Brie Bella could be gone from WWE television for months after breaking her scapula at SummerSlam, and even medical clearance may not mean she immediately walks back into a storyline.
The recovery time can swing hard depending on the damage. A minor, non-displaced break could allow an athlete to return to full contact in roughly eight to 12 weeks. A more serious fracture can take three to four months, while a complex break requiring surgery may push the absence to four to six months or longer.
The first two weeks are usually about protecting the shoulder in a sling while the pain and swelling settle down. Gentle movement can begin over the next several weeks, followed by more serious strengthening once the bone starts healing around the six-to-eight-week mark. That is only the medical side of the equation.
Brie will still need to rebuild her strength, restore her full range of motion and prove she can safely take bumps, throws and direct impact on the shoulder. Professional wrestling is a completely different test from simply being cleared to handle normal daily activity.
Even after WWE doctors clear her, she may need additional time inside the ring to get her timing and conditioning back. WWE would also need to find the right opening to put her back on television, meaning her storyline return could come weeks after she is technically cleared to compete.
Brie confirmed the broken scapula on Instagram after Jacy Jayne crashed into her with a cannonball near the steel ring steps. She immediately grabbed her right shoulder but still managed to finish the match.
“Unfortunately, I’ll be out for a bit. I broke my scapula. Not sure how I finished that match, but I do believe between the adrenaline, passion for the business and the love for all the women I work with, it gave me the drive to finish.”
The injury was serious enough to pull Brie from a scheduled SummerSlam TakeOver appearance in Minneapolis. Despite the setback, she made it clear that she already has another WWE comeback on her mind.
“If there’s one thing I know about my sister and I, it’s that we don’t let broken bones stop us. Brie Mode always finds a way to come back to her wrestling home. Let the recovery begin.”
The best-case scenario could put Brie back in wrestling shape in two to three months. A tougher recovery could keep her out for up to six months or longer, and her actual WWE television return may take even more time once clearance, training and creative plans are factored in.
When do you think Brie Bella will actually return to WWE television, and should the company pause her storyline until she is ready? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
