Tag: Marc Mero

Former WWE Intercontinental Champion and wrestling veteran Marc Mero has shared an “incredible” piece of positive news following a recent health scare.

In a lengthy post on social media, Mero opened up about going through a concerning heart health scare related to “enlarged aorta” and “possible surgery.”

“Sharing some incredible news. Six weeks ago I had an echocardiogram as part of my routine follow-up on the heart valve I had replaced in 2016 at the Cleveland Clinic. The valve I received is a bovine valve, and typically they last about 10–15 years before another open-heart surgery is needed. So this is always something I stay on top of.

“During that echo, they thought my aorta looked enlarged and might need immediate attention. That got my attention. Dr. Karim at Gwinnett Northside Hospital wanted a clearer picture, so I had a CT scan three weeks ago,” he further wrote. “If surgery was necessary, they would have replaced the valve at the same time since it’s been almost ten years.“

Opening up on the gravity of the situation, Mero reflected on how the incident was only known by a few close people.

“I kept this pretty quiet. Only Malissa, close family, and a few friends knew. The seriousness of this wasn’t something I took lightly. When you hear words like “enlarged aorta” and “possible surgery,” it changes the air in the room. It’s sobering to know that one appointment, one conversation, could determine whether you’re facing another open-heart procedure. The anticipation wasn’t dramatic on the outside, but inside it was constant. Quiet. Heavy. Real.”

However, as things progressed and tests were done, more positive news came to the surface.

“My appointment was at 2:00 p.m., about an hour from home. Every mile of that drive felt longer than it should have. They placed me in a small waiting room, and even though the doctor came in within 20 to 30 minutes, it honestly felt like hours. When your heart is involved, time stretches. The last thing I want right now is to have my chest opened again, replace the valve, and repair my aorta. Especially with our long awaited honeymoon just two months away.

“When Dr. Karim walked in, he was his usual upbeat self. We shook hands, made small talk, and inside I’m thinking, just tell me. What do I need to do? Then he smiled and said, ‘The CT scan shows your valve is still functioning great. We do not need to repair your aorta. Keep doing exactly what you’re doing. You’re in excellent condition.‘”

Mero, 65, was relieved not to go through surgery and shared his gratitude on social media. “Malissa and I thank God for answered prayers.”

Former WWE Intercontinental Champion Marc Mero revealed his $71.47 royalty check from the promotion as an attempt to educate fans on the “reality” of the business.

On Wednesday, Mero uploaded a post on social media, revealing his WWE royalty earnings from 2019:

“I’ve been asked many times what wrestlers actually make in royalties from the WWE, so let me give you a real example. I left the WWE years ago and more than 20 years later, in 2019, I came across an old royalty statement. When you look at how much money many wrestlers help generate versus how little they’re actually paid, it’s honestly hard to believe,” he wrote.

He further wrote and publicly shared the exact monetary figures he earned. While the total amount of revenue generated was $39,590.81, Mero received $71.47 as his share.

“On this statement, even after being out of wrestling for over two decades, I was still partly responsible for $39,590.81 in revenue. My royalty payment for that? $71.47. That’s the reality for a lot of wrestlers. We helped build the brand, the characters, and the moments fans still watch today, yet the compensation rarely reflects the value that was created.”

Mero was in WWE from 1996 to 1999 before retiring from in-ring action in 2006. Winning titles across both WWE and WCW, Mero was also an amateur boxer and even received the 1991 WON Rookie of the Year.