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Jerry "The King' Lawler comes to Richmond

Jerry "The King' Lawler comes to Richmond

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 By: mikeiles

Legendary professional wrestler and commentator Jerry ?The King? Lawler will headline a Mountain Wrestling Association show against area wrestler ?Legendary? Larry D. in Richmond on Friday.

The King took a few minutes earlier this week to chat with the Herald-Leader about his career, Kentucky's rich wrestling history and how he says his defeat of Randy Savage in Lexington years ago was among the best things to happen to the ?Macho Man.?

On Kentucky's contribution to professional wrestling and any impact from World Wrestling Entertainment's decision to no longer use Louisville's Ohio Valley Wrestling as a training league:

Lawler said he was surprised by WWE's decision to cut ties with OVW in favor of Florida Championship Wrestling. He said that WWE is moving some of its operations to Florida because a lot of the company's wrestlers live there.

But just because WWE no longer has a presence in Kentucky doesn't mean the state won't continue to influence the industry, he said.

?Kentucky just has a great history as far as wrestling ...? Lawler said. ?It's always been a place that has produced young talent.?

In light of the recent feud between wrestler The Big Show and boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., Lawler spoke about why his feud with Andy Kaufman still stands out as probably the most ?successful such rivalry:

?It was innovative in the sense that that was the first time that there was any crossover between a mainstream Hollywood celebrity and the world of ?wrestling,? Lawler said of the feud.

When the rivalry hit the airwaves on Late Night With David Letterman in the early 1980s, professional wrestling wasn't even close to being on a national media stage.

?At that time, for a small-time promotion in Tennessee and Kentucky to all of a sudden make national headlines ... was groundbreaking,? he said. ?That paved the way for things like Mayweather ... (and) it will always stand out because it was pretty much the first.?

Lawler on his commentary for WWE:

It all started by accident, he said. ?Macho Man? Randy Savage had been doing commentary for the company but jumped to rival World Championship Wrestling.

WWE owner ?Vince McMahon rushed into my locker room and said, "King, Savage is on the other show. Would you mind doing the commentary with me tonight?'? Lawler recalled. ?I thought it was just going to be a one-week thing.

?I never once intended to get into this business to be a commentator. My first love was always wrestling.?

And he says he and play-by-play man Jim Ross receive no direction from WWE's writers.

Lawler on still wrestling while in his late 50s:

He doesn't wrestle often anymore but does it because he likes smaller shows. ?It's a throwback to our old-school type of wrestling that I really loved when I started,? he said. ?WWE's great, but it's gotten so big that some of the shows are on the impersonal side.

?When I come to a venue like Richmond, the fans can come and bring their cameras and have their pictures made with me, come up and shake hands ...?

Lawler on his favorite memory of wrestling in Kentucky:

It was a loser-leaves-town match in Lexington against Randy Savage, who ran an area promotion with his father.

?Randy, I'm sure, never thought that losing that match would be the best thing that ever happened to him,? Lawler said. ?He was then forced to get out and basically go national. From there, he went on and caught on with the WWE and had a huge run as "Macho Man' Randy Savage.?

 

Tags: Jerry Lawler, WWE, WCW, Jim Ross

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Spotlight in History

  • 1982 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) def. King Kong Bundy & Bugsy McGraw for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 1985 King Parsons def. Chris Adams for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 2008 Jesus Rodriguez def. Romero Contreras for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 2008 The Mexican Combo Platter (Anthony Jackson & Romero Contreras) def. New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 2008 Sage def. Xavior for the SWCW Cruiserweight Title
  • 2008 Michael Faith def. Shane Rawls for the 3DW Heavyweight Title
  • 2008 High Society (Eric Rose & Thomas Trump) def. 2AM (Javi Hernandez & Kunna Keyoh) for the 3DW Dual Kombat Title
  • 2008 Dane Griffin def. Kunna Keyoh for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2008 Kunna Keyoh def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2008 Dane Griffin def. Kunna Keyoh for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2008 Kunna Keyoh def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2008 Dane Griffin def. Kunna Keyoh for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2008 Seth Allen def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2008 Cody Jones def. Seth Allen for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2008 Dane Griffin def. Cody Jones for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2008 Cody Jones def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2008 Kunna Keyoh def. Cody Jones for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2008 Cody Jones def. Kunna Keyoh for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2008 Fuel def. Cody Jones for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2008 Montego Sheik-ah def. Fuel for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2008 Masked Renegade Kowboy def. Montego Sheik-ah for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2008 Cody Jones def. Masked Renegade Kowboy for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2008 Kunna Keyoh def. Cody Jones for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2008 Montego Sheik-ah def. Kunna Keyoh for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2008 Kunna Keyoh def. Montego Sheik-ah for the 3DW Violent Division Title

Week of Sun 07-05 to Sat: 07-11

  • 07-05 1982 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) def. King Kong Bundy & Bugsy McGraw for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 07-05 1985 King Parsons def. Chris Adams for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 07-05 2008 Jesus Rodriguez def. Romero Contreras for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 07-05 2008 The Mexican Combo Platter (Anthony Jackson & Romero Contreras) def. New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 07-05 2008 Sage def. Xavior for the SWCW Cruiserweight Title
  • 07-05 2008 Michael Faith def. Shane Rawls for the 3DW Heavyweight Title
  • 07-05 2008 High Society (Eric Rose & Thomas Trump) def. 2AM (Javi Hernandez & Kunna Keyoh) for the 3DW Dual Kombat Title
  • 07-05 2008 Dane Griffin def. Kunna Keyoh for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 07-05 2008 Kunna Keyoh def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 07-05 2008 Dane Griffin def. Kunna Keyoh for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 07-05 2008 Kunna Keyoh def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 07-05 2008 Dane Griffin def. Kunna Keyoh for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 07-05 2008 Seth Allen def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 07-05 2008 Cody Jones def. Seth Allen for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 07-05 2008 Dane Griffin def. Cody Jones for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 07-05 2008 Cody Jones def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 07-05 2008 Kunna Keyoh def. Cody Jones for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 07-05 2008 Cody Jones def. Kunna Keyoh for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 07-05 2008 Fuel def. Cody Jones for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 07-05 2008 Montego Sheik-ah def. Fuel for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 07-05 2008 Masked Renegade Kowboy def. Montego Sheik-ah for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 07-05 2008 Cody Jones def. Masked Renegade Kowboy for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 07-05 2008 Kunna Keyoh def. Cody Jones for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 07-05 2008 Montego Sheik-ah def. Kunna Keyoh for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 07-05 2008 Kunna Keyoh def. Montego Sheik-ah for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 07-06 1982 Killer Khan became the MSW Louisiana Champion
  • 07-06 2013 Sam Stackhouse def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 07-06 2024 Tim Rockwell def. Thrash for the WFC Heavyweight Title
  • 07-07 1985 Tim Brooks & Mark Lewin & One Man Gang def. Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Titles
  • 07-07 2018 Space Age (Paul Puertorico & Aeronaut & Elijah Sparks & Super Mojo & Gemini [2nd]) def. Thrash & Jerry Storm (substituting for Will Luminati) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 07-07 2023 Punk Synister became the MajCW Flawless Champion
  • 07-07 2023 Logan Knight def. Nashoba for the MajCW Heavyweight Title
  • 07-08 1968 Fritz Von Erich def. Chris Markoff for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 07-08 1972 Johnny Valentine def. Billy Red Lyons for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 07-08 1977 Bruiser Brody def. John Studd for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 07-08 1988 Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Michael Hayes def. King Parsons, Buddy Roberts, & Kamala (substituting for Terry Gordy) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Titles
  • 07-08 2017 Resistance (Skyler Fayden & Wesley Crane) def. Lone Star, Inc. (Trey Cole & Cody Burns) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 07-08 2017 Mr. Nasty became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
  • 07-08 2022 Edge Stone def. Exodus Prime for the TexPro Oklahoma Title
  • 07-09 1961 Tony Martin def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 07-09 1975 Danny Hodge & Jay Clayton def. Stan Hansen & Frank Goodish for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 07-09 1979 Angelo Mosca def. Mike Sharpe for the TSW Brass Knucks Title
  • 07-09 2023 The Shining/Iron Mountain (Duke Swellington & Jack Davenport) def. Toxic Masculinty (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 07-10 1985 Dutch Mantell def. The Snowman for the MSW Television Title
  • 07-10 2009 Michael Barry def. Blake Albright for the MWA Heavyweight Title
  • 07-10 2010 Ryan Reed def. Michael H for the 412PE Heavyweight Title
  • 07-10 2010 Jesse Williams def. Danger Dean for the ACW Heavyweight Title
  • 07-10 2010 The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) def. Josh Evans & Buddha for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 07-10 2010 Kidd Riggs def. Gene Valdez for the XMW Universal Title
  • 07-10 2021 Tommy Dean became the UWE Apex Champion
  • 07-11 1981 Ed Wiskoski & Mike George def. Eddie Gilbert & Ricky Morton for the TSW Tag Team Titles
  • 07-11 1983 Chris Adams def. The Mongol for the WCCW Television Title
  • 07-11 1987 Steve Williams def. Bubba Rogers for the UWF Heavyweight Title
  • 07-11 2015 The Rising (Riker & Abel & Dimitri Alexandrov) def. The Brotherhood (Kyng Benjamin & Akuma Jones) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 07-11 2020 Alex Royal def. Derek James for the BPW Oklahoma Title
  • 07-11 2020 Elijah Sparks def. Warren Powers for the BPW 365 Title
  • 07-11 2020 El Greengo Loco def. Elijah Sparks for the BPW 365 Title
  • 07-11 2020 Karnage def. El Greengo Loco for the BPW 365 Title
  • 07-11 2020 Warren Powers def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
  • 07-11 2021 Tim Rockwell def. Luke Savage for the ASP Mid-American Title
  • 07-11 2021 Mr. Nasty def. Johnny Kove for the ASP 5-Star Title
  • 07-11 2021 Luke Savage def. Tim Rockwell for the ASP Mid-American Title
  • 07-11 2021 Johnny Kove def. Mr. Nasty for the ASP 5-Star Title
07-05
  • Little Tokyo Jul 5th Today!
  • Roland Kirchmeyer Jul 5th Today!
  • Terry Kage Jul 5th Today!
  • Richard Pierce Jul 5th Today!
  • Dalton Bragg Jul 6th
  • Sandor Kovacs Jul 7th
  • Steven Sterling Jul 7th
  • Thunderbolt Patterson Jul 8th
  • Tuck Davion Jul 8th
  • Toby Keith Jul 8th
  • Ralph Hammonds Jul 9th
  • Skidz Jul 9th
  • Alexander Gold Jul 9th
  • Jerry Grey Jul 9th
  • AXL Jul 9th
  • Billy Jack Haynes Jul 10th
  • Gary Poppins Jul 10th
  • Daemon Storm Jul 10th
  • Cody Burns Jul 11th
  • Butch Reed Jul 11th
  • Xavior Jul 11th
  • Garrett Murphy Jul 11th
  • Raydin Taylor Jul 11th
  • Jim White Jul 11th
  • Clint Cassidy Jul 12th
  • Summer Rain Jul 12th
  • Rene Goulet Jul 12th
  • Sam Stackhouse Jul 12th
  • Oscar Dotson Jul 13th
  • Kenny Ackles Jul 13th
  • Frankie Taylor Jul 13th
  • Tony Borne Jul 13th
  • Se7en Jul 14th
  • Jeff Jarrett Jul 14th
  • Mable Jul 14th
  • Charley Lay Jul 14th
  • Nathaniel Blade Jul 14th
  • Katy Jul 14th
  • Vixen Jul 15th
  • Oklahoma Strangler Jul 15th
  • Boyd Bradford Jul 15th
  • Mil Mascaras Jul 15th
  • Mike Caldwell Jul 15th
  • Juston Talley Jul 15th
  • Heath Jul 15th
  • Oklahoma Strangler Jul 15th
  • Charley Strack Jul 15th
  • Nathan Estrada Jul 16th
  • Dark Karnage Jul 16th
  • Kyle Everlast Jul 16th
  • Jerry Bostic Jul 17th
  • D. J. Peterson Jul 17th
  • Jean Antone Jul 17th
  • Original Renegade Jul 18th
  • T. J. Spade Jul 18th
  • Buck Ford Jul 18th
  • Al Snow Jul 18th
  • Dusty Wolfe Jul 18th
  • John Tatum Jul 18th
  • Tasha Jul 18th
  • Warhammer Jul 18th
  • Mike Nazarian Jul 18th

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Koko B. WareWWEVaderHonky Tonk ManJerry LawlerECWTNAButch ReedKamalaKraig KeesamanPat Patterson