A former WWE Tag Team Champion may not ever wrestle again after suffering a neck injury earlier this year.
WWE star Piper Niven may be facing an uncertain in-ring future following a serious neck injury, according to comments made recently on Wrestling Observer Live. During a discussion about the dangers of neck injuries in professional wrestling, Bryan Alvarez cited Niven as a sobering example of how severe such issues can become. Alvarez noted that Niven has been sidelined since August and suggested that her condition could potentially be career-altering.
“There’s been a lot of talk that this one could be a career-ender,” Alvarez said. “It is her neck, and it’s the same deal, you know, it was wear and tear, and took a bump, and that was it.”
Niven herself addressed her situation in a recent post responding to comments made by William Regal regarding the long-term risks wrestlers face. Without going into specific medical details, she acknowledged the seriousness of her condition and the uncertainty surrounding her recovery.
“The line between I feel fine and I just want to feel okay again is horrifically thin,” Niven wrote. “You have zero idea how close you are to teetering on the edge of it.”
The discussion arose in the aftermath of a frightening moment at AEW Worlds End, where Kyle Fletcher landed awkwardly during a match, reigniting conversation around head and neck safety in modern wrestling. Alvarez also referenced WWE’s Ivar as another example, noting that despite returning to action, he continues to deal with lasting effects from a serious neck injury.
While there is currently no timetable for Niven’s return, the situation has sparked renewed discussion about the long-term risks performers face and the importance of prioritising health over in-ring longevity.
How Long Has Piper Niven Been With WWE?
Piper Niven has been with WWE officially since 2019, when she signed for NXT UK, until she was drafted to the main roster in 2021. She debuted on Raw on June 14, 2021, as an unnamed protege to Eva Marie and was later given the name Doudrop, and continued to wrestle under that name until she went on a hiatus due to illness in 2022.
Niven returned under the name Piper Niven on January 28, 2023, and eventually began teaming with Chelsea Green after Sonya Deville picked up an injury and took over Deville’s reign as WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion until they lost the belts to Katan Chance and Kayden Carter on the December 18 episode of Raw.
Niven last wrestled on the August 22, 2025, episode of SmackDown, where she defeated Charlotte Flair and has since only featured as Green’s on-screen bodyguard during her matches.
