Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer is reporting that the angle between Jeff Hardy and Elias two weeks ago on Smackdown was partly done to write Elias off television as he is suffering from a real injury.

Elias has a torn pectoral muscle and while it wasn’t noted that he needs to undergo surgery, typical recovery is between six months to a year depending on the severity of the injury.

Elias and tournaments don’t go very well together apparently as Elias was also taken out of the King of the Ring tournament last year and was replaced in the semi final match after he suffered an ankle injury. He was out for three months before he returned in November.

Both Hardy and Elias were eventually removed from the Intercontinental title tournament with the final match airing this Friday between AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan.