Scott Steiner Opens Up About Injury Struggles During WWE Return

WWE Hall of Famer Scott Steiner has reflected with deep regret on the physical battles that marred his second run with WWE.

In an interview with The Wrestling Classic, Scott Steiner looked back on his return to the company in 2002 following the closure of WCW. He made a memorable comeback at Survivor Series 2002, interrupting Matt Hardy and Chris Nowinski after they insulted the New York City crowd, immediately positioning himself as a major star.

Soon after, Steiner entered into a high-profile feud with then-World Heavyweight Champion Triple H, leading to title matches at the Royal Rumble and No Way Out in early 2003. Despite the strong start, his momentum quickly faded. By early 2004, injuries had taken their toll, sidelining Steiner and eventually leading to his release from the company later that year.

During the interview, Steiner revealed the extent of his physical struggles at the time, disclosing he had been suffering from a severe case of drop foot, which completely paralysed his foot and greatly hindered his in-ring abilities.

“I wish I could have been healthy. My foot was totally paralysed, that was before I got the surgery on it,” Steiner said. “If I try to watch a match now from back in that time, I mean, I can’t even watch myself walk to the ring. Experiencing paralysis is a messed-up thing. It’s still paralysed to this day. I had surgery to kind of stabilise it a little bit more than it was. But it’s still dead.”

Steiner’s candid comments offer a sobering reminder of the harsh physical toll professional wrestling can take, and how injuries can derail even the most eagerly anticipated returns.

Despite this setback, Steiner returned to the independent circuit and later joined TNA in 2006 and had a successful career with the promotion, capturing the TNA/Impact World Tag Team Title on two occasions.

What Did Scott Steiner Say About The Popularity Of His Famous “Steiner Math” Promo?

Scott Steiner recalled the unexpected popularity of his famous “Steiner Math” promo, which took place on a 2008 episode of TNA Impact leading up to the Sacrifice pay-per-view, where he was set to face Samoa Joe and Frankie Kazarian in a three-way match for the TNA World Championship. Steiner said that he had no idea that fans would enjoy the promo so much and that to this day, it would still be fondly remembered for just how ridiculous it was.

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