Former WWE Champion Addresses Mental Health Impact on Injury

Charlotte Flair opens up about how her mental state contributed to a serious knee injury.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 10:52pm

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In a recent interview, former WWE Women's Champion Charlotte Flair discussed how her mental health struggles, including feelings of imposter syndrome and anxiety, may have played a role in the serious knee injury she sustained in late 2023. Flair tore her ACL, MCL, and meniscus, and she now believes her negative mindset at the time affected her performance and contributed to the incident.

Why it matters

Flair's candid comments about the connection between her mental health and physical injury highlight the importance of addressing mental wellness, especially for high-profile athletes facing immense pressure. Her willingness to be vulnerable could inspire others to prioritize self-care and destigmatize discussions around mental health in sports and entertainment.

The details

In the interview with Bloomberg Talks, Flair reflected on the knee injury that sidelined her for several months. She acknowledged that she was not in a good mental state at the time, dealing with issues like imposter syndrome and anxiety over her approaching 40th birthday and the demands of her career. Flair said she was in a "very negative space" and not opening up about her struggles, which she believes ultimately impacted her physical performance and led to the devastating knee injury.

  • In December 2023, Flair sustained a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus.
  • Flair returned to action on the March 6, 2026 edition of SmackDown.

The players

Charlotte Flair

A former WWE Women's Champion who has been open about her mental health challenges and how they contributed to a serious knee injury in late 2023.

Self-Care is for Everyone

An apparel company that Flair has invested in, reflecting her newfound focus on self-care and mental wellness.

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What they’re saying

“I definitely think when I hurt my knee — I tore my ACL — I don't think I was in the right state of mind, meaning whether it was imposter syndrome, that dialogue [of] how we talk to ourselves, that inner self-talk. I feel like I was in a very negative space and not opening up about it and the anxiety of, you know, being a woman that's approaching 40, what that looks like, the demands.”

— Charlotte Flair

What’s next

Flair and Alexa Bliss will challenge Nia Jax and Lash Legend for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship in the coming weeks, as Flair continues her comeback from the knee injury.

The takeaway

Charlotte Flair's willingness to openly discuss the mental health factors that contributed to her serious knee injury underscores the importance of addressing the whole-person wellness of athletes and performers. Her story could inspire others to prioritize self-care and destigmatize conversations around mental health in high-pressure industries.