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Jerry Lawler Reigns As WWE 'King'

Jerry Lawler Reigns As WWE 'King'

Posted: Mar 30th 2011 By: CMBurnham

Known for most of his wrestling career as "the King," Jerry Lawler is one of the most accomplished grapplers in history. He's held more titles than any other professional wrestler, helped put the spotlight on wrestling with his comical feud with Andy Kaufman in the early '80s, and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007.

Though he spends most of his time these days as a commentator, he recently challenged the Miz for the WWE title (one of the few titles he's never held). After his commentary partner Michael Cole cost him that match, Lawler challenged Cole to a match at WrestleMania, an event at which Lawler surprisingly has never competed. As he prepares for what is likely to be one of WrestleMania's more entertaining matches, Lawler takes a moment to talk about his career, how Cole compares to Kaufman (both non-wrestlers) and how it feels to be achieving yet another milestone so late in his career.

This will be your first time actually competing at WrestleMania. How does it feel to be accomplishing this milestone so close to the Memphis area where you started your career?

Of all the years I've been in this wacky business, this is one of the very few things I've never done before. I've commentated on 17 or 18 WrestleMania's, but I've never actually competed in one. So this is going to be the final jewel in my crown. I'm really looking forward to it. It's almost mind-boggling to think that at this point in my career I'm having my first ever match at WrestleMania and my referee is "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. It doesn't get any better than that.

You've spent most of your WWE career behind the commentary table. How did you make the transition from wrestler to commentator?

I never intended to become a color commentator. That was never anything I ever thought about doing. As a matter of fact, it came about during the Monday Night Wars when Randy "Macho Man" Savage was doing color commentary with Vince McMahon and suddenly jumped ship and went down to Atlanta with WCW without any warning or notice. We were getting ready to go on the air with a live show and someone said, "Look, Vince. Randy Savage is on Atlanta TV." Vince came to me and said, "Do you mind doing commentary with me tonight?" I really thought it was going to be a one-week thing, but 17 years later I'm still doing it.

Your WrestleMania debut will be against your commentary partner ? or should I say rival?

I have a lot of names for Michael Cole right now.

Like Andy Kaufman, Cole is not a wrestler. How would you say this situation compares to your feud with Kaufman?

Of all the things I've accomplished in this industry, my feud with Andy Kaufmann is right at the top of the list. I'd even put that above winning the AWA Championship. We literally had the whole world talking about me, Andy Kaufman and wrestling at a time when it was almost impossible for wrestling to get any kind of mainstream publicity. For guys to appear on the David Letterman show at that time was unheard of. And what we did on the Letterman show is still talked about to this day.

Just a few weeks ago was the 80th anniversary of the Hollywood Reporter magazine. To commemorate their 80th anniversary they put together the top 80 moments in the history of television, which went back to the '40s and '50s and included stuff like the World Trade Center, the Challenger, the Kennedy assassination and all these things that have happened in the history of television.

My appearance with Andy Kaufman on the David Letterman show was included in the top 80 moments in the history of TV. It is something I am very, very proud of. Andy was a great performer, a very talented guy, and I'm really hoping that someday Andy Kaufman will be inducted into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame. He's certainly deserving because that was one of the most famous wrestling matches in history that people who weren't even wrestling fans were talking about.

I don't want to lump Michael Cole into the same category as Andy Kaufman. I've never seen a change come over someone like I've seen with Michael Cole. His head is going to need its own ZIP code. It's just growing by leaps and bounds every single second. This guy has become such an egomaniac, it's almost impossible to stomach the guy.

Even though Michael Cole has enlisted Jack Swagger ? a former WWE World Heavyweight Champion, two-time NCAA champion ? he's got all the credentials of being a great wrestler and Cole has enlisted this guy to train him. That's like somebody going and getting a great artist like Norman Rockwell and saying, "Hey, I want you to teach me to paint like you do." It just can't be done. You have to have certain physical attributes, you have to have the right mind-set, you have to be, for one thing, athletic. I look at Michael Cole and the only thing athletic about him are his feet. I just don't feel any sort of threat from him. I would love to be able to use my signature move and pick Michael Cole up, turn him upside down and drop him on his head like I did Andy Kaufman and give him one of those patented piledrivers so maybe the next day he'd have to unzip his pants to brush his teeth.

 

Tags: Jerry Lawler, WWE, WCW, AWA, Jack Swagger

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Spotlight in History

  • 1962 Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres def. Jan Madrid & Louie Tillet for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 1976 Karl Kox & Bob Sweetan def. Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 1981 Ernie Ladd def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 2008 The Midnite Rider def. Outlaw for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 2008 Limited Edition (Les Mayne & Dane Griffin) def. The South Side Soul Assassins (Tyson Jaymes & 3rd Rail) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 2013 Billy Ray [1st] became the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2013 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. Pretty In Pink (Mike Rose & Michael Duplanti) for the NAW Tag Team Champions
  • 2019 Drake Gallows became the KCW National Champion

Week of Sun 05-05 to Sat: 05-11

  • 05-05 1941 Maurice Shapiro became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-05 1958 Jim LaRock became the TSW United States Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-05 1958 Jim LaRock def. Sandor Kovacs for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-05 1978 Jerry Brown & Bobby Jaggers def. Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-05 1982 King Kong Bundy def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-05 1982 Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia def. The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-05 1986 Rick Rude def. Lance Von Erich for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 05-05 2002 Red Eagle def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Champion
  • 05-05 2002 Terry Montana def. Red Eagle for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Champion
  • 05-05 2007 The Compound Varsity (Romero Contreras & Justin Lee) became the FCW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-05 2012 Kareem Sadat def. David Kyzer for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-05 2017 El Greengo Loco & Karnage def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 05-05 2024 Tzuki def. Guerrerito for the EDW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-06 1959 Pretty Boy Collins & Duke Scarbo became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 1974 Rip Tyler def. Bob Sweetan for the TSW Brass Knucks Champion
  • 05-06 1984 The Rock & Soul Connection (Buck Zumhofe & King Parsons) def. The Super Destroyers (Super Destroyer 1 & Super Destroyer 2) for the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 1984 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Mike Von Erich) def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 1984 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Mike Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 1985 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) became the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 2005 Shane Morbid def. Kenny Campbell for the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 05-06 2005 The 918 Boyz (Timmy J & Cade Sydal) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-06 2011 Jeff Starchild became the MWA Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-06 2017 Lone Star, Inc. (Cody Burns & Trey Cole & The Longhorn Outlaw) def. Simply the Future (J. D. & Alex) for the WFC Tag Team Champions
  • 05-06 2017 Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) def. El Greengo Loco & Karnage for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 2023 Thrash def. Jason Jones for the WFC Prime Champion
  • 05-06 2023 MLP def. Red James for the RDW Brass Knucks Champion
  • 05-06 2023 Red James def. MLP for the RDW Brass Knucks Champion
  • 05-07 1984 Killer Khan became the WCCW Television Champion
  • 05-07 2010 Cody Jones became the NWA-OK Texoma Champion
  • 05-07 2010 Jack Legacy def. Jeff Starchild for the MWA Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-07 2010 Dustin Heritage def. Shane Morbid for the MWA MAX-Division Champion
  • 05-07 2010 A. T. F. (Al Farat & Gurkha Singh) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 05-07 2010 La Reina de Corazones became the NWA-OK Women's Champion
  • 05-07 2011 Rudy Edwards def. Ryan Styles for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 05-07 2011 Bernie D & Max McGuirk def. Nemesis (Rage Logan & Damien Morte) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-07 2016 Tyson Jaymes def. Brandon Groom for the BCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-07 2018 Jack Swagger became the WCR Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-07 2018 The Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich) became the WCR Tag Team Champions
  • 05-07 2018 Damon Windsor became the WCR Revolutionary Champion
  • 05-07 2021 Jerome Daniel Griffey def. Tino Valentino for the ASP Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-07 2022 Drake Gallows def. Oxley for the RDW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-07 2022 Derek James became the AWE Lion Heart Champion
  • 05-07 2022 Luna Nightshade became the RDW Women's Champion
  • 05-07 2022 Brandon Groom def. Derek James for the AWE Lion Heart Champion
  • 05-07 2022 Becky def. Luna Nightshade for the RDW Women's Champion
  • 05-08 1967 Jack Brisco & Gorgeous George, Jr. became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-08 1970 The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & & Dale Valentine) became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-08 1985 The Snowman became the MSW Television Champion
  • 05-08 1988 Kerry Von Erich def. King Parsons for the WCCW World Champion
  • 05-08 2004 Brandon Groom def. Michael Barry for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-08 2004 John O'Malley became the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-08 2004 Kenny Campbell became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 05-08 2004 Luc Lapointe & Se7en became the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-08 2010 Excellence Personified (Dustin Heritage & Se7en & Michael Barry & Jack Legacy) became the TAP Tag Team Champions
  • 05-08 2010 Wage def. Eric Rose for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 05-08 2010 John O'Malley def. Kevin Morgan for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-08 2010 Michael H def. Tex for the 412PE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-08 2010 J. R. Orullian & The Unknown def. The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Dennis Williams) for the 412PE Tag Team Champions
  • 05-09 1966 The Assassins (Assassin #1 & Assassin #2) became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-09 2004 John O'Malley def. Chris Matthews for the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-09 2004 Se7en became the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-09 2004 Bernie Donderwitz def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-09 2009 Crazy Beautiful (Brett Taylor & Michael York) def. Team SuperBad (El Super Colibri & Justin Lee) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 05-09 2009 Dane Griffin def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 05-09 2009 BLK-OUT (Jermaine Johnson & Montego Seeka) def. Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Bernie D) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-09 2015 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. Hurricane Ross & J. R. Orullian for the NAW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-09 2021 Erica def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Champion
  • 05-10 2008 Jerry Bostic became the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 05-10 2014 Billy Ray [1st] def. Running Wolf for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-10 2014 American Made def. Tim Rockwell for the UWE United States Champion
  • 05-10 2019 Kody Lane def. Latrell Upton for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 05-10 2023 Leo Fox def. The Wolf of War for the RDW Iron Man Champion
  • 05-11 1962 Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres def. Jan Madrid & Louie Tillet for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-11 1976 Karl Kox & Bob Sweetan def. Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-11 1981 Ernie Ladd def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-11 2008 The Midnite Rider def. Outlaw for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 05-11 2008 Limited Edition (Les Mayne & Dane Griffin) def. The South Side Soul Assassins (Tyson Jaymes & 3rd Rail) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-11 2013 Billy Ray [1st] became the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-11 2013 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. Pretty In Pink (Mike Rose & Michael Duplanti) for the NAW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-11 2019 Drake Gallows became the KCW National Champion
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