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TODAY IN WRESTLING NEWS:
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USA TODAY update on Stone Cold Steve Austin. who will now be undergoing surgery on January 11 after the surgery was moved up twice from February 17 and then from January 27, has a bone spur in his neck and a spinal disc protrusion in his mid neck region. Austin's doctor for the surgery will be Dr. Henry Bohlman of Cleveland, Ohio. The article adds that Austin's narrowing of the spine, which was caused by all of the bumps that he took as a pro wrestler, now makes the surgery more complicated to perform because his spinal cord has less room than normal to move or expand. Thus, the possibility of his spinal cord being severed (which would make him a quadriplegic) is enhanced. The surgery will include his C-3 and C-4 discs in his neck being removed, along with the bone spur, in order to decompress the spinal cord itself, relieve pressure in the area, and widen the spinal canal of the area in the same process. Bohlman will take a bone graft from Austin's pelvis (hip) and use it to fuse the two (C-3 and C-4) discs together. By April time, Austin should be ready for an exam to determine how much permanent damage has been done to the area. The article also says that he should be ready to live a relatively normal, pain-free life, but it is still unknown how much wrestling he'll be able to do. Austin, according to the Torch, is less than anxious now than ever about returning to the ring and if he can't wrestle again, he is excited about doing outdoor hunting instead. Dave Meltzer adds that the feeling is if he can wrestle, his in-ring return would probably be at the King of the Ring PPV in June, although it wouldn't also be surprising to see him shoot an angle or interview leading to an earlier appearance, most likely in a color commentator capacity at WrestleMania XVI on April 2
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