Finn Balor was required to abandon the Universal Championship instantly after winning it.WWE Superstars get injured. It's part and parcel of a business that provides really little margin for mistake.
A few of the finest talents worldwide are overruled with injuries from time to time and forced to spend a prolonged duration on the rack. Whether it's a messed up wrestling move or a freak accident, it is almost inevitable that every WWE superstar will suffer an injury at some time in their career.
There's never an excellent time to get injured, but there is certainly a bad time to suffer one. Some superstars have actually found themselves forced onto the sidelines with the most regrettable timing. Whether it be soon after a major title win, or in the middle of a substantial push, these wrestlers really had no luck.
On that note, here are 5 WWE Superstars who got hurt at the worst possible time.
# 5 Mr Kennedy's WWE push never recovered following his injury
Mr Kennedy's injury following his Money in the Bank win ruined his push
Following his debut, Mr Kennedy apparently had a brilliant future in WWE. He was pushed greatly from minute one, and the sky looked to be the limitation for him.
At WrestleMania 23, Kennedy won the Money in the Bank ladder match and it looked like a world championship run was on the horizon for him.
Unfortunately, soon after winning the briefcase, the now-46-year-old tore his right tricep and lost it to Edge, who went on to cash it in on The Undertaker, ending up being the World Heavyweight Champion.
Kennedy's centerpiece push never recovered, and after numerous other incidents, he was released from WWE two years later on.
# 4 Finn Balor's impressive main roster start was destroyed by injury
Finn Balor's time on the main roster got off to a tremendous start. He quickly rupture onto the scene on Monday Night RAW and earned a spot in the Universal Title match at Summerslam 2016 against Seth Rollins.
Fans were worried about the former NXT Champion's prospects on the main roster after so many had failed before him. At Summerslam, he beat Rollins in an incredible match for the championship, and fans were thrilled to see him reach those heights.
They were delighted about the future, however sadly, he sustained a shoulder injury throughout the bout and consequently needed to leave the title. That was the last time Balor even had a sniff at winning a world title on the main roster.
He hasn't even come close to reaching those heights once again. His unforeseen injury when Vince McMahon delegated him with the gold rapidly destroyed any chance of in charge trusting him in such a role once again.
# 3 Mustafa Ali's injury led to Kofi Mania
Mustafa Ali may end up being one of the biggest "What ifs" in WWE history Had he not got injured, what could have been?Kofi changed him, had that remarkable ending to the EC match with Bryan and established his first WWE Title runWho understands what Ali would have done in a comparable spot.
As Kofi Kingston enjoyed the very best run of his profession heading into WrestleMania 35, with it culminating in his WWE Championship victory, Mustafa Ali was undoubtedly questioning what might have been.
After all, Ali's injury ruled him out of the Elimination Chamber and resulted in Kofi's inclusion and eventual story heading into the Showcase of the Immortals.
Naturally, there's no chance of knowing whether the 36-year-old would have gone on to enjoy the unmatched fan assistance and impressive storyline that Kingston did. The timing was devastating for Ali, though, and he has actually never been close to restoring that initial momentum once again.
Quickly after his return, he turned heel with the inadequately received Retribution and has since floundered. Having recently requested his release, it's safe to state that the opportunities of Ali ever returning to that sort of prominence are unlikely.
# 2 Dolph Ziggler's centerpiece push never recuperated following his concussion
Dolph Ziggler's concussion stopped his centerpiece run.After many years scratching and clawing his way to the top, Dolph Ziggler finally reached the mountain top on the RAW after WrestleMania 29 when he cashed in his Money in the Bank contract.
Ziggler beat Alberto Del Rio to become the World Heavyweight Champion, and the reaction in the building was electric. The Show Off should have the opportunity to run with the ball as the champion, and fans were delighted to see him lastly get the opportunity to show himself deserving.
It's a vicious world, however, and Ziggler suffered a concussion at the hands of Jack Swagger not long afterwards. It ruled him out for a brief while, and Vince McMahon despaired in the star.
Soon after, Ziggler dropped the belt back to Del Rio and he would never be the world champion once again. It's a damn pity that the injury came so shortly after Dolph became champion, and it certainly did no favours in proving to the WWE Chairman that he can be a world champion.
# 1 Daniel Bryan's "Yes Movement" was destroyed with an injury
After his WrestleMania 30 triumph, Daniel Bryan's injury quickly after came at the worst time.Daniel Bryan's WrestleMania 30 success is one of the greatest stories WWE has ever told. The overwhelming fan assistance that moved the master service technician to the really peak of the company was like nothing that had been seen before.
Bryan was at the really cloud nine following the WrestleMania 30 centerpiece, and it looked like the story would have among the most gratifying conclusions in current memory.
Sadly, some stories just do not have fairytale endings, though, and less than a month after the memorable win, Bryan suffered a long-term injury and was forced to leave his new title.
He returned numerous months later on, but was right after hurt once again and forced to step away from the sport for 2 years. He returned in 2018 and would ultimately become WWE Champion once again, however his first injury actually robbed him of a really incredible reign.
