Folks, the “Machine Gun” Karl Anderson has officially joined WWE’s exclusive “Shoulder Sling Club,” confirming that he’s out of action until after WrestleMania. In classic WWE style, he didn’t just quietly hit the sidelines—he announced it with a sling-clad selfie on Instagram, taped up like a wrestling action figure that’s seen a bit too much love from the playground crowd.
After a visit to Dr. Jeffrey Dugas in Birmingham (where every WWE superstar apparently has a reserved parking spot), Anderson revealed his surgery was a success. Captioning his Instagram pic, he wrote, “Thanks to Dr. Dugas in Birmingham, Alabama for fixing me. See you after #WrestleMania 😘.” Nothing says “I’ll be back” like a kissy emoji, right?
Timing Is Everything – and for The OC, It’s Mostly Unlucky
Injuries seem to be haunting The OC these days. Anderson’s partner in crime, Luke Gallows, was benched last year, and their buddy AJ Styles has taken more time off than your average summer intern. It seems like every time the trio gets some momentum, another injury pops up to derail them. Anderson’s announcement means The OC’s ride will stay parked until at least April, as he’ll be rehabbing through WrestleMania season — meaning WWE fans will have to wait for those magic moments when The OC takes over with their classic “too sweet” antics.
What’s Next for Karl Anderson?
Before he went out, Anderson wrestled in an “NXT” dark match in early October, squaring off with his partner Gallows against the up-and-comers Hank and Tank. Now, with his shoulder getting a much-needed rest, fans can catch more about his injury details on his TalkNShop podcast this week. Perhaps he’ll give us a play-by-play on what went down in that infamous Birmingham surgical suite — or at the very least, he’ll offer some commentary on his new life as a podcasting convalescent.
As for the WWE universe, the wait is on to see if The OC can catch a break in 2024 and finally unleash the full power of their tag team. But rest assured, once Karl Anderson gets that green light, he’ll be back in the ring, sling-free and ready to add another chapter to his WWE journey.