Originally published on ProWrestlingSheet.

Former Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett's noticeable absence from TV the past 2 days has been due to a nerve injury in his neck ... but Pro Wrestling Sheet has learned he won't be out long.

For those who missed it, King Barrett was nowhere to be found when the League of Nations interfered in Sunday's TLC main event -- and he was absent from RAW as well.

Sources close to Barrett tell us he received a bad stinger while wrestling a few weeks back and now he's taking time to let it heal. However, we're told it's not serious and he should return soon.

No word on how the injury occurred, or who he was wrestling.