince McMahon the next day on ECW.

The Champ returned at Royal Rumble in 2008, making a surprise appearance and winning the competition, booking a place and a shot at the title at WrestleMania.

#5 Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan's severe injuries have been well-documented, with him having to step away from the ring due to the seriousness of his head and neck injuries.

The timing of his injuries was unfortunate as Bryan was on the top of the game, one of the most important Superstars on the WWE roster, as he battled against all odds to win the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 30. Just a few months following his historic win, he had to have neck surgery in 2014, which would later be the cause for his retirement in 2016.

He had surgery in May 2014 to his neck but still returned to the ring, albeit in non-wrestling segments with The Authority. His reign as WWE Champion was for just 64 days as he was stripped of the title by The Authority. He retired for the first time in 2016, after having relinquished the Intercontinental title a few months prior to his retirement.

#6 Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins
Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins, like Daniel Bryan, held the WWE Championship when he injured himself and was put on the shelf for a couple of months, which meant that he would have to relinquish the title.

Rollins, in a live event match against Kane in Ireland, injured his knee while performing a sunset flip powerbomb on The Big Red Machine. The Architect tore medial meniscus, ACL and MCL in his knee, which would put him out for months.

Rollins had held the WWE title for 220 days after cashing in at WrestleMania 31, defeating Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns. After Rollins' injury, Reigns won the title, but Rollins returned to the WWE at Extreme Rules, where he pedigreed Reigns.

He then went on to have a great feud with Triple H, and later won back the WWE Championship at Money in the Bank, where he defeated Reigns, only for Dean Ambrose to cash-in his contract and win the title.

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