One of the more unsettling parts of pro wrestling is not knowing for sure when a performer is legitimately injured during a match or they’re being portrayed as such for the sake of a story. Case in point: Montez Ford during the United States Championship Elimination Chamber match this past weekend.
Ford was one of the final three competitors in the six-man match, but was eliminated after receiving a Stomp from Seth Rollins and being pinned by defending champ Austin Theory. Ford remained on the mat for several minutes afterward, moving gingerly, and eventually needed to be helped out of the cage by several referees and WWE staffers.
Announcers Michael Cole and Corey Graves sold it in the moment like Ford may actually have been hurt, though what happened next suggested he wasn’t: Logan Paul took advantage of the cage door being left open for Ford to be removed, running in and ensuring Rollins was eventually defeated.
According to Fightful, WWE needed that explanation for the cage being accessible to allow Paul’s intervention, thus assuring he and Rollins continue on a path toward a match at WrestleMania. Ford “is fine.”
A debate could certainly be had about whether injury angles should be used as a way to propel storytelling in wrestling since there’s a real chance fans could be unsure about whether they are part of the show or not. Another WWE example that comes to mind in the past year was Charlotte Flair supposedly having her arm broken by Ronda Rousey when in truth she simply needed time off to get married.
The Ford situation was a bit different since it was brief and only used to set up one particular moment. Still, the uncertainty while watching at the time was a tad uncomfortable. It’s great to hear that Ford is OK, however, especially after he put on a great performance during the match.