Former WWE Diva Could Have Been Paralyzed During Infamous Match Against Beth Phoenix

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In an interview on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Candice Michelle opened up about the injury she suffered against Beth Phoenix. Michelle thought that there were no protocols back then when it came to in-ring injuries. Phoenix moved her unconscious body to pin her, though if she had a neck injury, she could have been paralyzed.

“I was knocked out. I don’t remember it. The first thing I remember is being on the stretcher, and Stephanie McMahon was leaning over me, and they’re going into Gorilla, and she goes, ‘Don’t worry, we’re flying your husband out.’ I was like, they don’t fly your husband out [unless it’s serious]. So instantly, I was worried. I had a concussion and I broke my collarbone. It came at a time where we weren’t really educated with that kind of injury, and so being dragged to the center of the ring after that happened, if that was my neck, it would have paralyzed me,” Michelle said. [H/T chrisvanvliet.com]

Candice Michelle was out for nearly four months, but she re-injured her clavicle in her first match back. Michelle would get a decent push upon her return in 2008, but more injuries resulted in her release a year later.

Mike Chioda on Beth Phoenix vs. Candice Michelle finish

The referee for the infamous match between Beth Phoenix and Candice Michelle was Mike Chioda. The veteran official revealed on the Monday Mailbag podcast in January 2022 that Vince McMahon chewed him out for letting Phoenix touch Michelle while unconscious.

“I remember Vince came back. She (Candice) was kind of out of it, and it wasn’t Beth’s fault. Beth Phoenix was on her game. It was just that I think Candice was winded or hung over or something. I shouldn’t have told her to pull her out and cover her to finish the match, but I didn’t stop it. When I came back, Vince let me have it. He gave me an a** ripping. He ripped into me. He was hot,” Chioda said. [H/T WrestlingNews.co]

Chioda added that WWE created a protocol after the incident to properly handle a star getting knocked out legitimately in the ring.