The future for World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler is looking murky after he sustained a concussion this week.
WWE.com confirmed earlier this week that Ziggler, whose real name is Nick Nameth, sustained a concussion during the recent taping of Friday Night Smackdown while interfering in a match on behalf of his bodyguard Big E Langston. According to Wrestlezone.com, it looks as though the WWE is taking further precautions with Ziggler, pulling the world champion off of all WWE live events this weekend as he undergoes medical tests.
With Extreme Rules less than a week away, questions now remain around the highly anticipated triple threat ladder match for the World Heavyweight Championship between Ziggler, Alberto Del Rio and Jack Swagger. If Ziggler is unable to participate, it could lead to Del Rio and Swagger going one-on-one in a singles ladder match, but whether it would be for the title or for a No.1 contender spot would be the question. If Ziggler's concussion is deemed serious enough, it could potentially lead to his being stripped of the title in the middle of the biggest push of his career to date, but the possibility remains that the writers could come up with an excuse for Ziggler to be inactive as he recovers.
In other news, Attitude Era vet and former world champion Christian has been cleared to return, according to Wrestling Inc.com, but he's currently waiting for WWE creative to come up with a storyline that would help bring him back into the fold. A former two-time World Heavyweight Champion, Christian has been on the sidelines since the middle of last year due to an aggravated shoulder injury. Reports expect Christian to return to action shortly after Sin Cara makes his return next week.
The WWE has announced that the May 27 edition of Raw will be "Bret Hart Appreciation Night." As that week's Raw will be taped in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the hometown of arguably Canada's most beloved male wrestler, it seems like a fitting tribute to the WWE Hall of Famer. However, it should be noted that CM Punk had been previously advertised for the event. While having Punk crash the festivities would be an instant way to get him back in the fold of storylines, Punk has been pulled from the ads featuring him at the event as he continues to take time off due to injuries and burnout.
And in other news, former WWE Creative writer Court Bauer did not have kind reviews about the recent return of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to WWE. In an interview with Between the Ropes.com, Bauer said that their will be regrets about the Rock's latest run in WWE, which began on-and-off in February 2011 and ended at WrestleMania 29 against John Cena for the WWE title.
"I think everyone's going to look back and have a lot of regrets about this partnership," Bauer said. "I don't think John Cena is anymore over for quote unquote being endorsed by The Rock at all. I don't think the creative and the booking was at any point really great with The Rock. From day one in 2011 to the last few weeks going into WrestleMania, there was no sparkling great moment ever."