It’s been quite some time since Luke Harper has made an appearance inside a wrestling ring After going through a double ligament reconstruction surgery in October, Harper has been rehabbing and preparing for his return. With his return set for a match against Donovan Dijak at the upcoming WrestleMania Axxess, Harper took to Twitter to share a lengthy note discussing just how ready he is.
In a tweet shared earlier today, Harper reflected on the injury and the adversity that he’s had to face since. In the note, he questioned whether or not he was too old to be wrestling, the feelings he had when he found out his return would be on WrestleMania Axxess, and how has plenty to prove to both himself and the WWE as a whole.
You can read the note in its entirety below:
I’m 39 years old.
I’ve been cleared since February 6th. I haven’t been brought to one television taping since I left to have double ligament reconstruction wrist surgery on October 2nd, 2018.
6 years ago, I wrestled multiple matches at Axxess as part of FCW and was involved in Undertaker’s entrance. 5 years ago, I had a front row seat to watch Bray Wyatt wrestle John Cena, 4 years ago, I competed for the Intercontinental Championship in my first WrestleMania singles match. 3 years ago, I wrestled Brock Lesnar in Toronto on a network special. 2 years ago, I came within inches of competing for the WWE Championship in the very match AJ Styles won his first and within inches of being part of the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania with Bray and Randy. 1 year ago, I won the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships with Rowan while my life and 2 sons watched from the front row.
Next Thursday I will be wrestling Donovan Dijak at Axxess.
Full circle.
I read all the texts I got that said, “You’re back on Axxess???” I was kind to all the people at the gym asking if I’m retired. I swallowed my pride when agents and writers asked me if I was still hurt when completely healthy. And now here we are. April 4th, 2019 ‘When Worlds Collide’ at Axxess. Luke Harper vs. Donovan Dijak. How will I respond? How will I change things? No one has to be happy with the results except me. That’s the true test. Do I still have it? Can I compete with a young, up and coming, incredibly talented, NXT prospect? Am I too old? Has the game passed me by? Am I as good as I really think I am? It brings me near tears to write this because I truly believe I have so fucking much to offer this industry. I believe I will be a World Heavyweight Championship someday. I believe that, but these are the doubts I live with daily. These are the doubts that creep in your head during rehab. These are the thoughts you think when you watch your left side atrophy. Being ignored and left home for months exasperated these thoughts and it sucked.
I have so much to prove to myself, to WWE, to the industry of professional wrestling, to my wife and it is my responsibility to show my kids how to handle adversity. Next Thursday is the answer. Are the doubts real or is this the first step of the climb?
I promise you I will come prepared and you will get my very best that night, Mr. Dijak. Just know, be careful thinking of this as just an Axxess match because to me, this is WrestleMania. I’m not throwing away my shot.
Good luck.
