5:56 PM EST

NEW CHAMPION TO BE CROWNED AT NO MERCY

WWE Champion John Cena is facing "the worst case scenario."  The WWE Champion's

title run, the longest since Hulk Hogan's 1984-1988 title run,
is officially over. Cena was diagnosed with a complete tear of the right
pectoral muscle by noted sports physician Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham,
Alabama, and will be undergoing immediate surgery. According to several
sources, Cena was insistent backstage at Raw that he would perform on
Sunday and drop the title in the ring to Randy Orton.

Vince McMahon has been on the phone with Cena throughout the diagnosis,
and Cena decided not to wait at all for the surgery. According to one
source within WWE who spoke on the condition of anonymity, "Cena said the
sooner he's operated on, the sooner he's back."

The injury took place when the pec muscle snapped during a routine hip
toss Cena gave the returning Mr. Kennedy during the Raw main event from
Cleveland, Ohio. Cena is expected to be out of action for a minimum of six
months, maximum eight months. He will most likely miss Wrestlemania, but
that is not a definite. This is the same injury that has put Adam "Edge"
Copeland on the shelf.

The injury bug has several top stars out of action at the moment,
including Edge, Bobby Lashley, and now the undisputed top star in the
company, Cena.

As of this writing, WWE plans to have Orton in a match against a
yet-unnamed opponent to determine the new WWE Champion this Sunday as the
Main Event of the WWE NO MERCY pay per view event.