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Celeb 'Idol' fan: Jerry 'The King' Lawler

Celeb 'Idol' fan: Jerry 'The King' Lawler

Posted: Feb 19th 2010 By: mikeiles

Some people are closet wrestling fans. Professional wrestling great Jerry "The King" Lawler is a closet American Idol fan.

Lawler -- a color commentator for WWE's Monday Night Raw and most famous outside the square circle for his early-'80s feud with comedian Andy Kaufman -- had been a casual Idol watcher for years. He got more invested last season, though, when Alexis Grace and Lil Rounds, two contestants from Memphis, Tenn., where Lawler lives, made the Top 12.

"I became a pretty big Alexis Grace fan, and I was really pulling for her," says the WWE Hall of Famer, who began working in the early '70s for Memphis' Mid-South Wrestling promotion.

Lawler and Alexis actually had met once before the show.

"We made eye contact in a record store," he says. "I guess she thought she recognized me but was too embarrassed to say anything. And I thought, 'Well, there's a cute girl that's looking at me,' but I didn't say anything to her, either.

"After I left, I got in my car and started to drive away. I was about to pull out onto the main street, and she pulled up in her car besides me. I rolled down my window, then she rolled down hers and said, 'You're Jerry Lawler, aren't you?'"

Lawler didn't make the connection between the woman he'd met and the one he watched on Idol until after the season was over and he went to a club where Alexis was hosting a karaoke night.

"I went up to introduce myself to her, and she said, 'We actually met once before,' and she reminded me of the story," he says.

This season, he says, he's favoring Crystal Bowersox, Lacey Brown, Katie Stevens and Tyler Grady.

"When you're a guy my age that grew up on the '60s music, it's good to see a young person say that they really enjoyed that and were really influenced by the music of the '60s and '70s, The Doors, The Who and groups like that," he says. "You could actually see some of that in Tyler's performances."

Lawler adds that Lilly Scott ought to stick to singing and steer clear of dancing any more, calling her celebration "the worst dancing down Hollywood Boulevard that I've ever seen."

In general, Lawler says, he prefers the audition episodes, with their horrible and apparently clueless singers, to the competition itself. "I guess it's my wrestling background that makes me a fan of that part of the show," he says. "When it gets down to where they're all good, it loses some of its edginess and shock value."

Whereas Tom T. Hall once sang that he loves "winners when they cry, losers when they cry," Lawler would rather see them both cry, so he really enjoyed Wednesday's tear-filled segment with Andrew Garcia and Thaddeus Johnson.

"I loved it when the big guy at the end, Thaddeus Johnson, came out, and they showed him saying, 'I killed it! I killed it!' And then they killed him -- told him he didn't make it. Man, what a bawling baby! I loved that! That was the highlight of the show for me."

Another highlight so far this season, from Lawler's perspective: the performance of Ellen DeGeneres.

"You can tell she's got that mean streak," he says, "but she tries to hide it. She tries not to let it come out." Watching Ellen break the news to singers that they'd made the Top 24, he says, "you could tell that she really enjoyed stringing those contestants along, dragging out the suspense. You could just see the devilish smile wanting to pop out on her face before she finally told them, 'Oh, okay, you've made it.' She tried to make it sound so depressing for them before she gave them the good news.

"She'd make a great WWE Diva."

And with the judges' chair next to Ellen opening up at season's end, a man known for his insults and coarse one-liners -- like saying there wasn't anything wrong with one hopeful's recent performance "that a vasectomy of the vocal cords wouldn't cure" -- thinks he just might see a new career path opening before him.

"I would be somewhere between Simon and Howard Stern, I would think."

 

Tags: Jerry Lawler, WWE

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Spotlight in History

  • 1941 Maurice Shapiro became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 1958 Jim LaRock became the TSW United States Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 1958 Jim LaRock def. Sandor Kovacs for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 1978 Jerry Brown & Bobby Jaggers def. Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 1982 King Kong Bundy def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 1982 Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia def. The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 1986 Rick Rude def. Lance Von Erich for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 2002 Red Eagle def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Champion
  • 2002 Terry Montana def. Red Eagle for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Champion
  • 2007 Compound Varsity (Romero Contreras & Justin Lee) became the FCW Tag Team Champions
  • 2012 Kareem Sadat def. David Kyzer for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 2017 El Greengo Loco & Karnage def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team 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 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
  • 05-06 1959 Pretty Boy Collins & Duke Scarbo became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 1969 Ramon Torres & Alberto Torres def. Karl Von Stroheim & Treacherous Phillips for the TSW United States 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 1970 The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Buddy Roberts) 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 1967 Gorgeous George, Jr. & Jack Brisco def. The Assassins (Assassin #1 & Assassin #2) for 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 1966 The Assassins (Assassin 1 & Assassin 2) became the TSW United States Tag Team 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 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
05-05
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  • Pat O'Dowdy May 5th Today!
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  • Billy Brown May 10th
  • Jerry Brown May 10th
  • Psycho May 11th
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  • Charming Charles May 11th
  • Sol Yang May 12th
  • Brock Baker May 12th
  • Sensei Jamo May 12th
  • Bill Howard May 12th
  • Prince Mahalli May 13th
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  • Maggie Rae May 13th
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  • Pete Maguire May 13th
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  • Steve Williams May 14th
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  • C. M. Burnham May 14th
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  • Tommy Rogers May 14th
  • Robert Fuller May 14th
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  • Oscar Amazing May 15th
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