Xavier Woods may be dealing with more than just storyline drama after his match on the August 18, 2025 episode of WWE RAW.
Following his in-ring bout against Penta El Zero Miedo, Woods delivered a powerful promo blasting WWE management and accusing Adam Pearce of sending a “masked mercenary” to injure him—but a new report suggests the injury might be real.
According to Fightful Select, Woods was telling people backstage that night that his neck was “messed up.” While the extent of the injury is still unclear, one source claimed they actually saw Woods wearing a neck brace later that evening.
“We haven’t learned anything regarding the extent of it, but one source claimed they actually saw him wearing a neck brace later that evening. He was able to leave under his own power and initially didn’t seem severe at least based on the fact that he was up and continuing his evening.”
This report adds weight to Woods’ emotional Twitter video, where he criticized WWE’s handling of his injury and accused the company of double standards in how they treat New Day members. He also claimed the move that hurt him—Penta’s Mexican Destroyer—should’ve never been allowed.
“Banned from WWE for years due to the extreme damage that it can cause to the vital areas of a competitor’s neck… the Mexican Destroyer strikes again.”
While some insiders believe it could all be part of the storyline, the fact that Woods reportedly needed a neck brace after the match has raised concerns.
We’ll keep an eye out for more updates as they develop, but if the injury is legit, we wish Xavier Woods a speedy recovery and hope this doesn’t sideline him for long.
Do you think WWE dropped the ball on keeping Xavier Woods safe—or is this part of a bigger angle? Let us know what you think in the comments.