Jim Ross isn’t sugarcoating what he’s about to go through. One day before brain surgery, the WWE Hall of Famer revealed doctors will drill a hole in his skull and insert a tube running to his stomach to help drain excess fluid from his brain.
Ross took to Twitter on August 11 to thank fans for the flood of support he’s received ahead of the procedure, which is scheduled for Wednesday, August 12. JR then gave fans a much clearer picture of what doctors are actually going to do.
“Thanks for the outpouring of support regarding my upcoming brain surgery. A hole will be drilled in my skull and a small tube will be inserted into my stomach to better manage/drain excess brain fluid. I’m optimistic. Thanks to all.”
Ross first revealed the upcoming surgery during the August 7 edition of Grilling JR, explaining that doctors would be placing a shunt in his brain. At the time, he admitted he wasn’t exactly looking forward to brain surgery, but was ready to get it behind him.
“I’m good, man. I got a big week coming up. My surgery is Wednesday in Norman, so I don’t want to say I’m looking forward to it, but I guess I really am, to get to that point and get it over with. I have never had brain surgery before. So they’re going to put in what they call a shunt.”
One thing that surprised JR was how quickly doctors expect him to leave the hospital.
“So I’m getting a shunt put in my brain, and they said I’m only going to be in the hospital today. So that surprised me and made me happy, but still, I would have guessed longer.”
Now fans know considerably more about what Wednesday will bring. A hole drilled into his skull, a tube inserted to help drain the excess fluid—and, if everything goes according to plan, a remarkably short hospital stay afterwards.
It’s a serious day ahead for Jim Ross, but JR is going into it the same way wrestling fans have watched him approach plenty of battles over the years: fully aware of what’s waiting for him and still choosing optimism.
We wish Jim Ross the very best with his surgery and recovery.
