Last week, WWF.COM reported an update on World Wrestling Federation Commissioner Shawn Michaels’ condition. As everybody knows, Michaels was brutalized at the hands of Team Corporate two weeks ago. The resultant damage reaggravated the trauma in his lower back, and we learned that he would have to undergo surgery to repair damaged disks.
This past Tuesday, as was reported in the San Antonio Express News, Michaels underwent back fusion surgery to mend the fourth and fifth vertebrae in his back.
Michaels’ surgeon, Dr. Pablo Vasquez, told the Express that the process was "difficult." He also said that the surgery overextended the projected timeframe allotted for normal back fusion. "It took a lot longer than we expected, but he’s doing very well." WWF.COM later learned that his back was a lot worse than originally thought.
On Wednesday morning at approximately 10:30 ET, a high-ranking Federation official spoke to Shawn's mother by phone about his condition. According to her, he "had a very bad night...he was vomiting and not sleeping." HBK is expected to be released sometime over the weekend, although WWF.COM couldn’t confirm the actual day.
Michaels, who joined the Federation in 1987 as a member of the Rockers, was one of the most respected superstars in Federation history. A "Grand Slam Champion," Michaels has done it all in his 12-year Federation career. He’s beaten some of the most-recognized superstars of all time, including Bret "Hit Man" Hart and Kevin Nash.
Vasquez reportedly told the superstar that should he return to the ring, he would be subjected to perilous danger, the results of which could deteriorate his condition. It is unknown whether or not Michaels will heed the doctor’s advice.
Any return to the ring would, "put too much pressure on his remaining disks," Vasquez said.
If and when Michaels returns to television depends on how fast he can recover. Injuries of this magnitude typically require 8-16 weeks of rest, and restrictive travel. It is all for the better. When Michaels finally returns to RAW, you can rest assured he will entertain the world more than he ever has, probably more than he ever did as an athlete. wwf.com will try to talk to Shawn and get his words on his future with the Federation.