'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Wrestling isn't like a traditional 9-5 job, Superstars are aware of the risks the minute they step into the ring and often they are sidelined for an undisclosed amount of time due to niggling injuries.
Over the years, a number of stars have proved that they can continue to wrestle through injuries, the likes of John Cena, Braun Strowman, Dean Ambrose and even Bobby Lashley in recent years have pushed through the pain but have been forced to undergo surgery at a later date.
Usually this time of year the company starts to struggle because there are a number of big names sidelined through injury, but this year doesn't seem as bad as usual even though there are still a number of names looking to make their return to the ring in the coming months.
#9. Nia Jax
Nia Jax was a huge part of the Women's Division at the start of the year, but following WrestleMania, it was reported that the former Raw Women's Champion would be out of action for up to nine months after suffering anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears on both of her knees.
Jax has since undergone surgery on her knees and has begun the long road back to the ring as she recovers from her injury, but is still expected to be out of action until 2020. Nia's most recent social media update shows that she is making some progress just two months after her double surgery, but the initial report suggested that she would have to miss at least nine months in order for her knees to repair properly.
Jax has been a huge miss as part of the Raw Women's Division, and since her injury, her tag team partner Tamina Snuka has also been written off WWE TV.
#8. Lars Sullivan
Lars Sullivan was scheduled to face Matt Hardy on an episode of SmackDown Live back on June 11th, since Sullivan had attacked the star a few weeks before, but The Freak didn't appear as part of the show.
Reports later revealed that the reason for this was because the former NXT star had suffered a knee injury but it wasn't considered to be severe. These reports later changed with The Wrestling Observer revealing that Sullivan could be out of action for up to nine months, which means that he would be looking at a return to WWE TV as part of WrestleMania season next year.
Sullivan has already been handed a number of blows in his short main roster career, but this knee injury came from out of nowhere and once again cost him a huge push on SmackDown Live.
#7. Tamina
Tamina Snuka hasn't been seen on WWE TV since WrestleMania when she and her tag team partner Nia Jax came up short in their quest to become Women's Tag Team Champions.
Whilst many of the WWE Universe believed that the second generation star was sidelined because the company had nothing planned for her at present, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, recently revealed that Snuka was another name that was on WWE's injured list.
It appears that Tamina is currently struggling with a concussion and whilst her return date is currently listed as "TBD" by the company, it's easy to believe that she will be making her return to the WWE TV around the same time as her tag team partner Nia Jax. The latter is expected to be out of action until the new year following double knee surgery.
#6. Bobby Lashley
Bobby Lashley has been an obvious absence on WWE TV over the past few weeks, with his last documented appearance on Monday Night Raw back on July 15th when he competed in the 10-man Battle Royal the night after Extreme Rules.
It was later reported by Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful that Lashley had been added to the "inactive list," even though details of his injury were not disclosed. The former ECW Champion isn't expected to play any part in the upcoming SummerSlam pay-per-view next weekend since Ross' report goes on to state that he isn't expected to make his return to WWE TV until well into the fall, with a date listed as November 2nd.
This means that Bobby Lashley will be making his return to WWE TV in the build-up to this year's Survivor Series pay-per-view.
#5. Ronda Rousey
Nia Jax and Tamina Snuka are not the only female wrestlers who haven't been seen since WrestleMania since Ronda Rousey started her lengthy WWE hiatus following the company's biggest event of the year back in April.
Rousey was always going to leave WWE following WrestleMania ahead of what she referred to as an "Impregnation vacation" but it's easy to forget that the former UFC star actually suffered a broken hand as part of the WrestleMania main event where she lost her Championship to Becky Lynch.
Rousey underwent surgery to fix her hand just days after WrestleMania and reports now suggest that the former Women's Champion could return to the ring much sooner than expected. This is because Paul Heyman has become the executive director of Monday Night Raw and Rousey wants to return to work with the iconic star.
#4. Ruby Riott
Ruby Riott has been seen as the leader of The Riott Squad ever since the trio were moved up to the main roster back in 2017, but back in April WWE seemingly disbanded the squad when Liv Morgan was moved over to SmackDown Live.
Sarah Logan has since appeared as a singles star on Monday Night Raw, but Ruby Riott is yet to appear since The Superstar Shakeup because she underwent shoulder surgery to repair a bilateral injury back in April. Riott's surgery was successful but she was then required to have another surgery on her left shoulder as well.
According to a report from Fightful Select, it appears that even though initial reports suggested that the injury would keep Riott out of action indefinitely, she could be eyeing a return around the time of the 2020 Royal Rumble.
#3. Jeff Hardy
Jeff Hardy has recently become another superstar to be pushed onto the sidelines given his recent knee injuries. Back in April, Hardy became a SmackDown Tag Team Champion alongside his brother Matt, but after the match, Hardy was attacked by Lars Sullivan which was a way to write him off WWE TV because of his knee injury.
The Hardyz were forced to relinquish the SmackDown Tag Team Championships following the attack at the end of April and WWE then released a report that stated that Hardy would be out of action for up to nine months.
According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, Hardy is another WWE superstar whose return date is being listed as November 2nd, which means that the former World Champion would have been on the sidelines for seven months before he makes his return.
#2. Jinder Mahal
Jinder Mahal will always be remembered for his interesting run as WWE Champion a few years ago, a run that he has been unable to recreate in the years that have followed. The Indian star has been involved in the 24/7 Championship picture in recent months and even became the Champion as part of WWE's trip to Saudi Arabia back in June.
Sadly, Mahal went on to lose the title just hours later when he was pinned by R-Truth on the plane on the way to the show. This was the last time Mahal was seen in active competition since it was later reported that he suffered a knee injury that could keep him sidelined until next year.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful has Mahal's return date exclusively as January 1st next year, but he could be out a lot longer depending on his rehab time.
#1. Mickie James
Mickie James is considered to be a veteran in the WWE Women's Division as a former six-time Women's Champion, but after recently being underutilized by the company, she revealed as part of an Instagram live stream that she had suffered an ACL injury that would require surgery.
James suffered the injury back in June as part of a live event match against Carmella and went on to undergo surgery back in July. James has since Tweeted to state that surgery was successful but her expected recovery time is around 7-9 months, this means that the former Women's Champion is expected to be sidelined until at least February next year.
James could be targetting WrestleMania season next year for her return since it's more likely that she could need the nine months recovery time at this stage in her career.
