WWE Star Reveals Return From Injury is ‘Closer’

By Matthew Couden

Contributing Writer

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Devastating injuries have affected several prominent WWE stars in the past year or so, including former champions Seth Rollins and Liv Morgan. Another individual who was injured earlier this year is Zoey Stark, who seems to be teasing her return with a recent update.

Stark, real name Theresa Serrano, suffered her injury in May during a triple threat Money in the Bank qualifying match, which featured Rhea Ripley and Kairi Sane. On a missile dropkick attempt, she suffered an awkward landing on her right knee.

Read more: Former WWE Champ to Get Another John Cena Tournament Match

At the time of the incident, WWE immediately removed Stark from the match, and later announced she was on the sidelines due to an injury. She then underwent surgery for CL, MCL, and meniscus injuries, and has since been performing rehabilitation and training to get back to the ring.

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On Saturday, Stark shared an encouraging update with fans, which included a short video clip she posted on X. In the video, Stark performs speed drills, running back and forth between orange markers on a small fake-grass field at set distances. A man is off-camera, counting each repetition as she touches the ground.

"6 months in and finally able to fully run and pivot pain free," she wrote on X, adding, "It took some time to get there but we got there. Thank you @optimizeptp one step closer to getting back into the ring!"

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Stark signed with WWE’s NXT in January 2021 and quickly showed her talents as part of the developmental brand. While there, she and Kairi Sane held the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship.

She joined WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” during the 2023 WWE Draft, and debuted that May with a win against Nikki Cross. Stark previously teamed up with Shayna Baszler on the main roster and has competed in prominent matches at the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 41.

Last month, Stark updated fans on her Raw injury, indicating she thought she might need a scope to clean out her knee and remove scar tissue, which would’ve pushed her recovery back. She revealed she didn't need the scope, and her recent post offers a promising update on her return to the ring.

"I really, really can't wait to get back into the ring and get back to you guys," she shared in her X video last month.

It will be interesting to see where WWE goes with Stark when she returns, as they have an intriguing women's roster on Raw that already includes Asuka, Bayley, Becky Lynch, Rhea, Iyo, Lyra Valkyria, Maxxine Dupri, Nikki Bella, Roxanne Perez, and Stephanie Vaquer, among others.