SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
Jan. 13 UPDATE: John Cena posted an update on his recovery from shoulder surgery that made it sound like this will be a difficult process getting back in the ring.
Cena, who is expected to miss about six months, said the biggest hurdle to overcome is having cartilage removed from his shoulder.
Day 6 post operation. Movement is very good but because a giant chunk of cartilage was missing, this one may take a bit. #nevergiveup
— John Cena (@JohnCena) January 13, 2016
A long road becomes shorter with every step. #nevergiveup #HLR
— John Cena (@JohnCena) January 13, 2016
Jan. 9 UPDATE: More details have emerged on John Cena’s shoulder injury that will sideline him for the first-half of 2016.
Dr. Jeffrey Dugas, who performed the surgery in Birmingham, Ala., says Cena had (a) a tear in his right rotator cuff tendon, (b) a “large piece of loose tissue” inside the shoulder that needed to be removed, and (c) “some deterioration” in the AC joint at the top of the shoulder.
With all of that surgical work required, Dr. Dugas said the “first hurdle is getting the cuts to heal and getting cartilage to form over the defect.”
After the shoulder heals, Cena will begin working on function and range of motion to determine when he can return to action. (Local News Report at AL.com)
Jan. 8 UPDATE: John Cena underwent shoulder surgery Thursday in Birmingham, Alabama.
Cena was joined by another injured WWE star, Cesaro, at the surgery, according to graphic photos released on WWE’s website.
Cena is scheduled to miss about six months recovering from the injury, which would keep him out of WrestleMania.
Thank you @TODAYshow @alroker @WillieGeist @nataliemorales @tamronhall I'll make sure to get better and "butter" u guys r the best! C u soon
— John Cena (@JohnCena) January 8, 2016
ORIGINAL REPORT January 6
In a huge blow to WWE, John Cena announced Wednesday night on Twitter that he is having shoulder surgery. Cena is expected to miss up to 6-9 months, and almost assuredly miss WrestleMania. PWInsider was first to report this news.
Cena, 38, is scheduled for surgery on Thursday to repair the injury.
Cena was held off Monday’s Raw episode kicking off 2016, then made an in-ring promo appearance at Tuesday night’s Smackdown TV taping starting a new era on USA Network.
Rather upside down start to 2016 as tomorrow I will head to Birmingham for shoulder surgery. Life's full of set backs but #nevergiveup
— John Cena (@JohnCena) January 7, 2016
Cena was scheduled to headline this week’s live event tour in U.S. Title matches against Alberto Del Rio. Included was a Sunday evening show in Monroe, La., where the local newspaper just published a preview focusing on Cena.
Cena was also the headliner for WWE’s tour of India next week. Now, Roman Reigns is replacing Cena, according to a news report in India. That will affect WWE’s domestic tour that Reigns was scheduled to headline.
The big picture for WWE is that Cena joins a laundry list of injured top stars, including recent WWE World Hvt. champion Seth Rollins, Randy Orton, Cesaro, and Daniel Bryan, whose WWE status remains in limbo.
Jim Ross, the former Head of Talent Relations who dealt with his share of injury situations in WWE, commented on the latest opportunity for wrestlers to rise up.
If @JohnCena is out of WM32 Texas, it creates amazing opportunities for many. New ideas, bold moves are timely. Who steps up @WWE ?
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) January 7, 2016
NOTE: We’ll be reporting on the ramifications of this from many angles in future posts and VIP Audio Shows tonight and tomorrow’s PWTorch Livecast with Taz joining me live.
Welp…it was a long and lucrative run for WWE, but it now look like the “Cena era” is finally over.
They are now at a point where they HAVE to move forward with someone else to become the new “face of the company” However — I do not believe that they have adequately prepared for this moment.
Not being adequately prepared for these moments are how new areas are born!
We’ll see.
Seth Rollins proved to be a bust, as ratings under his reign fell to 20+ year lows. Reigns has already been mishandled, and remains to be seen whether or not he can be the centerpiece of the promotion.
I’m not so sure the “Cena era” is over. The guy is a freak of nature and don’t be surprised if he comes back earlier than expected!!
As slove23 put it, there’s reason to believe that Cena (and other top-paid stars) has used PEDs like HGH to come back quickly from injuries. At the very least, comparing his physique from now back to his debut in 2002 is quite telling.
One thing is for sure, though: Cena is approaching 40 and is getting older. Even with the best designer PEDs available, there’s going to come a point where he’ll either have to slow down or get derailed again with a major injury.
Gary Sartori Cena is not a “freak of nature” for years there have been allegations that like many big timers he uses human growth hormone or hgh to heal quickly and return sooner but that is obviously a double edged sword