6 Injured WWE Stars Who Can Return Before SummerSlam 2026

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#6. Nikki Bella

The WWE Hall of Famer injured her ankle on the road to WrestleMania 42 and had to undergo surgery to fix the issue. Bella appeared at the Show of Shows with her sister, Brie, and introduced the returning Paige at the premium live event.

The former AEW star went on to win the Women’s Tag Team Championship in her comeback match in Las Vegas. On the other hand, Nikki Bella has continued to appear on screen and might be cleared to compete in time for SummerSlam, potentially leading to an interesting situation where she wants to replace Paige and eventually turns heel to do so.

However, it remains to be seen when she receives the green light from the medical team.

#5. Kevin Owens

The Prizefighter has been away from WWE since April last year, when he shockingly broke character on SmackDown and announced that he would have to undergo neck surgery. Kevin Owens is set to be part of the new season of WWE LFG, but has not appeared on any of the weekly shows since.

The former Universal Champion is reportedly due to be evaluated in the summer following his surgery. If things look good, he might manage to return just before SummerSlam or shock the fans by making his comeback at the PLE itself. Owens is surely missed on the main roster for his intensity and in-ring skills, and his return would be a huge boost regardless of whether he is a babyface or heel following his comeback.

#4. Sheamus

Sheamus was last seen in WWE in November 2025, teaming up with Rey Mysterio and John Cena for the 17-time world champion’s final match on RAW against The Judgment Day. The Celtic Warrior, unfortunately, suffered a shoulder injury and had to undergo surgery, causing him to be removed from the Last Time is Now Tournament as well.

Sheamus has been recovering and recently provided an update claiming things were looking good. If his rehabilitation plan does go well, we might see him return to the ring well before SummerSlam. It will be interesting to see whether he will be able to win the Intercontinental Championship upon his eventual return – the one title that he still hasn’t won in WWE.

#3. Bronson Reed

Bronson Reed’s abrupt bicep injury derailed the plans for The Vision heading into WrestleMania 42. The former NXT North American Champion tore his bicep during a Triple Threat Elimination Chamber qualifying match on RAW against Jey Uso and El Grande Americano.

He had to be taken backstage right after the incident and was unable to complete the bout. Reed had to undergo surgery for the issue, and has been recovering well so far. The Vision member is back to doing pushups, as per his updates on Instagram, and a return before SummerSlam looks likely for him.

Perhaps he could be Bron Breakker’s trump card in his future matches against Seth Rollins, provided their feud continues beyond Backlash 2026.

#2. Randy Orton

The Viper was last seen in WWE at WrestleMania 42 Night One. He came up short against Cody Rhodes in the main event, losing the chance to win a 15th world championship in the company. Orton was reportedly favoring his back and took 10 minutes to head back up the ramp after his match, as revealed by Jackie Redmond.

While it is unclear whether he is actually injured once again, WWE seems to be running with the storyline that his back isn’t good to go. As a result, he will likely take time off till June, especially with Gunther emerging as Cody Rhodes’ next challenger. However, he could come back before SummerSlam to rekindle his feud with Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship, provided he can overcome The Ring General.

#1. Stephanie Vaquer

Stephanie Vaquer was attacked by The Judgment Day in a backstage segment recently, and it was announced that she had suffered a shoulder injury. The former Women’s World Champion is set to miss a considerable amount of time following a second-grade AC joint sprain.

La Primera’s feud with Liv Morgan was one of the best-built feuds heading into WrestleMania 42 and seemed likely to continue following the Show of Shows. However, the injury has derailed those plans, and it remains to be seen whether Vaquer will be able to return in time before SummerSlam to once again challenge for the Women’s World Championship and renew her feud with Morgan.