“Filthy” Tom Lawlor has shared a difficult update on his health, revealing that he is facing both a hip replacement and spinal surgery. Speaking on today’s episode of Wrestling Observer Live, the former MMA fighter and professional wrestler detailed the severity of the injuries that have put his career in question.
Lawlor, who has been out of action for the past six weeks, explained that he recently had scans done that confirmed the serious nature of his condition.
“Unfortunately, it sounds as if I’m heading towards what I’ve been told I need to have done is have a hip replacement on my left hip and some sort of spinal surgery,” Lawlor stated. “The L5, S1, vertebrae in my back, down at the bottom, I have herniated the disc. There’s no disc there anymore, and the spinal column, that portion is out of place and is pinching a nerve in my back.”
The nerve issue has led to significant physical consequences. “That is why I’ve lost a lot of feeling in my left leg,” he said. “Some size, the leg’s atrophied, and… really, I have a hard time walking now.”
The former NJPW Strong Openweight Champion is now facing an uncertain future and a long road to recovery. “I don’t know how long I’m going to be on the shelf. I don’t know if I’ll ever wrestle again,” he admitted. “You know, it really depends on what the neurosurgeon says. And I’m going to get a few different… opinions from doctors.”
Despite the grim physical diagnosis, Lawlor ended his update on a positive note regarding his mental state. “Physically, I’m doing awful,” he said candidly. “But you know, mentally, emotionally, I’m fine.”
Lawlor has been a staple of the independent wrestling scene for years, competing for promotions like Major League Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit F4WOnline.com with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
