Pro Wrestler Slaps Backs Not Faces
Posted: Dec 18th 2008 By: CMBurnham
He slapped Andy Kaufman in the face during "Late Night With David Letterman," was inducted into World Wrestling Entertainment's Hall of Fame by William Shatner and can be heard shouting insults at wrestlers weekly as a commentator for "Monday Night RAW."
Jerry "The King" Lawler's 35 years in professional wrestling have been anything but boring. But even he admits that spending an evening meeting fans - away from the hectic wrestling ring - is a practice that more sports stars should embrace.
Lawler, along with Hacksaw Jim Duggan and "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware, will be signing autographs during the Peoria Rivermen's home game Friday against the Iowa Chops. WWE Legends Night starts at 6 p.m.
"It's one of those sort of things that gets lost in today's wrestling world with the fact that the shows are so big with WWE," Lawler said during a recent interview with the Journal Star. "We go to these 20,000-seat arenas ... you are pretty much busy all day long. Until the show is over and by the time you leave, it's 11:30 p.m. or midnight. It's so fast-paced, you can't stop to meet people."
Lawler has met plenty of interesting people during a career that has seen him showcased in wrestling companies such as the now-defunct American Wrestling Association, World Class Wrestling Association and United States Wrestling Association. He is famous for battles against foes such as Kerry Von Erich, "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig and Bret "The Hitman" Hart.
Lawler wrestled last month during a show in Nashville celebrating his career. His original tag team partner from the 1970s was there, along with other wrestlers of the past. Lawler wrestled former WWE champion Sid Vicious, whose in-ring leg injury about eight years ago was so graphic, it could not be rerun on many TV stations.
It took Vicious several years to recover.
"To me, he's better than ever," Lawler said. "He's the same Sid he was before the broken leg. He's completely healed, and there is some talk ... he might return to WWE. He could come back and make a big splash."
Perhaps the most infamous foe Lawler ever faced was Kaufman, in the 1980s, which was highlighted in the 1999 movie "Man on the Moon" starring Jim Carrey.
"He was a great guy," Lawler said of Kaufman. "A huge wrestling fan. Andy told me, 'I'd give up everything in Hollywood if I could (be active) with wrestling.' That's how much he loved it. Sadly, it didn't happen."
Lawler said he probably will never make a return trip to Letterman's show, even though the face slap garnered huge ratings for the late night host during his early tenure on NBC.
"Dave was a little miffed at Andy and I after that," Lawler said. "He felt like something happened he wasn't let in on. It did huge ratings for his show. He didn't stay mad very long ... (but) he's never asked (for me to return), and I've never (asked him)."
Lawler has been on TV a lot, however. Any casual wrestling fan of the past 15 years knows his voice as a commentator with personalities like Michael Cole or Jim Ross during "Monday Night RAW" on the USA Network.
"J.R. and I worked together for 15 years. He is great at what he does. He takes it so seriously," Lawler said. "Working with Michael Cole is easy, as well. Michael is a little more ... gosh, he might be a little more like me in the fact he's kind of laid back."
Lawler added, "I always keep in mind, this isn't brain surgery, it's not life or death. It's wrestling."
Supplemental Information
Spotlight in History
- 1969 Jose Lothario def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 2008 Ky-ote Johammed def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 2008 Mo'Body Gillespie def. Ky-ote Johammed for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 2013 Bobby Starr def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 2013 Ignition def. Super Skunk Ape, Jr. for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 2013 The Canadian Red Devil def. Michael York for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 2014 Steven Sterling def. Sam Stackhouse for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 2014 Jake O'Brien def. The Canadian Red Devil for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 2014 Terry Montana def. Ignition for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 2014 Havoc def. Buster Cherry for the SWCW All-American Title
- 2014 Rick Russo def. David Kyzer for the SWCW Luchadore Title
- 2014 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 2014 Terry Pantera became the BPPW Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 2025 Frankie Lee def. K. J. Gold for the RDW Iron Man Title
Week of Sun 06-07 to Sat: 06-13
- 06-07 1969 Jose Lothario def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 06-07 2008 Ky-ote Johammed def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 06-07 2008 Mo'Body Gillespie def. Ky-ote Johammed for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 06-07 2013 Bobby Starr def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 06-07 2013 Ignition def. Super Skunk Ape, Jr. for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 06-07 2013 The Canadian Red Devil def. Michael York for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 06-07 2014 Steven Sterling def. Sam Stackhouse for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 06-07 2014 Jake O'Brien def. The Canadian Red Devil for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 06-07 2014 Terry Montana def. Ignition for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 06-07 2014 Havoc def. Buster Cherry for the SWCW All-American Title
- 06-07 2014 Rick Russo def. David Kyzer for the SWCW Luchadore Title
- 06-07 2014 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 06-07 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 06-07 2014 Terry Pantera became the BPPW Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 06-07 2025 Frankie Lee def. K. J. Gold for the RDW Iron Man Title
- 06-08 1959 Frankie Kovacs & Jerry Miller def. Pretty Boy Collins & Duke Scarbo for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
- 06-08 2013 L. J. McDaniels became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
- 06-08 2013 Hurricane Ross def. Billy Ray for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 06-08 2019 Michael Duplanti def. Anarchy [2nd] for the NAW Lightweight Title
- 06-08 2019 Big Smooth def. Hurricane Ross for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 06-08 2024 Billie the Kiid became the NAW Indigenous Land Champion
- 06-08 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 06-08 2024 Eddie LeVaughn def. Romeo Reese for the WAH Heavyweight Title
- 06-08 2024 Michael Duplanti became the NAW Openweight Champion
- 06-08 2024 Speeding Bullet (Mike Gunnz & Stephen Nitro) def. The Texas Outlaws (Bobby Burns & Manico) for the NAW Tag Team Titles
- 06-09 1959 The Golden Giant became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 06-09 1966 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 06-09 1980 The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) def. Junkyard Dog & Buck Robley for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 06-09 1989 Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras def. Super Zodiac & Cactus Jack for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
- 06-09 2017 The Rising (Matt Durden & Riker) def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 06-09 2023 Koko became the CPW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-09 2023 The Regime (Derek James & Logan Knight & Merc & Skylar Slice/Sgt. Slice) def. The Roll Modelz (Malik Mayfield & Olivier Vegos) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
- 06-09 2023 Mr. Nasty def. Mascara Purpura for the CPW 918 Title
- 06-09 2023 Red James def. Mr. Nasty for the CPW 918 Title
- 06-10 1979 Bruiser Brody def. Mark Lewin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-10 1985 Tim Brooks def. Scott Casey for the WCCW Television Title
- 06-10 2006 Dexter Hardaway became the AACW Mid-American Light Heavyweight Champion
- 06-10 2023 MLP became the XDWF New GenX Champion
- 06-11 1984 Chris Adams became the WCCW Television Champion
- 06-11 2009 Sage became the SWCW Art of War Champion
- 06-11 2011 Jake O'Brien def. Robbie Awesome for the MERC Patriot Title
- 06-11 2011 The Ring Intruders (Jon Cross & Fuel) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
- 06-11 2011 Jake O'Brien became the SRPW Patriot Champion
- 06-11 2011 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 06-11 2011 Tim Storm def. Michael Faith for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 06-11 2022 Pastor Brent & Andrew Fenix def. The Rejecs LM (Elijah Sparks & Dr. Corvus) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
- 06-11 2022 Connor Smith def. Romeo Reese for the WAH Spotlight Title
- 06-11 2022 Umbra def. Koko for the WAH Living Hope Title
- 06-11 2022 Dan Webber def. Paul Puertorico for the WAH Heavyweight Title
- 06-12 1982 The Spoiler def. Frank Dusek for the WCCW Television Title
- 06-12 2009 El Latino became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
- 06-12 2021 Brawler Morrison def. Blade [2nd] for the UWO Heavyweight Title
- 06-13 1960 Tony Borne def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-13 1969 Chuck Karbo became the TSW North American Champion
- 06-13 1978 Karl Krupp became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 06-13 1998 The Bad Boys (Splash Jackson & Bull Schmitt) def. The Texas Outlaws (Dan Wilder & Bernard Funk) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 06-13 2008 Brent Albright def. Slam Shady for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 06-13 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
- 06-13 2008 Josh Michaels became the ACW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-13 2009 The Canadian Red Devil became the ComPro Showtime Champion
- 06-13 2015 Seth Angel & Adrian Dell def. Nemesis (Bobby Starr & Damien Morte) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 06-13 2015 Killista def. Paul Puertorico for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 06-13 2015 Rolling Thunder def. Michael Duplanti for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 06-13 2015 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
- 06-13 2015 Michael Wolf def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 06-13 2015 Jake O'Brien def. Michael Wolf for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
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