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Ex-WWE Champion Confirms He Suffered Two Career-Ending Injuries

By Monika Thapa • Published Nov 03, 2025 16:10 EST

Former Intercontinental Champion Ryack suffered two career-ending injuries.

Ryback left WWE in August 2016 due to creative frustration, unequal pay, unfulfilled promises, and health concerns. He wrestled for two years on the indies and hasn’t returned to the ring since August 2018.

Fans often ask him on social media when he will return to WWE. Recently, Ryback revealed that he can’t go back to WWE because his shoulder injury has made a wrestling comeback medically impossible at this time.

“So a lot of people think you’re trying to go back to WWE. I can’t go back to WWE. I’m not cleared to wrestle for my shoulder. We wish them peace. We made peace quite a while ago with all of that. My goal is to reconnect with the good human beings out there. I’m not worried about the trolls or the people hating for every negative person or comment, I’m getting 10,15, 20, 30, quality human beings that I’m getting to reconnect with, not only for my pages and my social media, but for my business, Family, or nutrition. And that’s the last bite, feed me more.”

WWE Star Ryback Suffered Back And Shoulder Injury

In a recent Instagram video, Ryback revealed that, in addition to his shoulder injury, he also had some damage to his back, both of which have seemingly ended his career in pro wrestling.

I had two career-ending injuries with my back and my right shoulder. I have been beyond blessed to have recovered my back with over 20 stem cell procedures in my back and shoulder, getting my back to 100%, and I continue to work vigorously on my right shoulder week in and week out.
I’m the best I have been in a very long time. I do it for me and for my life. I don’t do it to go back to wrestling. I do it to live healthy and to live to the best of my ability. That has been the truth from the very beginning, but that part was never covered. That’s why to this day, thousands of times a day, people ask me when I’m coming back. I’ve continued to tell the truth, but many just don’t know it because the truth wasn’t being shared.”