“Held Back to Be Saved?” Damian Priest Reveals WWE Is Forcing Him to Slow Down Amid Painful Injury Battle
Damian Priest isn’t sitting on the sidelines because he wants to — WWE is making that call for him. The former World Heavyweight Champion has revealed that WWE has deliberately cut back his in-ring schedule in 2025 due to multiple lingering injuries, even though Priest himself would rather keep pushing forward. Speaking candidly during an appearance at Prince St. Pizza, Priest admitted the slowdown wasn’t his idea at all.
“I don’t take breaks,” Priest explained. “Since I’ve been in WWE, I’ve taken zero days off. I’ve never asked for time away because I was hurting. This year, the company stepped in and said, ‘Let’s take it easy on him.’”
And the reason? His body has been taking a serious beating.
Priest disclosed that he’s been dealing with torn shoulders, damaged knees, and ongoing back issues — injuries that would normally sideline many wrestlers for months. Yet, instead of opting for surgery or extended time off, Priest has chosen rehab and pain management to stay active.
“My shoulders have been torn a couple of times in the last year and a half. My knees are banged up. My back is rough,” he said. “I need a lot of work done, but if I don’t have to, I won’t. I just want to stay in the game.”
Despite his determination, WWE officials have reportedly stepped in to protect their investment, believing Priest needs to slow down now if he’s going to last long-term at the top level.
The numbers tell the story. Priest has wrestled just 24 matches in 2025, with only nine coming in the second half of the year — a massive drop from 76 matches in 2024 and a grueling 100 matches in 2023.
Still, he hasn’t been absent from major storylines. Priest kicked off 2025 with a Street Fight win over Finn Bálor, battled Drew McIntyre through May, and has been locked in a heated rivalry with Aleister Black since the summer. He even reunited with Rhea Ripley as the Terror Twins to score a big win over Black and Zelina Vega on the December 12 episode of SmackDown.
And for fans worried about his future — don’t be. Priest signed a new WWE contract in early 2024, locking him in for the long haul (with some nice perks, including first-class travel).
While WWE may be slowing him down, Damian Priest makes one thing clear: his passion hasn’t faded — and when he’s cleared to go full speed again, he plans to make it count. 💪🔥
