Wade Barrett: WWE Superstar Shouldn't Rush Back from Injury for WrestleMania

Wade Barrett suffered a serious arm injury on Raw that will keep him out for at least six weeks, according to the official WWE website. That timetable would put him on the brink of a WrestleMania return, but the rising star shouldn't risk further issues by coming back too soon.

Barrett landed awkwardly on his arm during the 10-man battle royal on Monday night, and it immediately became clear this wasn't simply a kayfabe injury. There was genuine concern on the faces of his fellow superstars, especially Chris Jericho.

It's a freak accident that couldn't have come at a worse time for Barrett. He was receiving a push as a part of his “Barrett Barrage” and appeared destined to play a role in an undercard match at the year's biggest event.

The spot itself was risky because the announce table didn't allow much room for three guys to fall. Along with Barrett's arm, Dolph Ziggler's face smacked into the table because they weren't able to slow down his momentum enough.

Don't forget, there was another high-flying mistake a few weeks ago when The Miz wasn't able to break R-Truth's fall. Luckily, that one didn't lead to a major injury, but the trend illustrates how dangerous certain maneuvers can be.

Every WWE superstar loves taking part in WrestleMania. Barrett is no different, so he'll probably try anything possible to get back in time for the marquee event. However, it's simply not worth the risk to one of the company's emerging talents.

Even if he's medically cleared, it won't come until literally days before the event. That means he'll have minimal build up ahead of time, making it tough to imagine him playing a prominent role.

One idea tossed around the internet wrestling community was Barrett taking part in a Money in the Bank match should it make a return. That's far from an ideal scenario for somebody fresh off a major injury.

Barrett would be much better off playing it safe to ensure he's back to 100 percent before he makes his comeback. It's clear based on recent booking that Vince McMahon and company have high hopes for him moving forward. Barrett can't risk losing that faith by suffering another injury right when he gets back.

There won't be any space in the main event picture until after WrestleMania, anyway. Daniel Bryan and Sheamus are locked in a feud on Smackdown, where Barrett normally resides, while CM Punk and Jericho are doing their thing on Raw.

Add in the fact that The Rock is returning for his storyline with John Cena and the rematch between Triple H and Undertaker, and there just isn't any room for Barrett to shine like he needs to until WrestleMania ends.

So, while it might not seem like it to him right now, the best thing for Barrett's future is getting back to full strength before a mid-April return.