Mason Rook is officially back where it matters — inside the ring. Just days after making his surprise return to NXT television, Rook wrestled his first match since September during WWE’s NXT live event in Detroit on November 14.
Rook made his in-ring comeback in a Motor City Street Fight, teaming with Saquon Shugars and Zilla Fatu. The match marked the end of Rook’s nearly two-month absence from competition after a medical issue forced him out of action in September.
Getting cleared to actually wrestle is another major step for Rook considering how uncertain his situation looked just a few weeks ago. He had originally been scheduled to challenge for the NXT Championship on September 29 before WWE pulled him from the match because he wasn’t medically cleared. Rook initially described the situation as a “speed bump,” but Bryan Alvarez reported in October that whatever was keeping him sidelined could potentially result in a lengthy absence.
“I have heard… whatever’s going on with Mason Rook, I have been told could be pretty serious. I’ve been told he could be out a long time — could be a very long time. No one seems to be really talking about what the issue is. Whatever it is, it’s a real issue, and he could be out for a long time.”
Instead, Rook beat that timeline and returned on the November 10 episode of NXT. He went straight after NXT Champion Grayson Waller, attacking him and immediately putting himself back into the championship conversation.
One day later, Rook revealed that the situation had actually been more serious than most people knew. He didn’t disclose exactly what happened, but said only a small group of people knew what he had been recovering from.
“Only a select few know the severity of what I’ve come back from. I worked my ass off to get back ahead of schedule.”
Now that comeback has gone from an NXT television angle to an actual match. WWE and Rook still haven’t revealed what medical issue kept him sidelined, but getting through a Motor City Street Fight is a pretty emphatic way to show that he’s ready to start working again.
What do you think is next for Mason Rook now that he has officially made his in-ring return? Let us know what you think in the comments.
