Concerns Arise in WWE Over Training Methods Following Multiple Injuries

Injuries are an unfortunate part of professional wrestling, but when several wrestlers repeatedly suffer the same type of injury, it raises concerns and questions about their training methods and overall safety protocols.

Recently, Cora Jade had to stop her main event match due to a knee injury during an NXT live event while challenging Lyra Valkyria for the Women’s Title. This injury has once again brought attention to the issue of wrestlers, particularly in NXT, experiencing knee injuries, specifically torn ACLs.

During a discussion on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez shared their thoughts on the situation. Alvarez mentioned that Cora Jade’s injury appears to be a knee injury, possibly a torn ACL, which has become a relatively common occurrence among female NXT wrestlers.

Meltzer pointed out that there have been ongoing concerns about the training methods in NXT, with wrestlers questioning whether the intense training regimens may be contributing to the high incidence of knee injuries. He cited examples of other female wrestlers like Sol Ruca, Wendi Chu, Nikita Lyons, and Tegan Nox who have also suffered torn ACLs in NXT.

 “I’ve had people, this was before Cora Jade was hurt, but this was when Sol Ruca went down. and, you know, a couple of the others, Wendi Chu, Nikita Lyons, just telling me that that they were questioning the method of training when it feels like all that. Tegan Nox got two of them. One each leg, I believe. Right? And, you know, just questioning, like, ‘what are they doing in training?’ Because historically, women don’t get torn ACLs left and right, NXT, whatever it is, you know, they train them very, very hard, which is, in theory, a good thing. “But not if you’re going to have this, this level of this many injuries. You know what I mean?

“One of the things was, was I remember even years ago when it came to the NXT stuff, it was like, they would want everyone in this great and great condition. They would train them really hard. Then there’d be all these injuries and it was like, they you got to kind of find that balance to where you’re getting people in condition but not, it doesn’t benefit your conditioning to then have injuries because the injuries take away from your conditioning no matter how hard you train.

Meltzer suggested that while rigorous training is beneficial for conditioning, it shouldn’t result in a significant number of injuries. Finding the right balance between conditioning and injury prevention is crucial. He acknowledged that NXT employs legitimate strength and conditioning coaches, but they may need to reassess their methods to reduce the risk of injuries, especially torn ACLs.

“So you don’t want to over-train the people and I’m sure that in time This will all be worked out and figured out because it’s all, you know, this the type of training that they do there with legitimate strength and conditioning coaches and things like that it’s somewhat new for wrestling, I mean, in the sense that it’s more sophisticated training.”

“New Japan does a different kind of training. It’s life and learn and learn and but hopefully, whatever it is, and I mean, obviously in the ring in a match getting hurt in a match is a different thing that can happen at any time. But whatever it is, you know, I mean, it’s more with the women than the guys. A lot of women have been going down with torn ACLs as more than just a fluke coincidence. It feels like.”

The repeated occurrence of torn ACL injuries among female wrestlers in NXT has raised concerns about their training methods, and there is a need to find a better balance between conditioning and injury prevention to ensure the safety and longevity of the wrestlers.

What do you think NXT can do to address this issue and reduce the risk of such injuries in the future? Leave us a comment below.