Brooklyn Brawler Gets The Dr.Jho Fix

[Guest BoboBrazil]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – May 18, 2003 – Steve Lombardi, aka the Brooklyn Brawler, returned to work today after missing last week so he could have neck surgery.

 

The longtime WWE competitor, who helps produce television interviews for the company these days, had developed bone spurs in his spine after 20 years in the ring. Off and on for the last 10 years, he’s been dealing with a weakening left biceps and pain throughout his left arm due to a pinched nerve.

 

“But I’m old-school, so I ignored it,” he said. “I wrestled through it the whole time.”

 

Ever since Dr. Hae-Dong Jho performed surgery on Kurt Angle, the Olympic gold medalist has been something of a human billboard for the Pittsburgh-based neurosurgeon.

 

Lombardi knew he’d be a perfect candidate for Dr. Jho’s minimally invasive procedure.

 

“Kurt was 15 days out of his surgery when I had mine,” Lombardi said “I saw that he was doing well. Plus, my condition is less serious than Kurt’s.”

 

The veteran had the operation on May 9, took one day to rest, and was back to lifting heavy weights a day later – and he’s worked out in the gym every day since.

 

He missed last week’s WWE television tapings – “because the doctor told me to, not because I wanted to,” he said – and his back this week, feeling 100 percent, and with only a fading one-inch scar on his neck as evidence of the surgery.

 

Even before Angle discovered Dr. Jho, Lombardi decided he’d go get an MRI exam.

 

“I just said, ‘Let me just finally find out what the hell’s wrong with my neck,’” he said.

 

The MRI revealed that he had bone spurs in his C6 vertebra area, which were causing the pinched nerve. The doctor who first examined Lombardi’s MRI encouraged him to have a surgical procedure that would force him to give up his in-ring career for good. Lombardi, whose wrestling schedule these days is limited to the occasional match, and working out with younger competitors in the ring before WWE events, seriously considered the surgery because he would finally be pain free.

 

Then Angle found Dr. Jho. Now, if Lombardi chooses, he will be able to get back in the ring in two months. And most importantly, instead of waiting several months to be pain free, he already feels great. Backstage today, he was telling people that he felt good enough to wrestle right now.

 

In all probability, Lombardi will not be the last WWE Superstar to have surgery from Dr. Jho. Tazz, whose neck problems have been well documented in his “Tales from the Hook” column in WWE Magazine, and his appearances on Byte This!, is said to be considering the option. But it’s unclear if Tazz would be a candidate because his problems are more associated with swelling in the spine.

 

Roddy Piper, whose right thumb and index finger are constantly numb, and who lacks flexibility in his neck, may also visit the surgeon. He was talking to Lombardi today about the procedure.

 

 

 

wwe.com

[Guest JRE]

So....recreational surgery? Is this the new alternative to painkillers? A quick-fix surgery with a 3 month vacation. Sounds nice...

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

but if Tazz goes, who will commentate on Smackdown?

 

he's too vital to be healed!

 

so, will the Brawler get a superpush on his return?

[Guest LatinoHeat]

When do the desire videos start?

[Guest El Satanico]

Didn't Brawler get a screwy victory over HHH a few years ago?

 

We now know who HHH will feud with after Goldberg...

[Guest art_vandelay]

Has Dr. Lloyd Youngblood ever commented on Dr. Jho's new procedure? I'm guessing he doesn't approve.

 

BTW, does anyone have a bio on Dr. Jho? When Kurt comes to town this Saturday, I'm planning to tell him that I'm Dr. Jho's nephew, so some background info would be nice.

[Guest EternallyLazy]

Didn't Brawler get a screwy victory over HHH a few years ago?

 

We now know who HHH will feud with after Goldberg...

Yeah, it was in a tag match I believe... and it shocked the fuck out of me, because in all my years as a wrestling fan, I had never seen the guy win. They played off of that, and HHH ended up beating the hell out of him right afterward to get his heat back

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

Thank god this Jho guy showed up. Can you imagine a whole year without Brooklyn Brawler?

[Invictus 0]

Of course Youngblood wouldn't approve, Dr. Jho is taking money right out of his pocket. As for the Brooklyn Brawler, good for him. I'm glad to hear he is now pain free.