William Regal may never be able to wrestle again.

[Guest Bling-Bling Buchanan]

http://www.wwe.com/news/headlines/1218018

 

BOSTON – April 28, 2003 – William Regal may never be able to wrestle again. He’s hopeful that he can return in a few months, but he doesn’t know.

 

Regal is currently taking seven to nine pills a day, including blood-thinner medication. He does not know how long he will need to take the medicine, but there’s no way he can step back into the ring until doctors tell him he can stop. The blood thinners create bruising from just the slightest physical contact; taking a “bump” in the ring could cause severe internal bleeding.

 

But besides taking all the drugs and making frequent trips to the bathroom – he’s also taking water tablets – Regal says he’s feeling great. He stopped by RAW today after attending Backlash last night.

 

“I just wanted to come start being around the show and the feel of everything,” he said. “Plus, I think my wife wanted to get me out of the house.

 

“I’m hoping in the next few weeks I can start getting back on television here” in a non-wrestling role.

 

Regal has been battling health problems since the RAW crew’s tour of India in November. Many of the Superstars on that tour fell ill during or afterward, and Regal was no exception.

 

“I’ve never felt right since I got back from India,” he said.

 

He had stomach-flu like symptoms for 20 straight hours during the tour. A lifelong insomniac, his sleeping problems only intensified after the tour, once he returned to the U.S.

 

Then, two weeks before the February pay-per-view, he caught a viral infection. Around that time, he noticed that his heart was constantly beating fast.

 

“I just thought it was because I had been sick,” he said.

 

Then his body began to swell. The day of February’s No Way Out in Montreal, he was 15 pounds heavier than his normal weight. He wrestled that night and got a concussion, although he says that was unrelated to all his other problems. The No Way Out match would turn out to be his last.

 

The next day, at RAW in Toronto, he did not wrestle due to the concussion, instead accompanying Lance Storm to the ring. But he was scheduled to return to action at the following weekend’s non-televised events.

 

By that Thursday, however, he had gained 25 pounds. That’s when he was taken off the road entirely.

 

“I knew there was something desperately wrong with me, I just didn’t know what,” he said. “I didn’t want to risk it.”

 

He spent three weeks going from one hospital to the next, his problems undiagnosed. His weight ballooned to 40 pounds above normal.

 

Finally, he found St. Joseph’s hospital in Atlanta. They told him that the right side of his heart – the side the pumps blood throughout the body -- was not functioning, which is why his heart was beating so fast. It caused a buildup of fluid in his system, creating too much fluid for his liver to process. It was that buildup of fluid that resulted in his weight gain.

 

Doctors at St. Joseph’s actually stopped his heart with an electric shock. When his heart started beating again, the right side was working. Once his heart was functional, his liver could process the fluid, and his excess weight came off.

 

The reason the right side of his heart stopped working is still a mystery. Doctors told him he could have been born with heart problems. Regal also told them about his personal abuse history and the fact that he’s an insomniac.

 

“The doctor said, ‘I think it’s probably a little bit of everything,’” Regal said. “But he said he couldn’t give me an answer so he wasn’t going to try.

 

“The viral infection, I think, was the final straw that kicked it off.”

 

Because of the fluid buildup in his system, he was at serious risk of a blood clot developing, so he was immediately put on blood thinners. Originally he was taking 15 pills a day; by now his pill intake has been cut in half. But he has to take the pills indefinitely. Every week he has blood drawn to see if the thinners are working, and every month he sees the doctor, waiting for the word to stop taking the pills.

 

Will the doctor ever let him?

 

“I hope so,” Regal said. “And if he doesn’t, he doesn’t. What can I do? I should have died 100 times between 1995 and 1998. I abused myself to levels most people cannot comprehend.

 

“Every day’s a bonus from now on. Health’s the most important thing in the world. People don’t realize that until they lose it.”

 

He added, “I personally think I can get over (my problems) quicker than anybody thinks.”

 

But he doesn’t know. His doctor could clear him this week, next month, in six months, or never.

 

Regal was actually taken off the road while he was World Tag Team Champion along with Storm. The duo was scheduled to defend their titles at WrestleMania XIX, but obviously plans had to change. Storm ended up wrestling on the live HEAT prior to ‘Mania.

 

“I felt bad about him missing a payday,” Regal said, referring to Storm. “(WrestleMania) is one of the biggest paydays of the year. He has a family to support, same as I do.”

 

While he can’t wrestle, he has been able to get back in the gym. In addition to all the liquid weight, he’s also taken off an additional 10 pounds.

 

And there’s more good news. He recently visited a sleep clinic to find out why he’s had chronic insomnia. He was diagnosed with sleep apnea, a disorder in which you literally stop breathing during sleep. For as long as he could remember, he could sleep no more than 90 minutes straight before waking abruptly.

 

Now, when he goes to bed he hooks himself up to a machine that constantly pumps oxygen into his nose. He still has a little trouble falling asleep at night – after all, he’s spent the last 20 to 30 years wrestling, and going to bed around 3 a.m. But once he gets to sleep, he stays asleep.

 

“That’s a big deal for me,” he said.

[Guest Choken One]

KEEP THIS AWAY FROM BARRON

[Guest Blue Bacchus]

That's sad. He's one of the better Heel workers to date. And there's only one match of his I didn't like and that was against Raven. Hopefully he'll have a full recovery and we'll see the Power of the Punch soon.

[Guest AndrewTS]

Geeeez...poor Regal.

[Guest Bling-Bling Buchanan]

I think he should retire for his health's sake. It's just not worth the risk.

[Guest tpww7]

Barron must be sitting in the corner right now..

[cawthon777 0]

 

...I laughed my ass off when he called Sting "sunshine" in 96.

[Guest Army Eye]

Regal was actually taken off the road while he was World Tag Team Champion along with Storm. The duo was scheduled to defend their titles at WrestleMania XIX, but obviously plans had to change. Storm ended up wrestling on the live HEAT prior to ‘Mania.

Interesting. The implication is that if Regal was able to go, that match would have been on the main Wrestlemania card. I didn't realize that.

[Guest DerangedHermit]

I believe he should retire from in ring action, but stay around as an authority figure (he was great as commish in 2001-02), manager or commentator. If he gets good enough to go, do a few matches

[rising up out of the back seat-nuh 0]

Good, get the guy working as a non-wrestler. He can do way more with his promo's than he ever could in the ring.

[Guest Blue Bacchus]

And that's why RVD wasn't apart of 'Mania. Blame Regal Just Kidding.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

Yep. The Storm/Regal Vs Kane/RVD match is listed on the XIX program. Appearantly there wasn't enough time to change.

[Guest ShooterJay]

That's so tragic and scary- amazing how close we came to losing one of wrestlings real good guys.

 

Hopefully he stays healthy and does what his doctor says.

[Guest SP-1]

I'm sorry to see this. While I'm by no means a Regal "mark" he doesn't cause me to change the channel. And he is a good worker. I hope he finds himself in good health and able to return soon.

[Guest Fook_Hing_Ho]

Somewhere, Bob Barron is weeping...

 

As for me, I never hated Regal like some people here did, but he was never my favourite. I did mark for him calling people "sunshine" though.

[Guest bob_barron]

I'm actually not that upset as everyone expected me to be.

 

Regal has had a terrific career. He's wrestled on some of the biggest shows of all time and has held numerous titles and has many great matches.

 

It seems like Regal is at peace with his career ending and if he's not upset about it- then why should I be? He got a second chance with wrestling and got the most out of it and for that I'm most grateful.

 

If he chooses to retire- then he had a great career doing what he loved best and he got to entertain millions the world over.

 

If he can come back- That'd be terrific. But I hope he only does it if he knows whats best for himself and his career.

 

It's kind of strange that as of now- I saw Regal's last ever WWE apperance live. If it was his last match I'm going to miss seeing him wrestle but I will always have the memories and the tapes of one of my all time favourites.

 

If this is truly it-

 

Thanks Darren

Edited April 29, 2003 by bob_barron

[Guest AndrewTS]

Well, glad to hear it Bob. It isn't like he had a career cut short because he's had a long and prosperous one. And while he's got health problems--ones not directly related to wrestling--he can retirely relatively healthy.

 

As opposed to guys who retired because of crippling injuries or have to take painkillers so long they get addicted.

 

I wasn't a huge fan of his ringwork, but dug his character. He'd make a good commentator, though, I believe.

[Guest Lightning Flik]

Sorry to hear he won't be wrestling. Never like that kinda stuff to happen to anyone.

 

Though, I agree with the fact that he'd make a great heel commentator.

[Invictus 0]

It is terrible news, I never knew he was in such bad shape. I wish him well and hope he does what's best for himself and his family.

 

I think he would be excellent as a commentator if he would want to go into that role. He would be an entertaing color man.

[Mecha Mummy 0]

They should put Regal on Heat commentary duty if he wants to do it. He would be great there,I bet.

 

I marked for Regal calling people sunshine, miserable little toe-rags, and silly pillocks.

[Guest bob_barron]

Well, glad to hear it Bob. It isn't like he had a career cut short because he's had a long and prosperous one. And while he's got health problems--ones not directly related to wrestling--he can retirely relatively healthy.

 

As opposed to guys who retired because of crippling injuries or have to take painkillers so long they get addicted.

 

 

Yea- I'm glad he isn't going out on a wheelchair and that he still has his health.

Plus- his insomnia is finally cured! It sucks that I may never get to see him wrestle again but Regal now can spend more time with his family and his reptiles.

 

Hopefully like you guys said- they'll put him on HEAT as a commentator. I would watch it every week.

 

I'm just happy Regal did a complete 180 with his life, got 4 more years out of his career because of it and ended up achieving his dreams.

[Guest mach7]

Well, from the sounds of this article he's getting better. It says right there that he's taking 9 pills instead of 15. So, I wouldn't count old Lord Regal out just yet. I'm sure he'll be back in the ring sooner or later.

 

Cheers, Regal!

[Guest Bannable Offense]

Well, from the sounds of this article he's getting better. It says right there that he's taking 9 pills instead of 15. So, I wouldn't count old Lord Regal out just yet. I'm sure he'll be back in the ring sooner or later.

Nine pills and chronic insomnia on top of it still isn't healthy. I'm positive we will see him back in the ring if his heart is in it, but I'm doubtful it will be in an active wrestler role. He had a good wrestling career, and I wouldn't be sad if his circumstances now were to end it.

 

In fact, I'd be much happier knowing that it was something out of his hands ending his career rather than the personal demons with drug abuse that threatened it a few years ago.

[Guest JAxlMorrison]

Seems I will be the first one to see this as anything positive. Oh well, sue me, I will not miss Regal one bit. I hope to not even see him in a non wrestling capacity, he is not entertaining to me and he never has been. But, from what is net lore, he is HHH's little bitch, so I am sure I will be subjected to the main event sleeper he puts on me every time he is on my television screen. I might care if he had accomplished one decent match since coming to the WWE, but he hasn't, and let's not forget his super exciting use of the 1982 cliche brass knuckles. Hey I don't wish the man any personal harm, and I hope he gets back into good health, but as far as him polluting RAW.....good riddance.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

^^^^^^^^^^^ Yeah. The quality of Raw has SO jumped through the roof with Regal gone.

 

 

Well, the WWF is slowly going back through time, so I wouldn't be suprised if Regal winds up in a Lord Alfred Hayes style announce job.

 

After his promo on Hulkamania about the boas and the cartoons and the collectors plate and crap, he deserves a mic at least.

[Guest bob_barron]

Quite disturbing, isn't it? Y'know, people are very passionate about things in their lives - some people are very passionate about religion; others about politics. It grieves me to say that there's an alarming group of people that are passionate about Hulk Hogan. These so-called Hulkamaniacs - they're the lowest form of the low, they're quite pathetic; I mean, why would you worship a man, I mean, who ponces around like a fifty pence tart in these feather boas? It's - it's disgusting. It was bad enough eighteen years ago when Hulk - Hulk Hogan and his Hulkamaniacs were running wild, but now in the year 2002, it's just quite sad. People buy this crap, you know - I mean, look at it. Look. I mean, they hang this on their walls. I mean, look, look, look, look at this, look, look, (puts cap on) ooh look at me, look at me, I'm a - I'm a Hulkamaniac, and I've got my silly little Hulk Hogan cup any my hat and my silly little doll and I look a complete bloody pillock! Why...I just don't understand, it's a travesty, that you people can't respect and follow someone like myself. I wish I could say it was just you pathetic Americans, but it's not - it's a worldwide phenomenon. I mean, you could...I mean, worship someone like me, someone with pride and dignity. Someone who speaks the Queen's English, someone who can finish a sentence without saying 'brother' at the end of it. That really gets on my bloody nerves, that one. Tonight, after I get Hulk Hogan in the ring for the very first time, things are going to change. Hulkamania will be running wild no more. So I'll direct this at you, Hogan, so you can understand it in your simple way. What are you going to see, when the Power of the Punch runs wild on thee? No, I don't think so.

[Guest Bling-Bling Buchanan]

That promo was the greatest. What really put it over the top was that his evil foreigner music playing throughout the whole thing.

[Guest Downhome]

I'll be sad as fuck if he never wrestles again, I like him more than many of you would think. I've been a fan of his, a HUGE fan of his since the moment he debuted in WCW all those years ago, it was the first time I had a chance to see him, and since then, I've been hooked.

 

I've always thought he could have been much, much more, if he was just given the ball to run with. If this is it, then thanks man. However, if there is even a chance for him to return, then I'll welcome him with open arms,heh.

[Guest Mindless_Aggression]

My heart goes out to the guy but his style "clashing" with everyone was getting a bit old. With the translation of style clash of course being that he just wasn't very good anymore.

 

But please, give that man a mic and a manager role and all is well with the world.

[Guest AndrewTS]

That promo was the greatest. What really put it over the top was that his evil foreigner music playing throughout the whole thing.

No...what really made me love it...

 

WAS THE VIDEO PLAYING OF HULK HOGAN'S ROCK N' WRESTLING!! The Hulk Hogan cartoon! I completely cracked up at that. THAT was classic TV. I really wish they'd put that as a bonus on a DVD or something.