Seth Rollins reportedly has a torn MCL and a partially torn meniscus. This story follows a recent report from WrestleVotes that Seth is expected to address his physical status on the 22 January RAW.

The Fightful Select report (Patreon account required) states:

Unfortunately, the word in WWE and sources near Rollins are that he sustained a torn MCL and a partially torn meniscus.

H/T Fightful Select

The report added that it's unknown if surgery is necessary to repair it. However, let's look at some information on MCL as well as meniscus tears and speculate.

Note: WrestleLamia isn't giving medical information, nor should this be treated as medical advice.

Why an MCL Tear May Not Be as Bad as It Sounds

If Seth Rollins has a medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear, it may not be as bad as it sounds. According to the Cleveland Clinic article "MCL Tear":

Most people who have an MCL tear recover from non-surgical treatment. This is because your MCL has a good blood supply, which makes it easier for your tear to heal.

The Cleveland Clinic article states that there are three grades of MCL tears

Grade 1: A grade 1 MCL tear is a mild tear in which less than 10% of fibers in your ligament are torn and your knee is still stable. You’ll likely have some tenderness and mild pain if you have a grade 1 tear.

Grade 2: A grade 2 MCL tear is a moderate tear in which your MCL is partially torn — usually the superficial part of your MCL. Your knee will likely be loose when it’s moved by hand, and you’ll probably have intense pain and tenderness along the inner side of your knee.

Grade 3: A grade 3 MCL tear is a severe tear in which your MCL is completely torn — both the superficial and deep parts. Your knee will likely be very unstable and loose, and you’ll probably experience intense pain and tenderness. It’s common for someone to have other knee injuries, especially damage to their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), if they have a grade 3 MCL tear.

While WrestleLamia isn't offering a medical opinion, a torn MCL (depending on what grade it is) could allow Seth to work at WrestleMania.

How Seth Could Still Be Sidelined

Unfortunately, Seth could still be sidelined, depending on the severity of any MCL tear and the rumored meniscus injury. The Cleveland Clinic article notes:

While non-surgical treatment is very effective in treating MCL tears, professional athletes may want to consider undergoing surgery to fix their tear due to the amount of stress and pressure they’ll have on their knee when they return to their sport. If you have an MCL tear and other knee injuries at the same time, you’ll likely have to undergo surgery to fix your injuries.

This raises the other factor, the rumored meniscus tear.

How Bad is a Meniscus Tear?

Like the MCL tear, there are different treatment options depending on the injury's severity. The Cleveland Clinic article "Torn Meniscus" states:

If your torn meniscus doesn’t heal properly, your knee won’t be as stable as it was before the injury. That can increase your risk of other knee injuries — like an ACL tear or other torn ligament.

One of the problems with wrestlers working through injuries is that they risk aggravating the injury or injuring another part of the body.

Most people who tear a meniscus can return to full activity. If you have surgery to repair a torn meniscus, your knee should be fully recovered after a few months of physical therapy.

H/T Cleveland Clinic

Hopefully, WWE fans will know by Monday whether Seth can wrestle or whether he'll need time off to recover. What will the WWE do with the World Heavyweight Championship if Seth is sidelined for several months? Given the rarity of Roman Reigns' title defenses, there's a precedent for champions not having to defend the titles every 30 days anymore.

For now, fans will have to wait and see how things turn out. Meanwhile, WrestleLamia sends its well-wishes to Seth Rollins.

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WrestleLamia will continue monitoring this story.

Photo Credit: WWE