Multi-time WWE champion announces WrestleMania 41 absence due to injury

Karl Anderson has confirmed he will be absent from WrestleMania 41 due to a severe shoulder injury requiring extensive rehabilitation. The former Tag Team Champion disclosed his condition during a recent appearance on Talk n Shop.

Anderson provided details about his injury status and recovery timeline:

I am out indefinitely, I’d say at least six or seven more months with a torn rotator cuff and torn labrum.

Anderson’s last WWE appearance occurred in September 2023 on NXT, where he competed before undergoing surgery for his torn rotator cuff. Along with Luke Gallows, Anderson had transitioned to working with emerging talent in NXT prior to his injury.

The timing of Anderson’s recovery places his return well beyond WrestleMania 41, scheduled for April 19 and 20, 2025, in Las Vegas. He joins other sidelined performers, including Bronson Reed and Tonga Loa, who are expected to miss WWE’s premier event due to various injuries.

WWE prepares for historic transition to Netflix

As WWE approaches its streaming platform transition, the company readies for significant changes in 2025. RAW’s move to Netflix next month precedes the traditional Road to WrestleMania season, marking a pivotal shift in WWE’s broadcasting strategy. The company aims to maintain its momentum through this transition while preparing for WrestleMania 41’s two-night spectacle in Las Vegas.