Evaluating Long-Term Outlook of Dana Brooke in Wake of Emma's Injury

While Emma's injury creates a career-making opportunity for Dana Brooke, it also threatens to expose her. Brooke's ally going down with a bad back will have WWE rush her development, aiming the spotlight on her before she's ready.

Less than two years after making her NXT debut, Brooke burst onto the main roster. On May 9, the bodybuilder ambushed Becky Lynch, reuniting a pair of heels from WWE's developmental brand. 

The pairing has to wait, though, as a back injury has Emma out of commission. 

News of the Australian grappler getting hurt at a live event emerged over the weekend. Dr. Chris Robinson told WWE.com, "Emma has a ruptured disc that will require her to have surgery." Emma tweeted that she was "gutted" about the injury:

Suddenly, Brooke's path has shifted in front of her. She had long been this group's muscle, the right-hand woman to the more experienced Emma. It was clear that WWE was going to continue that alliance and dynamic on the main roster, but a ruptured disc altered those plans.

That only increases doubt about Brooke's chances of success. Kevin Berge of Questionable Critics is among those who have questioned her spot on the WWE stage:

Brooke has made great strides since signing with WWE. She has improved her character, becoming a compelling, obnoxious heel. She's a great athlete, too.

But as ProWrestling.net writer Jason Powell put it, "She is still a work in progress in the ring."

That was on full display in her match against Lynch on Monday's Raw. Brooke's greenness led to an awkward, underwhelming bout.

Brooke, though, will get more chances like this. WWE has continued this storyline with Lynch minus the ability to lean on Emma. 

This is the second time Brooke's progress will be fast-tracked. According to Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Marc Middleton of Wrestling Inc.), Naomi's and Tamina's injuries created a void that WWE chose to fill by teaming Emma with Brooke once again. And now another injury has Brooke in a higher position than she should be at this point.

WWE is putting her in a sink-or-swim situation, and she will struggle as a result.

Rather than honing her craft at NXT, she will have to deal with big-time pressure and perform at a major league level too early. Expect more flops from her like she produced on Monday night and for the fans to turn on her as a result.

And while she has grown as a talker, she still overacts. It still feels like she's performing a script rather than pouring her heart out. Lynch, Sasha Banks and Paige will blow her out of the water in verbal duels.

Brooke is part of a competitive division that boasts a historic amount of talent. That will only increase once Asuka, Bayley and Alexa Bliss make their ways to the main roster. 

It's going to be difficult to have sustained airtime as a result. After this initial feud with Lynch, Brooke is likely to sit on the sidelines more often than not. WWE doesn't have the patience to let her grow and gain the experience she needs.

That will all add up to a return to NXT before long.

WWE sees potential in her; if not, it wouldn't keep offering her these opportunities. But she can't handle them just yet, only three years into her pro wrestling career. So when she stumbles, she will watch as Banks and company push her aside.

It will be time then to retrace her steps, continue her development at NXT and return to the limelight when she's more prepared to thrive there.

For advice on how to handle that journey, she can turn to her tag team partner. Emma followed a sputtering run on the main roster with a rejuvenating return to NXT, a path Brooke is destined to follow.