10 times an injury actually helped a wrestler's career
Being a professional wrestler comes with a high degree of occupational hazards. It’s a physically-demanding career where one small mistake can lead to serious injury or worse.
This is why, despite all the criticism some people may have towards certain aspects of pro wrestling, there is an underlying respect for the men and women that literally put their bodies on the line to entertain people.
While most wrestlers can and do work hurt – that is, they have chronic pain, but muster through it to keep wrestling – sidelining injuries are something else. When a wrestler does get hurt and then comes back, it’s a testament to both their natural toughness and passion for the wrestling business.
In most companies, especially in today’s WWE, trying to overcome the pain or ignore a serious injury like a concussion is forbidden. Because the company has taken a health-first approach, you’re more likely to see an even slightly-injured WWE wrestler surrounded by doctors before you see them try to ‘tough it out’.
That is why the ten men on this list stand out so much: despite being hurt, their passion and commitment to pro wrestling is what kept them going. The fans recognized this not only by giving these wrestlers standing ovations when they were hurt.
They have sung the praises of these wrestlers time and again for good reason, as these ten wrestlers’ careers actually benefitted from getting injured.
#10 Jushin Liger keeps wrestling after developing a brain tumour
Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger is considered by many to be the single-greatest cruiserweight wrestler of all time. He revolutionized the high-flying style in such a way that even to this day, he is considered by so many people to be a timeless legend.
But not only is Liger known all over the world for his wrestling skill and popularity; he is also known for his incredible endurance and toughness. Liger is still wrestling on a semi-regular basis at this point despite being well into his fifties, but he kept wrestling after undergoing brain surgery in 1996 to remove a brain tumour.
That takes an incredible amount of commitment and natural toughness to keep wrestling after experiencing what’s normally a life-changing operation. From most indications, the only actual long-term consequence Liger suffered from the surgery is that one of his ears doesn’t work as well following the procedure.
But that’s a small price to pay for surviving brain surgery and still being able to wrestle for another twenty years.