WWE’s Bobby Lashley dealing with shoulder injury from Royal Rumble, may require surgery
The reason for former WWE Champion Bobby Lashley’s quick exit from Saturday’s Elimination Chamber was reportedly due to a shoulder injury that might require surgery.
Lashley never got into the men’s Chamber match as he was taken out quickly after Seth Rollins buckle bombed Austin Theory into Lashley’s pod. In storyline, it was explained as “concussion protocol.”
Brock Lesnar won the match to reclaim the WWE title, setting up a title vs. title match against Universal Champion Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 38.
Former WWE writer and Ringer podcaster Kazeem Famuyide reported the injury Saturday, saying Lashley was hurt in his Royal Rumble match against Lesnar that saw him win the title. Lashley hadn’t wrestled since that match.
PWInsider confirmed the report and added that Lashley is due to visit famed sports doctor Dr. James Andrews this week.
Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez did not confirm the injury on Wrestling Observer Radio, but did speculate that the amount of landing Lashley did on his shoulder in the Lesnar match in addition to his absence added up.
Depending on the severity of the injury and whether surgery is required, Lashley could be out of action for several months. That would take him out of next month’s WrestleMania and longer.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.