Top 8 Shocking Wrestling Injuries That Occurred At The Height Of The Wrestler’s Popularity 1

1. Shawn Michaels Injures Back in 1998

If there was ever a bigger case of “what could have/might have been” in WWE, you’d be hard-pressed to find a situation that fits better than the 4 year retirement of the Heartbreak Kid due to a badly injured back. Although other superstars, such as Stone Cold Steve Austin, were on the rise, Shawn Michaels was THE man in WWE and had been for a while. Michaels was the reigning WWE champ going into the 1998 Royal Rumble where he faced The Undertaker for the title in a Casket Match. After taking a back body drop to the outside of the ring and hitting his lower back on the casket, Michaels suffered a serious and career threatening back injury. Michaels would go on to win the match but he was clearly not the same after. In fact, Michaels was in so much pain that he would not step into the ring again until WrestleMania XIV. There he would lose the WWE Championship to Stone Cold and retire after.
Michaels did make appearances during his 4 year retirement from in-ring action as a commentator, commissioner, and other roles, but that is obviously not where the fans wanted him. The wanted to see the Showstopper, Mr WrestleMania do what he did best. Michael’s back injury put a legendary career on hold but thankfully for him, the WWE, and fans worldwide, it didn’t end his career as Michaels returned to in-ring competition in 2002 and built on his Hall of Fame career from then on.
 via www.therichest.com