Charlotte Flair opened up about suffering a serious injury on WWE SmackDown in December of 2023.
On the December 6th episode of SmackDown, Charlotte Flair suffered a knee injury and was helped to the back by referees after facing off against Asuka in singles action. She was later pulled from upcoming live events while she awaited evaluation.
After having her knee evaluated by medical professionals, WWE announced on December 15th that Charlotte Flair would need surgery and would be out for at least nine months.
One recent report indicated that Charlotte Flair was expected to return in November, but she has yet to be cleared and some believe she won’t be back in action until 2025.
Speaking in a new interview with the Forever Young Podcast, Charlotte Flair admitted to being devastated when her injury first took place,
“When it first happened, I thought my life was over. I was like, ‘oh my gosh, a perfect storm’. My husband had just come back to the company or was on his way back. I knew he was going to be debuting soon. From the moment I was taken out, I just have kept telling myself that I’m going to come back the best version of the Queen when I do come back, and you never like to be sidelined due to an injury.”
“It’s Been A Mixed Blessing” – Charlotte Flair On Being Sidelined From WWE
Continuing, however, Charlotte Flair admitted that being sidelined has also brought about some positives in her life and is probably for the best in the long run.
“But then again, I’m not sure if I would have ever sidelined myself had it not been for the injury. So it’s been a challenge, but a challenge I know that’s going to make me in the long run because I’ve had the opportunity over these, I think it’s been like nine, eight months now to go back and see things that I would have done over. What can I do over? Look at the landscape of the division and try to figure out where I can add character layers when I come back.
I think the biggest struggle for me mentally is I’ve never not been able to rely on my athleticism. So like where I might not be the best on the mic or a certain look, or I’ve always been so proud of like how physical I am and not having that feel a hundred percent has been an adjustment for me where like before I was like, Llke, I know the girls respected me for being tough and, you know, not being injured. When this happened, I was like, I can be injured.
So it really, like, it’s been a mixed blessing. For me, it feels very vulnerable. But I know that in the long run, it’s going to be better for me.”
In a new update, WrestleMania 41 plans for Charlotte Flair look to be in place.
h/t Fightful