Robert Roode is recovering from surgery (Picture: WWE)
WWE superstar Robert Roode has undergone C5-C6 neck fusion surgery.
The former NXT Champion – also known as Bobby Roode – hasn’t been seen on TV since April 1, while his last match in front of a live crowd was a loss to Omos at the end of June.
Back in September, he visited Southlake Orthopaedics in Birmingham, Alabama for treatment, and now he’s shared scans of his neck and photos in a neck brace following the operation.
He wrote on Instagram: ‘Big thank you to Dr Andy Cordover and his amazing staff at @andrews_sports_medicine and St Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham Alabama. C5/6 fusion is complete. Now the work begins.
‘Recovery and Rehabilitation. Looking forward to the challenge 💪 Thanks @deneane__17 😘❤️ You’re the best.’
Roode also shared a photo with his wife Deneane, and appeared to be in great spirits.
Roode is recovering after surgery (Picture: WWE)
The wrestler has been out of action for months (Picture: WWE)
Fans and various WWE superstars responded with well wishes and messages of support, including SmackDown veteran Natalya.
‘You’re in amazing hands,’ she wrote, while Omos and Dolph Ziggler both replied with muscle flexing emojis, and new Raw star Dexter Lumis shared a thumbs up.
Shinsuke Nakamura added: ‘Good luck Bobby!!!’
His last TV appearance came as part of the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal on the April 1 WrestleMania SmackDown special, before getting back on the road from May 21 through to June 25, with all but one of the eight matches in that time coming against Veer Mahaan.
He enjoyed a long spell teaming with Dolph Ziggler as the Dirty Dawgs before Ziggler started working with Bron Breakker in NXT, and more recently Austin Theory on Raw.
Reflecting on the changes, Ziggler previously told the In The Kliq podcast: ‘It’s nice to mix it up because for the longest time I was a singles competitor by myself, 10 straight years doing what I do, and I got to tag with big Bob, Robert Roode, who’s awesome.
‘Then he and I just got on the same page so much that you get so used to it that you’re in this cycle of like, “Okay, we’re gonna have this tag match. We’re gonna make this work and do something awesome”, and then it’s boom, go to NXT, fight for the title and see what the hell happens, and you go, alright, let’s mix it up again.’
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The Glorious One is recovering.