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Jerry Lawler: Should He Stay out of the Ring Even If His Doctor Clears Him?

Posted: Oct 5th 2012 By: mikeiles

Thank goodness.

Jerry Lawler has recovered enough from his on-air heart attack in mid-September to return to his home. "The King" is hoping to return to announcing?and possibly to the ring?in November. But even if he's medically cleared and physically capable, he shouldn't wrestle anymore.

When it comes down to it, Lawler will do what he wants.

In fact, he says he's going to wrestle again. According to Scott Carroll of The Commercial Appeal, Lawler told the press:

I feel like I can go back and do it again. And I'll say at this point I certainly would want to go back and do it again.

Enter the ring once in awhile to pop a loudmouth up-and-comer, fine; but full on matches? No! No! No!

It's easy to understand that no victim of a heart attack wants the outcome to best them. No one wants their lifestyle to change on something else's terms. Like anyone else, Lawler will likely want to prove he can "beat this thing" and that "nothing will change."

But he has to look at his situation realistically.

Check out this information from ArticlesBase.com:

The reality is that the body is in a highly weakened state following a heart attack and the chances of a second heart attack dramatically increase. It has been recorded that, statistically, around 18% [of] men die within a year of suffering the first heart attack. This was observed in the age group 40 and above. If we extrapolate the age to 5 more years, then the percentage jumps up to 33%.

Furthermore, in his press conference, Lawler attributed his heart attack to "genetics, noting that his father had seven heart attacks and died at age 59, and his brother has had quadruple-bypass surgery" (via Carroll).

In general, his chances of another heart attack are already increased. His family history shows additional risk too.

Jerry Lawler should not be featured in full-length wrestling matches.

Besides, he's a 62-year-old ring announcer, he shouldn't be featured in the ring anyway. The WWE is struggling to fit everyone into the program and provide decent build for feuds. There's no point in sacrificing more than 10 minutes for Lawler, who now is a health scare.

Again, he's good for the occasional punch in the face to the disrespectful.

But main eventing Raw, flying off the top ropes and being power-slammed by guys half his age? Come on. That's too much.

Should he lay down and accept a heart attack as a debilitating event? Absolutely not.

He should work out, he should keep his fitness up and hit the gym, run and do other physically active things. Wrestling is just not one of them.

First, it's too strenuous.

Second, the difference between weight lifting and wrestling is, there aren't tens of thousands of people cheering, jeering and taking pictures, amping your body up to new heights at the gym.

Third, when you work out on your own, you can stop when you want. In a choreographed match, there's no calling it quits for the sake of the fan.

Let's talk about those fans.

How awkward and downright scary was it watching the live Raw episode in which The King passed out, only to find out later he was actually having a heart attack?

It was a chilling event?one in which most of us pray we never have to be a part of again. And it's not as if had King's heart attack been on a random Tuesday in the privacy of his own home, it would diminish the importance or make us care less.

But it's one thing when a legend passes; death is inevitable. It's entirely different when they do it in front of an audience (thousands of them).

The WWE shouldn't chance it.

There's younger talent?some unused as it is?there for a reason. Fans should understand if Sept. 10 marked the last time they saw Jerry "The King" Lawler compete in a full wrestling match.