By ALEX MARVEZ, Scripps Howard News Service

Walter "Killer" Kowalski's pro-wrestling accomplishments are an earful -- in more ways than one.One of grappling's most storied villains, Kowalski died last Friday following complications from a heart attack. He was 81.

Being a World Wrestling Entertainment superstar is a real pain in the neck.Just ask John Cena.According to WWE's web site, Cena underwent a 90-minute procedure Tuesday to remove a large disc fragment that was pressing on his spinal cord. The injury was causing numbness in Cena's right arm.

Dean Roll hopes his new pro wrestling persona doesn't jump the shark any time soon.

He enjoyed a storied World Wrestling Entertainment career as Tito Santana.But to a select group of seventh- and eighth-graders, he is known as someone else: Senor Solis.Santana's post-wrestling life has led him to the classroom. An educator the past 12 years, Santana (real name Merced Solis) is a Spanish teacher at Eisenhower Middle School in Succasunna, N.J.

In pro wrestling vernacular, Brock Lesnar should approach his next mixed martial arts bout as a loser-leaves-town match.Lesnar will fight Heath Herring in the co-main event of Saturday night's "UFC 87: Seek and Destroy'' pay-per-view show emanating from Minneapolis. With a victory, Lesnar is guaranteed to remain in a high-profile UFC role.

Frank Trigg remembers when two of pro wrestling's biggest stars were nobodies in the same gym where he trained for mixed martial arts competition.Now, Trigg is the one hoping to follow in the footsteps of grappling stars John Cena and "Samoa Joe" Seanoa.

Bruno Lauer fancies himself as a loyal, honest and trustworthy World Wrestling Entertainment employee.Basically, everything that his pro wrestling character wasn't.

The flooding came first, followed by a storm of controversy generated by Bret "The Hitman" Hart.Mike Chapman never could have envisioned such a tempest in what should have been his final days as executive director of the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum.

Valerie Wyndham couldn't have a more apropos middle name.Elizabeth.

A recent overhaul has caused the heads of even the most ardent World Wrestling Entertainment fans to spin.