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Jerry Lawler vs. Andy Kaufman Feud Kept Alive by Alleged Death Hoax

Posted: Nov 16th 2013 By: mikeiles

WWE Hall of Famer Jerry "The King" Lawler and renowned entertainer Andy Kaufman engaged in one of the most famous feuds in the history of professional wrestling more than 30 years ago. Despite the fact that it has been three decades since the two of them locked horns, Kaufman has somehow managed to keep the angle relevant from beyond the grave.

Kaufman died 1984 due to complications from a rare form of lung cancer, or so the story goes. There have long been rumors regarding Kaufman potentially faking his death, and those rumors have picked up steam for good reason as of late.

According to Wayne Drash of CNN.com, Kaufman's brother, Michael, read a letter at the Andy Kaufman Awards on Monday that was allegedly written by Andy, and he also introduced a 24-year-old woman who claimed to be Andy's daughter.

This led to a number of conspiracy theories ranging from some that claimed Andy Kaufman was indeed alive to some that suggested Michael Kaufman was part of the hoax. According to Jake Tapper of CNN's The Lead, though, Michael Kaufman believes that he was a victim of a hoax but not one orchestrated by his deceased brother.

"Now that it's Thursday, not Monday anymore, I believe I am part of the hoax," Michael Kaufman said. "I don't believe that [Andy Kaufman's alleged daughter] is acting on her own, though."

According to TheSmokingGun.com, the woman who claimed to be Kaufman's daughter is actually an actress named Alexandra Tatarsky. The website also alleges that Michael Kaufman hired her to play the role of Andy's daughter at the Andy Kaufman Awards.

Michael Kaufman denied having any role in the alleged hoax, however, per Tapper.

This isn't the first time that a hoax surrounding Kaufman's death has come to light. Faking his death is something that Kaufman openly discussed, and Michael Kaufman described the first time he became aware that his brother could have potentially pulled off the prank of the century.

According to Houston Mitchell of the Los Angeles Times, Michael Kaufman received a letter allegedly from his brother in 1999 that stated he would reappear at a restaurant on Christmas Eve of that year.

Michael never saw Andy, but he said a parking attendant gave him a note that read as follows:

"It was too much pressure to be Andy Kaufman. I just wanted to be Andy," Michael Kaufman read. "I think that's why I got sick. I had to change completely and quickly. I'm extremely very happily married with the most wonderful wife in the whole wide world and with the two greatest kids: a 10-year-old daughter and a son who is eight."

It's possible that nobody will ever know the true story behind Andy Kaufman's death or "death," but Lawler has taken a particular interest in it. His feud with Kaufman in 1982 stemmed from Kaufman portraying a cowardly character who would wrestle women.

Lawler took exception to Kaufman's antics, which led to a storyline that helped professional wrestling reach mainstream heights. The two of them even fought on Late Night with David Letterman, and while most believed they had legitimate bad blood, it was actually one of the greatest works in wrestling history.

Despite the greatness of the angle, it probably would have been long forgotten by non-wrestling fans if not for the questions surrounding Kaufman's death. Lawler has been asked for his thoughts on the situation, and not even he knows what to make of it, according to Drash:

"I would like nothing better than to know that Andy was still alive and been with us all this time," Lawler told CNN Thursday by phone. "But like anybody else, I really don't know any more than what I've heard.

"It could be a great hoax in his honor, dreamed up by his friend Bob Zmuda and his brother, Michael. That would be something that would be in keeping with Andy's tradition, but who's to say. It could really be legit."

The fact that people who were so close to Andy Kaufman, such as his brother and Lawler, don't know what to believe adds even more fuel to the fire. If Kaufman is in fact alive, though, Lawler wouldn't be opposed to reliving their memorable feud, per Drash:

Lawler challenged Kaufman, if he really is alive, to climb back into the ring. "There should be a WrestleMania rematch between Andy and The King," Lawler said. "We could rekindle the feud with no problem."

Only time will tell if such a match could potentially come to fruition, but it's fun to think about regardless.

Wrestling fans often like to believe that the impossible can happen, but the return of a deceased wrestler is rarely on the radar.

With that said, wrestling fans are always suspicious of something being a work, and if Kaufman managed to pull the wool over everyone's eyes by faking his own death, it would be hailed as the greatest work of all time.

Even if Kaufman's death was legitimate, though, he succeeded in ensuring that he would always be remembered. So, even if he isn't alive, his legacy most definitely is.