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Attitude Era WWE Star Shares Update After Worrying Health Scare

By Lyle Kilbane • Published Feb 18, 2026 09:10 EST
WWE Attitude Era

There’s good news for one former champion in WWE after they suffered a recent health scare with their heart.

Marc Mero is best known for his time in WWE during the late nineties, after he joined the company from WCW. Mero debuted shortly after WrestleMania 12, becoming immediately involved in a feud with Hunter Hearst-Helmsley. Marc Mero eventually captured the Intercontinental Title before injury issues forced him out of action.

Mero returned with a whole new attitude as he turned heel and embraced his boxing background. He left the company in 1999 and now spends much of his time doing charity work and working as a motivational speaker.

Ex-WWE Star Avoids Heart Surgery

Taking to social media, Marc Mero revealed that he recently suffered a serious heart scare, but let the world know that he did not need what would be very serious 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. If surgery was necessary, they would have replaced the valve at the same time since it’s been almost ten years.

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.

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.”

No surgery!

Malissa and I thank God for answered prayers.