Zoey Stark could stay out of action for the rest of the year after she was injured in her knee during Monday Night RAW. Because Stark was climbing to the top and facing high odds, everyone, including other wrestlers and fans, are shocked by his sudden injury.
All three women Stark, Rhea Ripley, and Kairi Sane competed as part of the qualifying matches for the Money in the Bank ladder match, an event that can change a WWE competitor’s career in one night. Because of her aggressive attitude and big-risk effects, many expected Stark to become the Next Greatest.
About halfway into the match, everything became much more difficult and painful.
A MISTAKEN MIGRATION
As Stark went up the turnbuckle and sent down a missile dropkick, a specialty of hers, she moved toward Kairi Sane. She didn’t land on both feet and her knee started to buckle as she landed. People responded straight away. The crowd gasped, the ref jumped to help and the matches were swiftly paused when WWE medical arrived.
Stark was helped by someone behind the scenes and did not appear again. Following her departure, it was suggested by backstage reports that she had hurt the same knee that took her out of competition last year. WWE has not divulged any medical findings, but people close to the situation say surgery is being discussed. If that happens, Stark might not return until after 2025.
Tragically, we are seeing a sad, familiar pattern.
The injury feels like a dark repeat to Stark. Suffering a torn ACL and meniscus during a RAW match in 2021 kept her off TV for many months. Even though it was not easy, Stark kept her commitment and swiftly became one of WWE’s brightest talents again. The injury is more serious now, owing to where it happens in my recovery. In recent months, Stark has been getting bigger and better-known through popular matches and plot details. Taking a break now could disrupt the positive impact she enjoyed, along with hurting the company’s plans for her next pay-per-view events.
Her Words After Being Injured
Late the very same day, Stark published a statement through social media. She spoke with emotions yet felt determined.
“What hurts more than my knee is knowing I won’t be able to perform for all of you for a while,” she wrote. “But as the saying goes, the comeback is greater than the setback.”
Courageous was a message fans and fellow wrestlers could relate to, as they filled Cheryl’s online posts with words of support. Stark has won over many fans in just a short time and now the WWE Universe is there for her through the biggest tests of her career.
Was the Injury the Result of a Confusion in Directions?
A lot of fans and longtime wrestlers are discussing what they think caused the injury after it happened. Recently, veteran commentator Dutch Mantell said that if Kairi Sane had hit the move at the exact right time, Stark would not have had to adjust so much which might have made her landing less awkward.
“There’s no way to adjust once you’re in the air,” Mantell explained. “The person taking the move has to be in the right position. If they’re not, the risk of injury shoots up immediately.”
Mantell points out that the risk in professional wrestling is narrow, as everything depends on good timing, team coordination and trust.
A Missing Spot in the Women’s Division
With Stark out, the women’s division misses an important figure. After starting in NXT and advancing to the main roster, she has won praise for her athleticism, solid striking and forceful presence inside the ring. All her matches have managed to highlight physical action and story development.
Joining Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan and Becky Lynch at the top of the show allowed Stark to build her own place in WWE. Seeing her in the Money in the Bank match made it seem likely that WWE wanted to raise her status, potentially toward a title opportunity. At this moment, those plans have probably stopped moving forward.
Career Was Lined with Grit
As Lacey Ryan, she fought in independent wrestling for more than a decade before joining WWE in 2021. It wasn’t simple for her to make it to the spotlight. Simone talks about the ordeals she faced when she started, including both injuries and financial problems. Her persistence is a big reason why she has become so interesting in WWE.
Even though this latest problem is painful, the islanders have shown they can recover. Simply put, Zoey Stark has shown us before that she finds a way to fight back.
Many people who love her work help give it extra support.
Ever since the story of her injury was made public, fans, other wrestlers and WWE legends have been sending supportive messages on social media. Natalya wrote “Heartbroken for you. But if anyone can come back from this stronger, it’s you.” At the same time, Bayley put up an old picture of herself and Stark, adding the caption, “Toughest woman I know.”
People are offering support from all directions, proving that Stark’s reputation as a reliable, determined backstage talent is growing within the WWE Universe.
