-- As previously reported WWE SmackDown superstar Matt Hardy is currently out of action recovering from an emergency appendectomy. Hardy's appendix apparently burst on November 19th as he was in great pain that night. The next day when he arrived at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida he was rushed to the hospital because he was in a cold sweat and felt horrible. This is when the emergency appendectomy was performed.

Hardy was then bedridden at Tampa General Hospital and given IV's of powerful antibiotics to kill the infection. Right now he is expected to return in two or three months but this could certainly change as having such a thing happen is not easy to recover from.

-- WWE.com has confirmed that the Tribute to the Troops special will be taped this week in Iraq. Michael Cole will be updating fans by posting daily reports from the trip on the web site. Mickie James is also blogging about her experiences on the trip.

This year's Tribute to the Troops special will air on Christmas Eve in RAW's normal timeslot. SmackDown that week will be a "Best of 2007" edition.