WWE NXT talent Aria Bennett undergoes surgery for torn ACL

WWE NXT talent Aria Bennett recently suffered a torn ACL and has already undergone surgery for the injury.

The 30-year-old Bennett (real name Ajiea Lee Hargrave) joined the Performance Center in October 2023 and, so far in her career, has competed at NXT house shows and on WWE Evolve. But she’s likely going to be sidelined for several months after undergoing ACL surgery. Bennett revealed the injury in an Instagram stories post yesterday, saying that she waited until having surgery to make the news public.

“Life threw a curveball a few weeks ago…I tore my ACL,” she wrote. “Funny thing is, I didn’t even feel pain when it happened. I kept practicing like nothing was wrong. Found out later it was a full tear.

“To protect my mental, I wanted to wait until after surgery to update my followers. At first it was a lot to process, until I started praying and realized God is always working, even when I can’t see it. Keeping things fun and lighthearted has helped me get through the hard times. Laughter really is medicine. This is just one chapter in the story. Right now, it’s about healing, trusting the process, and coming back stronger mind, body, and spirit.Thank you for all the love, support, and prayers. I’ll keep y’all posted on the comeback.”

Bennett has a background in gymnastics and as a fitness coach. Before signing with WWE, she appeared on “The Tonight Show” in 2023, performing a gymnastics stunt where she put her shorts on while in mid-air.