Former United States and Intercontinental champion (and, technically, still one half of the #1 contenders for the SmackDown tag titles) Zack Ryder injured his knee during a match last Tuesday, and underwent surgery to repair it a few days later.
Beyond that, details have been sparse. But the Long Island Iced Z updated his fans on the recovery timeframe in an insomnia-inspired Twitter Q & A last night (Dec. 18):
I was told 4-6 months. I was also told 6-9 months. Time will tell. https://t.co/ziy4t8DPte
— Zack Ryder (@ZackRyder) December 19, 2016
Four-to-nine months is a pretty big window, but at least it gives you a realistic range. Unfortunately, it definitely means Ryder won’t be gunning for a second consecutive big WrestleMania moment in Orlando in 2017.
We’ll send out best wishes for a successful recovery, regardless of how long it takes, to someone who seems like one of the good guys backstage at WWE.