WWE star Zoey Stark has been on a long road to recovery after suffering a horrific injury earlier this year. But the former NXT Tag Team Champion had a hugely positive update for fans wondering when she might be back in the ring.
Stark has been injured since May, having torn her ACL, MCL, and meniscus during a Money in the Bank qualifier triple threat against Rhea Ripley and Kairi Sane. Attempting a missile dropkick on Sane, Stark landed very awkwardly, twisting her knee. The 31-year-old underwent a lengthy three-hour surgery as a result and has been sidelined ever since.
Stark suffered a similar knee injury on NXT in 2021, and many fans wondered whether this might be the end of the road for the Salt Lake City native. But over the weekend, Stark shared a hugely positive update on her Instagram regarding her rehabilitation. In the clip, Stark revealed that she was facing a possible second procedure because her recovery from the injury had stalled. A second operation would, of course, have increased her recovery time significantly.
“From the last video, one of the reasons why I was having a hard time was because I was told that either I would have get a scope done. Which is, where they go in, clean out my knee, any scar tissue, or two, get a manipulation under anesthesia,” explained Stark.
“One of the reasons being, because I didn’t have full range of motion, and that would have pushed my recovery back. That’s why I was so upset and having a hard time with it. But now we are back on track, that did not have to happen, thank god. Now, I am running, jumping, I have full range of motion. Things are going great, honestly. I am happy, I am blessed.”
Where Could Zoey Stark Fit in When She Returns?
While serious knee injuries are often lengthy in both recovery and rehabilitation, Stark’s return to gym work suggests that a return to in-ring action is on the distant horizon. However, her narrative landscape pre-injury is incredibly different from what it will look like when she returns.
Shortly before her injury, Stark was transitioning out of her Pure Fusion Collective (PFC) storyline that saw her paired with long-time ally Shayna Baszler and Sonya Deville. Deville and Baszler were released in February and April, respectively, leaving Stark as the sole remaining member of PFC at the company.
Since her injury, the returns of AJ Lee and Nikki Bella, as well as the rise of the likes of Stephanie Vaquer and Giulia, have made the women’s division even more competitive than it already was. However, despite two serious knee injuries, Stark has achieved a lot since joining the company in 2021. As well as striking gold with IYO SKY in NXT, Stark has consistently challenged for titles in WWE, most notably battling Rhea Ripley at Survivor Series in 2023 for the Women’s World Championship.
While Stark might have to get a long run of matches under her belt before she can challenge for world titles again, she remains well placed to challenge the midcard. A solid in-ring performer and still only 31, there’s no reason why Stark can’t make up for lost time.
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