The End Of Jerry Lawler’s WWE Career & Legacy, Explained

• 

  Jerry Lawler

  Birthdate:

  1949-11-29

  Birthplace:

  Memphis, Tennessee, USA

  Birthname:

  Jerry O’Neil Lawler

  Height:

  6 feet 0 inches

  Weight:

  243 lbs

  Debut:

  1970-08-13

  Championships Held:

  SMW Heavyweight Championship (x2), USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship (x28)

  Finisher:

  Piledriver, Diving Fist Drop

  Twitter:

  https://twitter.com/JerryLawler

  Notable Rivals:

  Bret Hart, Randy Savage

  Instagram:

  https://www.instagram.com/realjerrylawler/?hl=en

Highlights

• Jerry Lawler’s legacy in WWE spans over 30 years, marked by iconic feuds and commentary partnerships with WWE legends.
• While Lawler never held a major WWE title, his impact as an entertainer and in-ring performer was undeniable and unforgettable.
• Following a stroke in 2023, Lawler experienced a resurgence but ultimately left WWE after his contract expired, leaving behind a lasting wrestling legacy.

Hard to believe that a career like Jerry “The King” Lawler‘s has spanned literally decades. Over 30 years of his wrestling career has been spent with WWE, despite his brief departure in 2001 and return later that year. Lawler has remained with the organization, primarily as a color commentator and in his later years, an occasional wrestler, then kickoff show panelist or guest host for various WWE live events prior to him suffering a stroke in 2023.

His feuds and rivalries with many of WWE’s top stars, past and present, serve as part of the amazing career Lawler had in WWE, despite never officially winning the WWE Championship or any other major title for that matter. This is the legacy of Jerry “The King” Lawler.

Jerry Lawler Joined WWE In 1992

Jim Ross And Jerry Lawler Were An Iconic WWE Commentating Duo

• Jerry Lawler had a feud with Bret Hart.
• Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross were as great as Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan.
• Jerry Lawler also commentated with Vince McMahon and Michael Cole.

Jerry Lawler arrived to WWE in late 1992 and served primarily as a performer and also as a color commentator. His first and likely most infamous feud in his career with WWE was with Bret “Hit Man” Hart and the entire Hart Family, which he hated and despised. Lawler attacked Bret during his coronation ceremony at the 1993 King of the Ring. Lawler poked fun at Bret’s parents, the late Stu and Helen Hart, and the rest of the Hart family, respectively. This became an on/off feud that lasted up until Hart’s departure from WWE in 1997 following the Montreal Screwjob.

During the mid-90s and throughout the 2000s into the 2010s, Lawler became a fixture on the WWE commentary team, mostly working alongside Vince McMahon and later, Jim Ross and Michael Cole. He formed an organic, albeit fun and hilarious friendship and work relationship with Ross. The duo became a huge part of WWE’s Attitude Era and arguably the greatest duo in WWE history along with Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan.

Jerry Lawler Had A Near Fatal Heart Attack Live On WWE Raw

Jerry Lawler Had An On Screen Feud With Michael Cole

• Jerry Lawler called ECW “Extremely Crappy Wrestling”.
• Michael Cole beat Jerry Lawler at WrestleMania 27.
• After Jerry Lawler’s health scare, Michael Cole stopped being a heel.

Jerry Lawler became a big part of a feud that was a part of the working relationship between WWE and ECW. During interviews and promo segments, Lawler insulted ECW by referring to the company as “Extremely Crappy Wrestling”. These insults led to ECW showing up on WWE programming and invading Monday Night Raw, with ECW President Paul Heyman bringing his best ECW wrestlers to be showcased on Raw, and also attempting to shut Lawler’s mouth once and for all. Lawler also made appearances in ECW during this time frame as part of the storyline, culminating with a match at ECW Hardcore Heaven 1997, where he lost against Tommy Dreamer.

Fast-forward to the 2010s, Lawler became involved in a heated feud with both The Miz and Michael Cole, with Cole being a thorn in Lawler’s side throughout 2010 into early 2012. Lawler’s feud with The Miz culminated in a WWE Championship match, with The Miz defending his title against The King at Elimination Chamber. Unfortunately, The Miz got the better of Lawler and defeated him. However, Lawler wrestled Cole in a match at WrestleMania 27 with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin serving as the Special Guest Referee. Lawler initially beat Cole, but the Anonymous RAW General Manager reversed the decision due to Austin getting physically involved, thus awarding the match to Cole by disqualification.

During an episode of Monday Night Raw on September 10, 2012, Lawler passed out at ringside while doing commentary alongside Michael Cole. WWE’s medical team quickly rushed to Lawler’s side, administrating CPR and rushed him to the local hospital. After a commercial break, Michael Cole broke character and explained to the WWE Universe, watching at home what had happened, and kept everyone updated throughout the remainder of the show on Lawler’s condition. Later, it was announced that he suffered a heart attack but would make a full recovery. He made his return over a month later and continued his commentary duties, while patching things up with Michael Cole, who turned babyface following this real-life incident.

Jerry Lawler Was Released By WWE After A Rough Year

Jerry Lawler Suffered A Stroke In 2023

Jerry “The King” Lawler suffered a stroke in February 2023 while at his Florida home. Thankfully, he made a speedy recovery and regained a majority of his mobility and speech. Lawler continued to make sporadic appearances for WWE and at other wrestling conventions. On May 6, 2024, Lawler’s WWE contract was allowed to expire with both sides choosing not to renew his contract, thus ending his 30-year plus reign with the company. However, Lawler still remains a part of WWE under a Legends contract which covers all WWE merchandise sales and other promotional material with Lawler’s likeness, such as toys, video games, etc.

Despite the WWE release, his legacy will never be forgotten and all the wonderful memories he’s created over the years as both a wrestler and a color commentator. What Jerry Lawler will do next will be up to him, but given his health and age, perhaps it’s now time for The King to sit at his royal throne and enjoy the fruits of his labor, soaking in his wrestling legacy and taking it easy.

Jerry Lawler Speaks About His Health And WWE Release

How Is The King Recovering From His Stroke?

On May 6, the same day his WWE contract was not renewed, Jerry Lawler spoke to PWInsider and gave an update on how he is physically doing today. He told them:

“I’m doing fine doing very good and thanks for asking about my health. it’s been quite a bit of controversy there about my health. I’ve had some health problems going back about seven months now. I had a stroke spent some time getting over that and But I feel like now I feel like it feels like a good time to get back out on the road again a bit. So that’s what I’m starting off with this big event in Evansville. Day to day, physically for me is feeling good. Getting around my house, everything’s fine and dandy, but just the little things that that I take me longer to do some things than I used to But as far as look and feel I feel and feel as good as I ever did.”

Lawler also spoke about the acceptance he has of his WWE career coming to an end, saying:

“One other thing that a lot of people wonder about, my career has probably ended with the WWE and that’s it’s just one of those things that goes with my getting over with all the stuff that happened with the stroke and it was my, my just sitting behind a desk and doing it commentating on a match again was the extremely difficult.”

Never seeing Jerry Lawler behind a WWE commentary desk again is going to be extremely difficult for fans. We at TheSportster wish him continued great health.