Carmella Discusses Eventual WWE Return

Former SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella hasn’t been on WWE television in over a year after taking time off due to pregnancy, and although she’s wanted to return to the ring for several months, a non-wrestling injury is currently keeping her out of action. Carmella is suffering from two herniated discs in her back that are correlated to her foot, leaving it not functioning properly at the moment. Speaking on “The Nikki and Brie Show,” Carmella labelled this injury as Drop Foot, a condition that can be developed when trying to push the baby out. 

Appearing on “Insight,” the former Ms. Money in the Bank revealed that she’s struggling to remain active, and couldn’t provide an update on when she’ll return to the ring, but is trying to focus on being a mother while figuring out a timeline to come back. “I would love to return. I mean, obviously, I’m so immersed in this motherhood world right now … I haven’t been able to do anything that will get me back to the ring quite yet. Hopefully, eventually, I’ll get there. But right now I’m just kind of working, I’m going to be in physical therapy and things like that, too. I mean, I’ve been wrestling for 11 years, I’ve never been injured knock on wood. And now here I have a baby and I’m going to physical therapy so I don’t know how that works out. But here we go.”

Carmella also mentioned how she was unaware that an injury of this severity could be sustained during labor, and hopes to avoid further nerve damage in the future. 

WWE Star Shoots On Return; Talks Getting Injured Giving Birth!

Carmella has told Nikki and Brie Bella that she’s itching for a return to WWE TV sooner rather than later. Sadly, ‘Mella has been suffering through some health issues as a result of her pregnancy.

The WWE star gave birth to a baby boy on 8 November 2023. Both she and husband Corey Graves obviously gushed with pride on social media at the time, but something else was going on: Carmella herniated discs in her back when pushing the baby out, and that “pushed on this nerve that is connected to [her] right foot”.

As a result, ‘Mella suffers from drop foot and has trouble lifting one of her feet off the ground properly. In her own words, she’s been “literally limping around everywhere” at home. A WWE comeback certainly isn’t out of the question though – it’s a case of when, not if.

Carmella is keen to return and prove to herself that she can still wrestle at a top level post-pregnancy.

Stay tuned for more info on her injuries and possible return when it breaks. Fingers crossed Carmella is able to heal up and overcome her issues ASAP!

Vasilevskiy out 2 months after back surgery

The Tampa Bay Lightning will begin the 2023-24 campaign without their workhorse goaltender, as Andrei Vasilevskiy will miss approximately two months after undergoing back surgery on Thursday, the team announced.

He underwent a microdiscectomy to address a lumbar disc herniation. The timeline means he’ll likely miss the first 20 games of the regular season.

Head coach Jon Cooper initially described Vasilevskiy’s injury as day-to-day and didn’t view the ailment as a long-term issue.

Vasilevskiy is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, the 2021 Conn Smythe Trophy winner, and the 2019 Vezina Trophy recipient. He led the league in wins in five of the last six seasons. The 29-year-old posted a .915 save percentage and a 2.65 goals-against average in 60 games last season.

Since becoming the Lightning’s full-time No. 1 goalie in 2017-18, Vasilevskiy has appeared in 433 regular season and playoff games – 30 more than the netminder with the next most.

Jonas Johansson, 28, is the Lightning’s backup goalie. The journeyman owns an .887 save percentage in 35 career NHL games. He was stellar with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles last season, posting a .920 save percentage in 26 appearances.

Hugo Alnefelt, 22, and Matt Tomkins, 29, are the only other goalies under contract with the Lightning, but they have just one game of NHL experience combined. It’s possible the Lightning will look outside the organization to add a goalie to pair with Johansson in Vasilevskiy’s absence.

Eichel’s camp set to present final case for disc replacement

Jack Eichel‘s representation is making one final case this week to convince the Buffalo Sabres to permit their former captain to get disc replacement surgery on his neck, sources told ESPN’s Emily Kaplan.

Eichel has visited various doctors in recent weeks, collecting opinions that support his preferred method of repairing a herniated disc, Kaplan adds. The Sabres want Eichel to undergo fusion surgery, and the disagreement has been the main point of contention in the falling out between the two sides.

A disc replacement has never been performed on an NHL player but would have a faster recovery timeline. Under the league’s collective bargaining agreement, teams have the final say on how to address injuries.

As many as five teams were interested in acquiring Eichel as of last week, but the Sabres remain firm on their asking price, according to Kaplan. Buffalo reportedly isn’t willing to retain any of Eichel’s $10-million salary in a trade.

The Sabres drafted Eichel second overall in 2015. He’s notched 355 points in 375 games with the club.

Eichel, Sabres nearing resolution on treatment for neck injury

The Buffalo Sabres and captain Jack Eichel are heading toward a resolution over how to treat the star’s herniated disc in his neck, his agent, Peter Fish, told The Associated Press’ Joe Yerdon on Thursday.

Eichel told reporters in May that he was upset with how the Sabres were handling his injury, saying there was a “disconnect” between the parties. He implied he wanted to have surgery to repair the injury but the club forced him to try to rehab it without undergoing the procedure.

General manager Kevyn Adams insisted the team’s position remains the same, and he had a lengthy conversation with Eichel and his agent recently.

“Our stance hasn’t changed and where we’re at. It’s in the hands of the medical experts,” Adams said, according to Yerdon. “That’s what I said previously and it’s where we’re at right now. That’s the best I can give you.”

Eichel missed the final two months of the campaign due to the injury. His future with the Sabres remains unknown, with a number of teams reportedly calling Buffalo about him. He has five years remaining on his $80-million deal, with a no-movement clause that doesn’t kick in until next season.

Vikings’ Hunter undergoing season-ending surgery on herniated disc

Minnesota Vikings pass-rusher Danielle Hunter will undergo surgery to clean up a herniated disc, knocking him out for the remainder of the season, sources tell NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Hunter didn’t suit up this season after being placed on the injured reserve in September. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer alluded to the veteran receiving a second opinion earlier in October.

That second opinion resulted in the 25-year-old getting a recommendation to sit out the year, according to Chris Tomasson of St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Hunter has been one of the NFC’s top pass-rushers over the last few seasons, recording 29 sacks since 2018. He’s also notched 67 tackles for a loss since entering the NFL in 2015.

Minnesota may also be facing a major decision with Hunter in the offseason, as Rapoport hints the talented defensive end could be seeking a new deal that will make him the NFL’s highest-paid defender, adding that a trade is possible. Hunter signed a five-year, $72-million extension in 2018 with an average annual salary of $14.4 million.

The Vikings already dealt one pass-rusher, sending Yannick Ngakoue to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday.

The Vikings are 1-5 and last in the NFC North.

Law firm: Parsons suffered torn labrum, disc herniation in car crash

More details have emerged about last week’s car crash involving Atlanta Hawks forward Chandler Parsons, bringing the severity of the incident – and Parsons’ injuries – into greater focus.

Parsons, who was traveling home from practice when he was involved in a three-car collision on Jan. 15, suffered “multiple severe and permanent injuries including a traumatic brain injury, disc herniation, and a torn labrum,” according to a statement from law firm Morgan & Morgan obtained by Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes.

Parsons’ attorneys, John Morgan and Nick Panagakis, said the injuries he sustained in the collision – caused by a man who was later arrested for drunk driving – have “potentially (ended) Mr. Parsons’ career as a professional athlete.”

The Hawks initially announced Parsons had been diagnosed with a concussion and whiplash, without specifically mentioning the disc herniation or torn labrum.

The veteran floor-spacer is in the final season of his current contract – a four-year, $94.4-million pact he signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2016. The Grizzlies traded him to the Hawks in July in what was effectively a salary dump.

Parsons has missed significant time throughout his playing career due to basketball-related injuries. He appeared in just five games for the Hawks this season, averaging 2.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in just under 11 minutes per appearance.

The 31-year-old established himself as a strong supporting contributor on winning basketball teams during a four-season span split between the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks. From 2012-16, he averaged 15.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and one steal per night while shooting 38.5% from beyond the 3-point arc.

Jerry Lynn Reveals He Needs Surgery

As previously reported, ECW Original and current AEWtrainer Jerry Lynn had to pull out of Starrcast IV over the weekend. 

This evening Lynn gave an update on his health. He revealed on Twitter that he will be having surgery for a bulging disc. The surgery date is November 29. 

Jerry Lynn tweeted, “Went over the MRI with the doctor today. Getting surgery for a bulging disc on Nov 29th. Good news is 3 to 4 week recovery!”

Broncos place Flacco on IR

Denver Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury, ending his season after eight starts, head coach Vic Fangio announced Friday.

Flacco was initially expected to miss five-to-six weeks with a herniated disc, which isn’t considered career-threatening and may not require surgery.

“At best, it was six weeks where he could do nothing. When I say nothing, absolutely nothing. So he would need probably two weeks to get back. And (it’s a) good chance it would be eight of doing nothing and then another week or two to get ready. So you guys can do the math,” Fangio said.

Acquired in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens last offseason, Flacco threw for 1,822 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions before landing on the reserve list.

With a base salary north of $20 million in 2020, there is no guarantee Flacco will be back with the Broncos next season. The club will be on the hook for a $13.6-million cap hit if it releases him, according to Over The Cap.

Denver is set to give Brandon Allen his first career start at quarterback in Week 9 against the Cleveland Browns, but could turn to second-round pick Drew Lock down the stretch. Lock has spent the first half of the campaign on injured reserve with a thumb injury.

Brett Rypien was promoted from the practice squad.

Report: J.J. Watt undergoes back surgery, could miss start of season

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt has undergone back surgery for a herniated disc and will miss at least eight weeks, a source told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Under that timeline, Watt would miss the Texans’ season opener against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 11. He’ll begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list.

A source told NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo that his recovery could take up to 10 weeks.

The 27-year-old has never missed a regular-season game, although he didn’t play in the 2012 preseason due to an elbow injury.

He underwent sports hernia surgery in February, but returned to practice in early June.

The two-time defending NFL Defensive Player of the Year had a league-leading 17.5 sacks last season.