Elton Prince Likely Out Over a Year After Neck Surgery

The outlook for Elton Prince’s WWE future has become much clearer — not because of new speculation, but because the expected recovery timeline is over a year following his two-level neck fusion surgery.

Prince previously revealed that he underwent the surgery after suffering a terrifying in-ring injury, describing the moment his body essentially shut down mid-match. He later confirmed the seriousness of the procedure.

“Back in May I took a bad landing in the ring, the top of my head hit the mat and what felt like burning hot electricity exploded through my neck and my arms. I lost control of my hands as all my fingers curled in and were stuck for a moment. It was pretty terrifying…”

“…we found the problem and yesterday I successfully underwent a 2 level neck fusion. Not exactly where I hoped to be at 28, but we are owed nothing in this life and I am just grateful to be on the road to recovery.”

A two-level neck fusion is among the most serious surgeries an athlete can undergo. In sports medicine, recovery commonly stretches between 12 to 18 months before full-contact activity is even considered. That process includes long-term immobilization, intensive physical therapy, strength rebuilding, and neurological monitoring.

For professional wrestlers, the road is often even longer. The physical demands on the neck from bumps, travel, conditioning, and in-ring workload add to of risk and caution. Even after medical clearance, performers typically spend additional time rebuilding conditioning and ring readiness before returning to television.

There’s also the WWE factor. Medical clearance doesn’t automatically equal immediate TV time. Talent are usually reintroduced through performance evaluations, conditioning work, and long-term creative planning, which adds further time to the process. Put all of that together, and the reality becomes clear: Elton Prince is facing a long-term absence with no fast track back.

Prince has made it clear he wants to return and his partner while staying optimistic about recovery. But now fans have a more realistic understanding of the timeline and what he’s truly up against.

Do you think WWE should keep the door open for Elton Prince no matter how long his recovery takes, or should creative fully move on until he’s officially cleared? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let your voice be heard.