6 WWE Superstars who came back from career-threatening injuries

Being a WWE Superstar is one of the riskiest jobs around, as the men and women on the roster put their safety in each other's hands to entertain the fans every single week.

It's hard to think of any Superstar who hasn't been forced to take time away from the company to heal from an injury, though some Superstars have had it far worse than others.

Some members of the roster nearly lost their entire careers due to one single move going wrong, though through resilience and hard work, were able to come back to entertain the WWE Universe at live events, TV, and on Pay Per View.

Here are six WWE Superstars who were somehow able to defy the odds and come back from career-threatening injuries.

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#6 The Rattlesnake bites back

The Rattlesnake nearly lost his career during a match against Owen Hart at Summerslam 1997.

To many fans, 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin is the greatest Superstar of all time, and it's hard to argue with the claim. A former WWE Champion, Austin led the Attitude Era by storm in the late 1990s, but before the Texas Rattlesnake ever tasted the company's top prize, his career was almost ended during a match for the Intercontinental title, against Owen Hart.

At Summerslam 1997, Hart hit him with a Sitdown Tombstone and Austin suffered a broken neck as well as temporary paralysis, hence why the pinfall is one of the weakest in history as Austin couldn't even move.

Thankfully, he was able to make his return and Austin went on to become arguably the biggest WWE Superstar of all time, even though it would be neck issues that eventually forced him away from the company in 2003.

#4 Lita suffers a twist of fate

Lita returned in late 2003 after seventeen months away from the ring.

When fans discuss who are the biggest female Superstars of all time, Lita usually appears on the list. A former Women's Champion and WWE Hall of Famer, Lita broke the mold of what was expected of a woman in the company, being able to hang with her male counterparts in the ring.

Unfortunately for her, Lita's career nearly came to an end outside of the ring, when she did a brief guest spot on the show, Dark Angel. Whilst practicing a stunt for the episode, the Stuntman dropped Lita, causing her to land on her neck and shoulders.

The injury came as a shock to many fans, who didn't even realize about Lita's appearance in the show until after the injury came to light.

On April 30, 2002, Lita underwent neck surgery, and though she did receive a role on Sunday Night Heat as a color commentator, she fought hard to return to the ring.

Seventeen months after her surgery, Lita made her triumphant comeback, in late 2003, and wrestled for three more years before retiring in 2006, though she has made the odd in-ring appearance for the company since then.

#4 An Olympic sized come-back

After a series of injuries mounted up, Angle nearly had to retire from the ring following his WrestleMania 19 loss to Brock Lesnar.

Everyone knows about the fact Kurt Angle won an Olympic Gold medal with a "broken freakin' neck," which is the first example of how the WWE Hall Of Famer managed to return from a career-threatening injury.

After winning the gold in the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta, Angle would spend time recovering from his injury, before taking his talents to the World Wrestling Federation

The fact that Angle was almost unable to have a professional wrestling career is crazy enough, but he did actually break his neck for a second time during his WWE career, and still somehow managed to return.

After only a few months away from the ring in 2003, Angle would return to capture the WWE Championship at Vengeance, before losing the title months later to Brock Lesnar.

This being Kurt, the title loss was not easy, as despite being mere months removed from a career-threatening injury, Angle competed in the first 60-Minute Iron Man match to be ever shown on free TV, proving once and for all just how tough the Olympic Gold Medalist truly is

#3: The Nature Boy survives a Plane ride from hell

The Nature Boy is considered one of the greatest Superstars of all time.

The Nature Boy, Ric Flair is one of the greatest in-ring performers of all time, and his legendary career is practically unmatched.

But four decades ago, the world was almost deprived of the Dirtiest Player in the Game when he was involved in a serious plane crash in October 1975.

The crash left the pilot killed and left fellowed wrestler Johnny Valentine paralyzed, whilst Flair came out of the crash with a broken back and a serious neck injury which left many to believe that he would be finished in the ring.

However, despite the fact Flair was involved in such a huge incident, he was able to return to the ring defying all expectations.

Returning to the ring, Flair showed he had lost very little skill despite nearly dying in the plane crash, and would capture many more championships along the way.

Despite the accident that nearly took his life, Flair would wrestle for over 30 years before retiring in 2008 at WrestleMania 24.

#2 Daniel Bryan says his goodbyes

An emotional Bryan retired in 2016 but fought to return two years later

Though he may be one of WWE's most despised heels in 2019, the very fact that Daniel Bryan is able to compete in the ring today shows just how tough he really is.

After losing out on the WWE Championship at SummerSlam 2013, Bryan rose to the main event as one of the most beloved stars in the company, culminating with the Yes! Man winning the gold in the main event of WrestleMania 30.

Unfortunately, an injury cost Bryan the title and nearly a year of his career in the summer of 2014. Bryan finally made his triumphant return, only to be injured again, having to retire from wrestling due to brain injuries that he had suffered throughout his lengthy wrestling career.

After leaving the ring in 2016, Bryan worked as the GM of SmackDown Live but wasn't exactly quiet about wanting to return to the ring.

Doing just that, Bryan finally returned at WrestleMania 34 to a hero's ovation and cemented his return by capturing the WWE title in November that year from AJ Styles, turning heel in the process.

#1 The Showstopper defies the odds

Michaels had his first match in over four years at SummerSlam 2002, where he defeated Triple H.

Few Superstars can boast about having a career better than Shawn Michaels, as The Showstopper is considered by many to have had the greatest career of all time. But for as good and as lengthy as his career was, Michaels' tenure is always defined by pre and post-retirement.

At the 1998 Royal Rumble Pay Per View, Michaels defeated The Undertaker in a casket match to retain the WWF Championship but suffered a horrendous back injury along the way. The injury would force HBK to be removed from the No Way Out in Texas event, but he was able to main-event WrestleMania 14 against 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin.

Losing to The Rattlesnake, Michaels would walk away from the ring seemingly for good, as both his injury and real-life problems would take a toll on the former Champion. Fortunately, Michaels was able to turn his life around, becoming a born again Christian along the way, and returned to the ring in 2002.

Capturing the World Heavyweight Championship at Survivor Series that year, Michaels proved himself to be one of the all time greats, with his second tenure in WWE arguably being better than his first.