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Jerry 'The King' Lawler in stable condition

Posted: Sep 11th 2012 By: mikeiles

(CNN) -- World Wrestling Entertainment announcer Jerry "The King" Lawler was in stable condition after suffering a heart attack, WWE said.

As of Tuesday morning, Lawler was in a cardiac care unit and his vital signs were stable, WWE said in a written statement.

Lawler, a larger-than-life figure even within the flamboyant world of professional wrestling, suffered a heart attack and collapsed during a show Monday night, the show's producers announced.

Lawler, 62, was given CPR in the locker room of the arena in Montreal before being taken to a hospital, co-host Michael Cole told viewers during a break in the televised program.

Lawler was in the emergency room and breathing on his own, but "this is an extremely serious situation. This is not part of tonight's entertainment," he said. "This is a real-life situation."

Cole said the star was responding to tests and would be given a CT scan at the hospital, adding, "Jerry, my friend, my prayers are with you."

"I'm shaken by the news of my friend Jerry Lawler's medical emergency in Montreal. Hands shaking. Prayers for the King. I feel helpless," WWE announcer Jim Ross said on Twitter.

Lawler made his name in wrestling in the 1970s, but he became famous beyond the wrestling world for a 1982 bout with comedian Andy Kaufman.

The Great Ruse: Andy Kaufman, the comedic genius who rocked wrestling

Kaufman, who had begun wrestling women during his nightclub act, accepted a challenge from Lawler, who accused him of demeaning the sport.

Kaufman trash-talked both the wrestler and the crowd in Memphis, Tennessee, before the match, and the 6-foot, 243-pound Lawler trounced the skinny comedian, who was hauled away in a stretcher.

A few weeks later, the pair appeared on "Late Night with David Letterman" and got into an argument that ended with Lawler slapping Kaufman, followed by Kaufman delivering a profanity-laced tirade and being chased off the set.

The wrestler gave as good as he got in trash-talking the comedian, letting loose with: "Andy Kaufman's mom wanted a girl, his father wanted a boy, and they were both satisfied!"

Lawler lists the slapping of Kaufman on the Letterman show as the highlight of his career.

But like much of Kaufman's shtick, the feud was an elaborate put-on.

"They'd be at the coliseum, supposedly trying to kill each other, and then I'd get off the 10 o'clock newscast and walk into the newsroom, and Jerry and Andy would be sitting in an edit booth discussing what had happened and where to go from there," veteran Memphis wrestling announcer Dave Brown told CNN earlier this year.

Lawler was inducted into the Connecticut-based WWE's Hall of Fame in 2007 and played himself in the 1999 Kaufman biopic "Man on the Moon."

A native of Memphis, with bright blue eyes and a baby face into his 60s, Lawler describes himself as loved in his hometown but hated in his wrestling federation, "where his arrogant, egotistical attitude got him into feuds with former WWF champ Bret Hart and federation head Vince McMahon."

The WWF is the former name of the WWE.

He started wrestling in 1970 in Memphis, where he won multiple regional championships and the Mid-South Wrestling circuit.

He career had gone national by the mid-1970s, and he continued to wrestle for decades. In recent years, he has been known better as a commentator.

"We are hopeful Jerry makes a full recovery and returns to WWE in the near future. Our thoughts are with Jerry and his family," the WWE said on its website.

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1972 Billy Red Lyons def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
1980 Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada def. Jose Lothario & Tiger Conway Jr. for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
1982 Ted DiBiase def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
1984 Gino Hernandez became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
1989 The Stud Stable (Robert Fuller & Brian Lee) def. Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
2001 Big Daddy Moore def. Adam Lacroix for the OPW Oklahoma Television Title
2001 Grenade became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
2009 Joshua Michael & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
2023 Dustin Tibbs def. Thrash for the WFC Prime 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

06-23

Athena Jun 23rd Today!
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
Voltio Santiago Jun 29th
Barbara Galento Jun 29th
Kenneth Caine Jun 30th
Ed Lewis Jun 30th
Terry Funk Jun 30th
Tim WarCloud Jul 1st
Li'l Joe Jul 1st
Sung Yung Kang Jul 1st
Jake Hollister Jul 1st
Crowson D. Calhoun Jul 2nd
Dalton Smith Jul 2nd
Rex Andrews Jul 2nd
Wrangler Rhett Jul 2nd
Rachael Starz Jul 3rd
Joe Sloan Jul 3rd
Ray the Bae Jul 3rd
Arman Hussein Jul 3rd
Blake Wilson Jul 4th
Greatest American Bolo Jul 4th
Bob Sweetan Jul 4th
Barry Windham Jul 4th
Bree Ann Jul 4th
Little Tokyo Jul 5th
Terry Kage Jul 5th
Roland Kirchmeyer Jul 5th
Richard Pierce Jul 5th
Dalton Bragg Jul 6th

1972 Billy Red Lyons def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
1980 Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada def. Jose Lothario & Tiger Conway Jr. for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
1982 Ted DiBiase def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
1984 Gino Hernandez became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
1989 The Stud Stable (Robert Fuller & Brian Lee) def. Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
2001 Grenade became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
2001 Big Daddy Moore def. Adam Lacroix for the OPW Oklahoma Television Title
2009 Joshua Michael & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
2023 Dustin Tibbs def. Thrash for the WFC Prime Title

More Look Back In History

Card Results

Current Champions

Wrestle Against Hunger

Living Hope Champion
Giganto

Heavyweight Champion: Will Chambers
Tag Team Champions: Hellbangers
Spotlight Champion: Travis Harkrider
Hunger Dojo Champion: Max Leon
Womens Champion: Kyra