The road to recovery has officially begun for one of WWE NXT’s promising talents. Brinley Reece, sidelined since late March with a shoulder injury, has taken a significant step forward in her journey back to the squared circle by successfully undergoing shoulder surgery last week.
Surgery Success Documented on Social Media
Reece took to Instagram to share her surgical experience with fans through a brief vlog-style video. The footage captures her early morning preparation before heading to the medical facility in Orlando, Florida. In a particularly poignant moment, the camera pans to show the Orlando skyline from her hospital room window before jumping ahead to reveal the completed procedure just hours later.
While the specific nature of her shoulder injury remains undisclosed, the 24-year-old performer explicitly confirmed that the operation targeted her shoulder. This procedure marks a critical milestone in what has already been a two-month absence from in-ring competition.
“Surgery was a success,” Reece indicated in her social media post, giving fans hope for her eventual return.
Reece’s WWE Journey So Far
Since signing with WWE in 2022 following an impressive tryout, Reece has been steadily building her reputation within the company’s developmental system. Her television debut came approximately a year after signing, when she stepped in as a replacement for the injured Jakara Jackson during the 2023 Women’s NXT Breakout Tournament.
Although Reece was eliminated in the tournament’s opening round, she continued to hone her craft through consistent appearances at live events and on television. Her last match before the injury occurred on March 22 at an NXT live event, where she faced off against Karmen Petrovic.
Cross-Promotional Experience
Reece’s development hasn’t been limited to WWE programming alone. She gained valuable experience on the independent scene, most notably appearing on the pre-show of TNA’s Bound For Glory event last year. There, she teamed with Xia Brookside in a losing effort against the duo of Ash By Elegance and Heather By Elegance.
Finding Success in WWE Evolve
Prior to her injury, Reece had been building momentum on WWE’s revitalized Evolve brand. The former independent promotion, now repurposed as a WWE developmental showcase, provided Reece with a platform to demonstrate her growing skills. She compiled several singles victories on the program, indicating WWE’s interest in developing her character and in-ring abilities.
Despite her physical absence from competition, Reece has maintained a presence on television through pre-taped episodes of WWE Evolve that were filmed before her injury occurred. These appearances have helped keep her character visible to the audience during her recovery period.
What’s Next for the Young Performer?
With successful surgery now behind her, the focus shifts to Reece’s rehabilitation process and eventual return to action. Shoulder injuries typically require significant recovery time for professional wrestlers, as the joint is crucial for executing nearly every in-ring maneuver safely.
As one of the younger talents in WWE’s developmental system at just 24 years old, Reece has time on her side. The company has shown patience with injured prospects in the past, allowing them full recovery before reintroducing them to competition.
Will Brinley Reece return with a refreshed character or new in-ring approach when she’s medically cleared? And how might her experience overcoming this early-career adversity shape her development as a performer? The wrestling world will be watching closely as this promising talent works her way back to NXT’s increasingly competitive women’s division.
