Oklafan.com v5 Beta > News > Top 5: Jerry Lawler's Pro Wrestling Career

Home
News

Top 5: Jerry Lawler's Pro Wrestling Career

Posted: Sep 13th 2012 By: mikeiles

As we all wait for continuing updates concerning the health of Jerry ?The King? Lawler, let's take a look at five of the best parts of his career.

He has held 168 championships throughout his 42+ year active wrestling career, and even in 2012?at 62 years old?Lawler revealed to me in an interview four months ago that he still wrestles on average twice a week. Before RAW on Monday in Montreal, he was performing in Aruba.

Let's take a look at The King's Top 5 parts of his career in pro wrestling.

I say ?parts? because he has been involved in so many ways, such as a booker, wrestler and commentator, that it would be more complete to include different aspects of his career instead of just matches.

No. 5: Lawler vs Bret Hart in WWE in 1993

Jerry Lawler joined the WWE in 1993, the same year the ?King of the Ring? became a yearly event on the WWE calendar.

Bret Hart won the tournament and was anointed ?King of the Ring." Jerry ?The King? Lawler took offense, and through a simple story, a great feud was born.

The feud was carried by Lawler's verbal insults towards the Hart family, as well as Bret's integrity and finally, the fact that he couldn't stand to take the insults anymore and not defend his family's honor.

The pair feuded through the summer and sporadically re-ignited throughout the years, even at the 1995 King of the Ring in a ?Kiss my Foot? match.

This was a great rivalry that carried much interest during the lean years of WWE.

No. 4: Lawler on Commentary in the Early-Mid 90s

Most will remember Jerry Lawler on commentary both for his longevity (with some hiatus, being on commentary for WWE since 1993) and his catchphrases during the Attitude Era (?Puppies!!? being one of his more famous ones).

I will look fondly on his villainous commentary in the early 90s, where he seemed to fill Bobby Heenan's shoes very well.

If you look at that span, from 1993-1996, there are some Lawler gems that are often overlooked because of his overall body of work.

No. 3: Defeating Curt Hennig for the AWA Title

Out of Lawler's 168 championships, including an AWA/WCCW title unification with Kerry Von Erich, this one is the sweetest to me.

It's not like Lawler never won a championship before this, let alone in Memphis. It's not even the first time he had a spat with the AWA championship (remembering his controversy in 1982 with defeating AWA champ Nick Bockwinkel).

It's just something about this match that really stands out for me?perhaps the combination of sympathy Lawler is getting from his hometown crowd, the young Hennig and how much he contributes to the match before leaving for WWE, with Jackie Fargo as guest referee.

It just feels like a perfect storm. It might not be your favorite Jerry Lawler championship match, but it absolutely belongs in the conversation of the best.

No. 2: 1981 Empty Arena Match vs. Terry Funk

Once upon a time, before his decades of retirement, Terry Funk was arguably the most feared and unpredictable man in pro wrestling.

Unpredictable is a perfect way to describe this match from 1981, not only because of its unique circumstance but also because of the buildup. You didn't know what Terry Funk and Jerry Lawler were going to do next, and looking back on it, this is a great example of a rivalry that blurred the lines of entertainment and reality.

The match itself was unique, which also produced one of the most famous moments in pro wrestling history, with Funk yelling to commentator Lance Russell in pain, ?Lance, my eye!?

No. 1: Andy Kaufman

Really nothing else needs to be said. The "slap heard around the world" will live in infamy.

The entire feud was terrific, and any aspiring heel can learn a lot from watching Andy Kaufman. Due to his work in this feud and how much of a draw it was, I believe there is a strong case to be made that Andy Kaufman could be inducted in any pro wrestling Hall of Fame and the WWE Hall of Fame, as a performer rather than a celebrity.

Yes, he was a celebrity outside of pro wrestling and joined pro wrestling after achieving fame, but his body of work is so strong?even for a relatively short period of time?that the conversation would not seem out of place.

What are your favorite Jerry Lawler match moments?

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Title
2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Title
2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Title
2024 Big Sed def. Sam Adonis for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
2025 Dan Webber became the LCW Lionheart Champion

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

06-21

Jeff the Ref Jun 21st Today!
Rick Russo Jun 21st Today!
Phantom Star Jun 21st Today!
Milton Winkelman Jun 21st Today!
Super Star Jun 21st Today!
Athena Jun 23rd
Gabe Wilder Jun 24th
Juan Sebastian Jun 24th
Don Kent Jun 24th
Kody Lane Jun 25th
X-Storms Jun 25th
Jax Samuel Jun 26th
Sylvia Richmond Jun 26th
Paul Rodriguez Jun 26th
D. K. Bradley Jun 26th
Jason Kirby Jun 27th
Reckless Jun 27th
Kuda Jun 27th
Ignition Jun 27th
Dan Barnhart Jun 27th
Doc Hearon Jun 28th
John Tidwell Jun 28th
J. J. Blake Jun 28th
Claire Jun 28th
Malico Jun 28th
Kenny Mack Jun 28th
Damian Kincaid Jun 28th
Boris Malenko Jun 28th
Bill Dromo Jun 28th
Voltio Santiago Jun 29th
Barbara Galento Jun 29th
Ed Lewis Jun 30th
Terry Funk Jun 30th
Kenneth Caine Jun 30th
Tim WarCloud Jul 1st
Li'l Joe Jul 1st
Jake Hollister Jul 1st
Sung Yung Kang Jul 1st
Wrangler Rhett Jul 2nd
Rex Andrews Jul 2nd
Dalton Smith Jul 2nd
Crowson D. Calhoun Jul 2nd
Joe Sloan Jul 3rd
Ray the Bae Jul 3rd
Arman Hussein Jul 3rd
Rachael Starz Jul 3rd
Greatest American Bolo Jul 4th
Barry Windham Jul 4th
Bob Sweetan Jul 4th
Blake Wilson Jul 4th
Bree Ann Jul 4th

1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Title
2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Title
2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Title
2024 Big Sed def. Sam Adonis for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
2025 Dan Webber became the LCW Lionheart Champion

More Look Back In History

Card Results

Current Champions

Buzzsaw Championship Wrestling

Heavyweight Champion
Jay Hazzard

Tag Team Champions: Devion Black & Tego