With WWE Survivor Series just around the corner, attention is beginning to turn to the first big event of 2023, the Royal Rumble. The show which has been part of WWE’s ‘big four’ since 1988 traditionally serves as a launch pad for WrestleMania.
However, it appears that one WWE veteran could be set to miss the Rumble after recently undergoing surgery.
WWE Star Natalya To Miss At Least Three Months Of Action
On November 7th Natalya shared a photo on social media from hospital after undergoing surgery on her dislocated nose. It was believed at the time the injury was caused by a devastating running knee from Shayna Baszler of SmackDown which left the star bloodied in the ring. However, it has since been reported that the injury angle was simply a cover for an already planned procedure.
Writing in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer has now reported that Natalya will be out of action for a “minimum” of three months. This means that she could miss the 2023 Royal Rumble on January 28th.
“Natalya suffered a dislocated nose and needed surgery on 11/7. She will be out of action a minimum of three months and perhaps a little longer because they will be waiting for it to fully heal and this isn’t the three weeks back after ankle surgery she did a few years back to prove she could.”
The beatdown from Shayna Baszler came after the star had already defeated Natalya in one-on-one action. The former NXT Women’s Champion said that the assault was simply about making a statement.
“You know, it seems to me that everyone around here has forgotten what I’m capable of, including me. So, my former tag partner had to experience the Isstvan 3 drop site massacre so that I could remind everyone just what I’m about. That’s all that was. And if we’re being honest, Nattie annoys everyone. Including me.”
If you use any part of this transcription, please credit the original source and link back to this article with a h/t to Inside the Ropes.