Roman Reigns Injury: Updates on WWE Superstar's Recovery from Hernia Surgery
The WWE announced superstar Roman Reigns was rushed to a local hospital in Nashville, Tennessee to undergo surgery for an incarcerated hernia. He was originally scheduled to face former Shield partner Seth Rollins at Sunday's Night of Champions pay-per-view.
More details were provided on the WWE's official site:
WWE.com has learned Roman Reigns has been rushed to a Nashville, Tenn., hospital to undergo emergency surgery for an incarcerated hernia. Reigns had been in Nashville to promote tomorrow's Night of Champions event. His recovery time will be evaluated by the local surgeon and WWE physician Dr. Chris Amann following today's operation. Check back with WWE.com for updates on Reigns' condition.
Via @WWENetwork: @WWERomanReigns unable to compete at #WWENOC, but surgery was successful. Check in with @WWENetwork for more all day long.
In the world of wrestling it's always important to note the possibility of an injury to assist a storyline angle. That said, it's unlikely the company would use a potentially serious ailment to achieve such a goal one day before a key show.
If Reigns is forced to miss a significant period of time it would be a major setback. He's been pushed as one of the WWE's most promising young superstars in recent months and was viewed as a potential challenger for current WWE world heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.
As noted in the report, a timetable for his return should be available once the surgery is complete.
How the company plans to address the situation at Night of Champions is unclear. Reigns' feud with Rollins followed one the latter had with the third member of The Shield, Dean Ambrose, before he left to film a movie.
Nick Paglino of Wrestle Zone reported that Ambrose was expected back by no later than Monday night for Raw. Whether he will be at the pay-per-view to do an angle with Rollins or they just scrap the storyline for the night is unknown.
Scott Fishman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel is thinking along the same lines:
@smFISHMAN
If Roman Reigns is unable to compete at #WWENOC wouldn't mind seeing another chapter in the Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose rivalry. #WWE
Injuries are always about timing. For Reigns, a lot like Daniel Bryan a few months ago, the timing couldn't be much worse. Bryan was finally getting his run at the top and Reigns was moving in the same direction.
If he can make a relatively quick recovery, there's a chance some of that momentum can get saved before the build toward Royal Rumble and WrestleMania begins. Otherwise his outlook will be murky once he gets cleared to return.