Jun 22nd 2026 10:54am

Sign Up / Sign In|Help

 

Jerry Lawler: Who Should Fill in for 'The King' at WWE Night of Champions?

Jerry Lawler: Who Should Fill in for 'The King' at WWE Night of Champions?

Posted: Sep 16th 2012 By: mikeiles

After Jerry ?The King? Lawler suffered a heart attack on the go-home edition of Raw, but is now on the road to recovery, the focus has shifted to who should take his place while King is getting healthy.

There are many former commentators in the history of the WWE, but the person has to be associated with the organization now to be put onto the announce team for the company?s pay-per-view, Night of Champions.
While there are dozens of choices, we have broken down the good, the bad and the ugly of the possibilities we could see Sunday.

Whoever takes the mic for the PPV will have a tough job, that?s for sure.

The Good: Dusty Rhodes

While many fans forget that Dusty Rhodes is still around from time-to-time helping out with his experience in the business and supporting his son Cody, Rhodes was one of the best color commentators in wrestling history.

As much as the WWE could just plug in Matt Striker or Scott Stanford and be done with it, the seat Lawler has left open for the time being needs to be filled by a legend; that?s where the American Dream comes in.

Rhodes offers the same in-ring perspective that Lawler would have, but it will be his fun personality and wild nature that makes the commentary enjoyable to listen to during NoC. Dusty is leaps and bounds better than anyone else the WWE could get.

The Bad: Josh Mathews

While I had to put this choice under bad, this is what my heart tells me WWE will go with Sunday because they know what they?re getting with Josh Mathews. If Cole is still a heel, Mathews is the face color guy that the company loves.

Mathews isn?t the worst color commentator the WWE Universe has ever heard, but he isn?t anything special yet either. With Lawler?s leave of absence temporary, Mathews is the easiest of all the solutions for the WWE.

The banter between Cole and Mathews has been honed on SmackDown when the duo has worked together, so the transition to PPVs and Raw should be nothing too intense. While this isn?t the best answer, it?s the right one.

The Ugly: Booker T

As much as Josh Mathews will likely be the color commentator for Sunday?s show, the person that would make that announce team must-watch TV would be the return of Booker T.

While he may be SmackDown's GM now, he could give himself the power to commentate too.

The man did ban the brogue kick after all; Booker T can do whatever he wants.

While the WWE Universe will have no problem complaining about the absurd things that Booker T says, there has never been an episode of any show that he commentated on that was bland.

In between moves, what could be better that trying to decipher what it was that Booker T just said; I personally hope we get more Booker on commentary Sunday and going forward.

 

Printable version Email to a friend

Supplemental Information

Latest News

2
The Scoop

The Scoop

NEWS Cyndi Lauper has received her first official WWE action figure as part of a new three-pack featuring Captain Lou Albano and Roddy Piper from a class... Read More

All Columns

Upcoming Events

Complete Calendar

1

Spotlight in History

  • 2005 Phillip def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 2018 Joe Cuedo def. Brock Baker for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 2025 Billie the Kiid def. Dan Webber for the ASP Heavyweight Title

Week of Sun 06-21 to Sat: 06-27

  • 06-21 1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-21 1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 06-21 2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Title
  • 06-21 2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-21 2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Title
  • 06-21 2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 06-21 2024 Big Sed def. Sam Adonis for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
  • 06-21 2025 Dan Webber became the LCW Lionheart Champion
  • 06-22 2005 Phillip def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-22 2018 Joe Cuedo def. Brock Baker for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-22 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-22 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-22 2025 Billie the Kiid def. Dan Webber for the ASP Heavyweight Title
  • 06-23 1972 Billy Red Lyons def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-23 1980 Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada def. Jose Lothario & Tiger Conway Jr. for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 06-23 1982 Ted DiBiase def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-23 1984 Gino Hernandez became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-23 1989 The Stud Stable (Robert Fuller & Brian Lee) def. Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 06-23 2001 Big Daddy Moore def. Adam Lacroix for the OPW Oklahoma Television Title
  • 06-23 2001 Grenade became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-23 2009 Joshua Michael & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-23 2023 Dustin Tibbs def. Thrash for the WFC Prime Title
  • 06-24 1972 Stan Stasiak def. Red Bastien for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 06-24 1974 Bull Ramos def. Rip Tyler for the TSW North American Title
  • 06-24 1977 John Studd became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-24 1985 The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2000 Great Bolo [2nd] def. Ichiban [2nd] for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 06-24 2000 Ichiban [2nd] became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-24 2005 Spoiler 2000 became the NWA-U Television Champion
  • 06-24 2006 Prophet SteVens became the AACW Television Champion
  • 06-24 2007 Matt Garza became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 06-24 2016 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Terry Montana & Mighty Mouse for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2016 Seth Angel def. Steven Cruze for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 06-24 2016 Adrian Dell def. Nathan Estrada for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-24 2017 Drake Gallows became the ASP Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-24 2017 Excellence Personified (Duke Swellington & Dustin Heritage) def. Shawn Hendrix & Aaron Anders (substituting for Anthony Andrews) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2017 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2018 Shawn Sanders def. Chaz Sharpe for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 06-24 2018 Canadian Red Devil def. Adam Patrick for the ASP Mid-American Title
  • 06-24 2020 Warren Powers def. Giganto for the BPW 365 Title
  • 06-24 2023 Stage Dive Mafia (Rook Tyler & Axel Savage) became the BCW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-24 2023 C. M. Burnham def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-24 2023 Lunchador def. C. M. Burnham for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-25 2011 Sam Stackhouse def. Shane Morbid for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-25 2011 The Sons of Ireland (Devan Scott & Shane Scott) def. The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the BYEW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-25 2011 Chris Chaos became the BYEW Caution Champion
  • 06-25 2011 The Future Hall of Famers (John O'Malley & Brad Michaels) def. Bernie D & Aaron Neil (subbing for Max McGuirk) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-25 2016 Brian Breaker def. Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 06-25 2017 The Cub Scouts (Grizzly Gates & Brock Landers) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 06-26 1961 The Bolos (Great Bolo 1st & Mighty Bolo) became the TSW Southwestern Tag Team Champions
  • 06-26 1987 Frankie Lancaster & Eric Embry def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 06-26 1999 Tarantula def. Original Renegade for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 06-26 2005 Li'l Joe def. Phillip for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-26 2009 Brandon Groom def. The Handsome Spoiler for the TOPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 06-26 2009 Kevin James Sanchez def. Bobby Starr for the BYEW Entertainment Title
  • 06-26 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese) def. Los Loco Moscas (Elijah Sparks & El Greengo Loco) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 06-26 2025 Microman def. Mini Abismo Negro for the EDW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-27 1969 Wahoo McDaniel & Thunderbolt Patterson became the WCCW American Tag Team Champions
  • 06-27 1971 Johnny Valentine def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-27 1976 Jose Lothario def. The Mongolian Stomper for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-27 2009 Randy Price def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 06-27 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion
06-22
  • Athena Jun 23rd
  • Juan Sebastian Jun 24th
  • Gabe Wilder Jun 24th
  • Don Kent Jun 24th
  • Kody Lane Jun 25th
  • X-Storms Jun 25th
  • Jax Samuel Jun 26th
  • D. K. Bradley Jun 26th
  • Paul Rodriguez Jun 26th
  • Sylvia Richmond Jun 26th
  • Kuda Jun 27th
  • Dan Barnhart Jun 27th
  • Jason Kirby Jun 27th
  • Reckless Jun 27th
  • Ignition Jun 27th
  • Malico Jun 28th
  • Kenny Mack Jun 28th
  • Damian Kincaid Jun 28th
  • J. J. Blake Jun 28th
  • John Tidwell Jun 28th
  • Doc Hearon Jun 28th
  • Claire Jun 28th
  • Boris Malenko Jun 28th
  • Bill Dromo Jun 28th
  • Barbara Galento Jun 29th
  • Voltio Santiago Jun 29th
  • Ed Lewis Jun 30th
  • Kenneth Caine Jun 30th
  • Terry Funk Jun 30th
  • Li'l Joe Jul 1st
  • Sung Yung Kang Jul 1st
  • Jake Hollister Jul 1st
  • Tim WarCloud Jul 1st
  • Rex Andrews Jul 2nd
  • Dalton Smith Jul 2nd
  • Crowson D. Calhoun Jul 2nd
  • Wrangler Rhett Jul 2nd
  • Ray the Bae Jul 3rd
  • Arman Hussein Jul 3rd
  • Joe Sloan Jul 3rd
  • Rachael Starz Jul 3rd
  • Greatest American Bolo Jul 4th
  • Bree Ann Jul 4th
  • Blake Wilson Jul 4th
  • Bob Sweetan Jul 4th
  • Barry Windham Jul 4th
  • Roland Kirchmeyer Jul 5th
  • Richard Pierce Jul 5th
  • Little Tokyo Jul 5th
  • Terry Kage Jul 5th

More Look Back In History