WWE’s Shotzi Out at Least 9 Months After Torn ACL Injury

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIFebruary 21, 2024

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WWE Superstar Shotzi announced on Instagram that she will be out “about nine months” due to a torn ACL.

“Thank you to everyone who has checked up on me,” Shotzi wrote in part. “I am so sorry if I haven’t responded. I am just extremely devastated and angry.”

The injury reportedly occurred during a February 13 episode of NXT.

“…Shotzi suffered an apparent injury during her match against Valkyria,” Tessier wrote.

“The injury seemingly occurred when she hit her knee as she fell out of the ring. Shotzi was unable to continue, and the match was stopped. She was then helped to the back.

“Per Brennan, NXT sources noted that Shotzi was not able to place weight on her injured knee, and it was clear that she was in a lot of pain. Officials were said to be quite concerned, and she was taken to get evaluated by medical personnel.”

Shotzi was scheduled to wrestle Tiffany Stratton in an Elimination Chamber qualifier match on the Feb. 16 edition of SmackDown. She confirmed that she was unable to go:

Shotzi @ShotziWWEI don’t have much to say right now other than I am devastated. It’s heartbreaking to be missing my Elimination Chamber opportunity tonight. But I just wanted to wish all the women competing good luck. I’ll open up more about how I’m feeling and my injury later. @WWE

Shotzi signed with WWE in 2019 and soon joined NXT, where she found great success. She won the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship with Ember Moon and was also named NXT’s Breakout Star of the Year for 2020.

One year later, Shotzi joined the SmackDown roster. She’s made appearances at big pay-per-views and gotten involved in notable feuds, like one with Damage CTRL this past year.

However, Shotzi noted that her “mental health has been at an all-time low” right now.

“Some of you know, I have been through a lot the last few years and it has been so hard to keep up with what I think is expected of me and honestly my mental health has been at an all-time low.

“But I’ve pushed through and I was feeling motivated and like myself again. I was hoping to go to NXT and prove myself again, earn some respect, build back my confidence and start putting the heartache from the past two years behind me.

Shotzi has also endured serious family tragedies, including seeing her sister, Shawn, suffer from bile duct cancer and the deaths of both her father and stepfather.

“I feel defeated right now but I’m simultaneously feeling the most motivated I have ever been. I have been through way worse. I’ve watched my sister, who is fighting cancer, fight tougher battles. I’m just taking this as a sign to slow down.

“I didn’t take time off when both my stepdad and my dad passed and that really affected me. Now I am looking forward to coming back not just physically stronger, but mentally also.”

Hopefully Shotzi is able to recover as quickly as possible from the torn ACL and is able to successfully address her mental health as well. She’s an exciting talent who has clearly been through a lot in a very short period and deserves another chance to be in the ring at her best and healthiest.

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