J.R. Suffers Third Bell's Palsy Attack

Copied from the World Wrestling Entertainment Website.

SmackDown announcer and WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross is down, but he’s far from out, despite reporting on his blog on jrsbarbq.com Tuesday that he has suffered his third attack from Bell’s palsy.

Bell’s palsy - named for Scottish surgeon Sir Charles Bell, who studied the nerve and its innervation of the facial muscles 200 years ago - is a paralysis or weakness that affects the muscles on one side of the face, often caused by trauma to the seventh cranial nerve. In most cases, the effects are not permanent.

Ross’ first encounter with the condition took place in late January 1994. His second Bell’s palsy attack occurred in late 1998, days after suffering the loss of his mother.

In the first of two blogs he posted Tuesday, Ross reported that he suffered his third Bell’s palsy attack Monday night, during a flight from Oklahoma City to Atlanta. “I was able to reach WWE doctors who were in Jacksonville for Raw,” he wrote, “and they were able to call in the medicines I needed to get started on to slow down the paralysis. Now we just wait and see how the meds work, and Mother Nature takes her course.”

Ross added that he had still intended to handle his SmackDown announcing duties this week, as well as be a part of WWE Bragging Rights this Sunday in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, an hour following his initial statement, the WWE Hall of Famer followed up with a second blog, with the news that his plans had suddenly changed.

“Not the news I wanted to share,” he reported. ”It has been decided that I should not risk further issues by working [SmackDown], and I am in the process of arranging a flight back to [Oklahoma City] so I can see a neurologist on Wednesday.”

Though understandably disappointed, “Good Ol’ J.R.” took the time to thank everyone who was “tremendously supportive of my situation,” and wanted to emphasize one other point to the WWE Universe: “Never count me out of the game, as this isn't the first mountain that I have had to climb. … Better days are on the horizon.”

CM Punk's Inevitable Heel Change

Punk’s Straight-Edge preaching did not cease this week – but found new ways to irritate the Charismatic Enigma. Jeff Hardy does not hide his past, but openly admits being suspended twice, and despite his past, he’s been clean for over a year.

Yet, that’s not enough for Punk, since he self-righteously states that alcohol has never touched his lips, or gotten mixed up with drugs. Punk, noticing the kids in the arena wearing Hardy t-shirts and arm sleeves, tells Jeff that he should learn to be perfect because the kids look up to him as a hero; and if he doesn’t, he’ll end up a statistic. Jeff vehemently knocked Punk out of the ring – J.R. jokingly commented, “Punk’s the first guy to get knocked down, that’s a statistic.” Jeff Hardy has always been his own man, and he, like everyone else, makes mistakes – but to be considered a possible drug overdosed statistic is dehumanizing.

Punk contested that night against John Morrison in another non-title match – suffering the same result. Morrison may have lost to Dolph Ziggler last week, but it’s no fluke that his two consecutive wins over the Straight Edge should garner him a future World Heavyweight Title match against the winner of Night of Champions. Punk failed to adhere to his own preaching of sportsmanship – refusing to shake Morrison’s outstretched hand.

 But instead of calling it a night, Punk joined J.R. and Grishman for Jeff’s Tag Team Match. As the match progressed – Jeff threw Jericho into Punk’s vicinity. The two set off death stares to one another – and as Jeff turned his back Punk threw Jericho, causing Jeff to collapse chest-first into the side of the ring apron. Mysterio couldn’t believe Punk’s actions, since, isn’t Punk supposed to be one of the good guys? Through the distraction – Ziggler attacked Mysterio with his neckbreaker. Punk is far from being good, because anger consumes him. Even Jericho laughed because he knows that Punk is turning heel.


Jericho turned heel after realizing that the fans pandered to the hypocritical lies of Shawn Michaels; and he knows that Punk will turn as well, so long as the fans continue to cheer and accept Jeff Hardy and his past.