WWE: Injury updates and returns

Unfortunately, despite WWE coming onto it’s biggest point of the year with the Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania on the horizon, quite a few superstars are currently out with injuries. At the same time, several have returned, or are in the process of returning.

- Randy Orton returned on Monday Night RAW after a brief hiatus. Orton has been busy the last few months filming 12 Rounds: Reloaded, thus having to take several hiatuses.

- The Rock is returning next Monday night in order to begin building to his match with CM Punk for the WWE title at the upcoming Royal Rumble. This will be Rock’s first appearance in nearly a year.

- Christian is scheduled to return sometime this month after recovering from shoulder surgery.

- “The World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry is also expected to return this month, possibly in time for the Royal Rumble. Henry has been out since May of this year, and had been facing a possible career-ending injury. However, the rehabilitation has gone well and Henry is expected to return to the ring. Henry has also reportedly lost a significant amount of weight, the main contributor to his string of injuries over the last fifteen years.

- Rey Mysterio is out once again, despite only returning in July. Recently on Smackdown!, Mysterio was reportedly taken out backstage by The Shield, resulting in him being injured. In reality, Mysterio has been dealing with a nagging neck injury, something that has plagued him in the past. It is unknown at this time when Mysterio is expected to return. WWE officials are hoping for Wrestlemania, so they can do the planned Mysterio/Sin Cara match.

- Speaking of Sin Cara, Cara was also taken out by The Shield on the same episode of Smackdown!, suffering a knee injury thanks to an attack on the knee by Seth Rollins. Cara has been nursing a bad knee for a while, and needed a minor operation. He is scheduled to return at this weekend’s house shows, but that is not confirmed.

- WWE Champion CM Punk, who has been out of action since a few weeks before TLC with a knee injury, is expected to be back in action soon. WWE.com can confirm that, on this Wednesday’s Main Event, we will learn whether or not he will be healthy enough to defend his title against Ryback this coming Monday night.

- Curt Hawkins has been out since October, nursing a torn PCL and meniscus. Hawkins is currently using “Diamond” Dallas Page’s yoga program, and is reportedly doing well. DDP’s yoga has helped many superstars over the last few years, so expect Hawkins to return soon.

- Evan Bourne, who has been out with a foot injury for quite some time, still has no time frame set on a return. He confirmed he will not be healthy by the time the Royal Rumble comes around, but did not give any further details.