TAMPA, Fla. -- SmackDown Superstar Matt Hardy underwent an emergency appendectomy at a Tampa area hospital tonight. Doctors expect the surgery to keep Hardy out of action anywhere from 1-3 months.

An appendectomy by definition is the removal of the appendix from the lower right area of the abdomen. Oftentimes, if the surgery is not performed immediately, severe consequences can follow.

Hardy's emergency surgery comes less than a week after suffering a knee injury at the hands of his former partner, the United States Champion MVP. Did the attack by MVP help lead to the appendectomy that Hardy underwent tonight?

Stay tuned to WWE.com for updates on Matt Hardy's condition as they become available.