On January 3, 2015, both faced each other in an Indian Strap Match, which González won. The following day he filled a vacant and defeated Colón to win the WWC Universal Championship. On January 17, 2015, the title was held up due to the circunstances and the champion was to be determined in a three-way cagematch the following week. Colón won the contest, but González suffered a legitimate injury and was removed from the arena in an ambulance. Fractures in the L5 and S1 vertebrae affected his movement, leading to surgery weeks later. While he recovered, his 17-year-old son Rey debuted in WWC as El Hijo de Ray González while he played the passive role of counselor. Despite mainly appearing in backstage segments emphasizing his recovery, González made a brief return to the ring by joining his son against Colón and a masked underling as part of the Summer Madness card. However, after defeating his long-time rival in singles, González resumed his physical therapies.