Shawn Michaels, World Wrestling Federation champion and superstar, was discharged from a local hospital Thursday afternoon, just two days after undergoing back surgery.
Dr. Pablo Vazquez said the wrestler had been expected to stay at the Methodist Ambulatory Hospital, where the surgery was performed Tuesday, until Saturday.
"He's in such good shape and so strong and just doing a lot better that it was possible for him to leave earlier," said Vazquez, one of two physicians who operated on Michaels.
The 33-year-old wrestler, a native of San Antonio, will need plenty of bed rest, Vazquez said.
"He'll need a combination of walking and bed rest for months," the physician added, "and no wrestling. His life would be in jeopardy if he returned to the ring."
A week before he went into the hospital, Michaels said he was ready to retire after 14 years of a bruising wrestling career.
Michaels, who played football for the Randolph Ro-Hawks, said he will continue to work for the WWF as commissioner and spokesman.
Toni Castillo, Vazquez's assistant, said Michaels was doing fine late Thursday afternoon.
Get-well cards can be sent to Michaels in care of the WWF/Titan Sports, 1241 East Main, P.O. Box 3857, Stamford, Conn. 06902