Superstar most impacted by injuries

887 Views 10 Replies 9 Participants Last post by dxbender, Aug 23, 2012

dxbender

Discussion Starter · Aug 23, 2012

In sports, we know many players have been hyped as having such great careers, but are never able to live up to potential because of injuries throughout their careers.

Ken Griffey jr(MLB) was being hyped as one of the best players in baseball. But then injuries caught up with him, and in his career,he averaged about 40 games missed per year. Had it not been for injuries, he very well could have been greatest home run hitter in baseball history(without steroids)

Eric Lindros(NHL) was 1st overall pick, being hyped as the next Gretzky. He had history of injuries, and never got to have as good of a career as many thought. He missed average of 30% of season per year, and that doesn't include the season he missed from injuries)

And many others as well(recently for NBA, Greg Oden is probably best example).

So who in WWE history do people think had most been impacted by injuries. Meaning someone who could have had a great career(and maybe was hyped as being a future top star), but injuries prevented that from happening.

Someone like HBK might fall into that category? Though he had a great career before and after the years off from injury, and he was the top guy of the company too(and still is considered one of the best of all time).

Same with Austin. Though who knows how his career from 2002 onwards might have been, had he not been injured in that match with Owen. Might Austin have had a 10 year long wrestling career or what?

So I don't think someone like HBK,Austin careers were really impacted by injuries since both still managed to be some of the best ever. Though both might have been THE best ever had it not been for injuries.

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Choke2Death

· #2 · Aug 23, 2012

Edge had to retire because of injuries and it also put him out numerous times when he had lots of momentum. So he's easily up there.

Mr. Kennedy's main event push in the WWE was impacted by him getting injured right before it started and then he was released partly because of being so injury prone.

Batista missed two Wrestlemanias because of injuries so him too.

And you can count Austin too, I guess. But outside of the late 90s, he was not out due to injuries until they started nagging him in the end, forcing him to retire after WM19.

Can't forget Rey Mysterio either. Hasn't he had like 15 surgeries on his knees? He's away due to his knee problems every other year.

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dxbender

Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 23, 2012

^But do you think a guy like Edge,Austins career really would have been different had it not been for injuries? Injuries did shorten their careers, but they still did have more than successful careers.

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HankHill_85

· #4 · Aug 23, 2012

I'd say Edge is high up there. Neck injury bordering on potential paralysis if he continued, torn biceps back in '07, Achilles tendon rupture in '09 - I'd almost be scared to touch the guy if I were his opponent.

Taker and HHH have to be up there. Taker's had shoulder and hip issues for years, and Hunter's torn both of his quads.

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CruzControl

· #5 · Aug 23, 2012

I'd say Kennedy.

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11rob2k

· #6 · Aug 23, 2012

dxbender said:
^But do you think a guy like Edge,Austins career really would have been different had it not been for injuries? Injuries did shorten their careers, but they still did have more than successful careers.

Austin might not have had to change his style to a more brawling style of wrestling if it wasn't for his neck injury it could have an a big impact on the wrestling business.

Austin was a more of a technical wrestler before his neck injury, then when he came back he had to change to the brawling style and it was that, that put Austin over the to. he would have got over without the brawling style but i don't think he would have gotten as big as he did without it,

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Dr. Ian Malcolm

· #7 · Aug 23, 2012

Amongst names that haven't been mentioned, what about Bret Hart? If he doesn't get concussed by Goldberg (and no stroke later on), the Hitman could've put on quality technical matches for years to come. It's not like he had lost much of a step when he was forced to retire

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Kratosx23

· #8 · Aug 23, 2012

Kennedy. If he didn't have injury problems he'd be bigger than Punk right now.

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DoubleDeckerBar

· #9 · Aug 23, 2012

I'm not gonna say guys like Edge, Shawn, Austin, Rey etc because despite their injuries they still got to the top of the mountain. I'm gonna say Mr. Kennedy, his injuries cost him one guaranteed World Title and probably many subsequent ones.

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wizard887

· #10 · Aug 23, 2012 (Edited)

Droz, might not of been a top star but still.

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dxbender

Discussion Starter · #11 · Aug 23, 2012

adrian_zombo said:
Amongst names that haven't been mentioned, what about Bret Hart? If he doesn't get concussed by Goldberg (and no stroke later on), the Hitman could've put on quality technical matches for years to come. It's not like he had lost much of a step when he was forced to retire

One interesting thing about that...Bret could have been most impactful star in wrestling history.

From the screwjob which somewhat started attitude era(since it really started the whole Vince McMahon character too), and then if Brets career continued without the injury, once WCW was bought out,he prob wouldn't have returned to WWE, and might have actually joined TNA(and given them a huge kickstart).

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