WWE Superstar Seth Rollins faced a concerning knee injury during his defense of the World Heavyweight Championship against Jinder Mahal in the most recent episode of Monday Night RAW on January 15, hosted at the Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

Despite visibly struggling with the injury as the match progressed, the 37-year-old persevered and ultimately defended his title against the former WWE Champion of Indian descent.

It is unknown if this injury will force him to vacate the title and miss WrestleMabia

Seth Rollins Injury

A few days later, it was reported by Fighful Select that Rollins had endured a torn MCL and a partially torn meniscus on his left knee. As of the current update, there is no information on whether surgery will be necessary, and the optimistic outlook is to avoid it if possible.

The approach that WWE will take on television regarding the injury remains unknown, including whether it will be downplayed or emphasized.

In light of his condition, Rollins has been withdrawn from weekend live events, and his non-participation in the WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view event on January 27 has been confirmed.

Considering the timeline, it was reasonable to anticipate Rollins defending his World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XL scheduled for April 6 and 7. However, the injury introduces uncertainty about his participation in the biggest wrestling event of the year.

Rollins had previously suffered a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus on his left knee during a WWE show in Dublin, Ireland in November 2015 while he was the reigning WWE Champion. He returned to action after six months.

Sources revealed that backstage at RAW on Monday night, Rollins had expressed his belief that the injury was not an ACL tear, which is considered more severe.

What is a torn MCL?

The medial collateral ligament (MCL), which is located on the inner knee, connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia), providing strength and stability to the knee joint. It is one of the four main ligaments in the knee.

An MCL tear is a common knee injury often seen in sports. While non-surgical treatment is typical, surgery remains an option. The recovery duration for an MCL tear varies based on its severity.

A mild (grade 1) tear typically heals within one to three weeks, while a moderate (grade 2) tear may take four to six weeks with treatment. Severe (grade 3) tears may require six weeks or more for recovery with treatment.

Surgical intervention, if undertaken, could extend the recovery period further.

What is a torn meniscus?

The meniscus, a cartilaginous structure that serves as a cushion between the shinbone (tibia) and thighbone (femur) in each knee, with a pair of menisci present.

Commonly known as a cartilage tear, the occurrence of a meniscus tear is often associated with forceful twists or rotations of the knee.

The recovery period for the knee injury varies based on factors such as the severity of the meniscus tear. Complete recovery after surgery can extend from four to six weeks, depending on the specific procedure conducted and additional individual factors.