Jerry “The King” Lawler is still battling back.
The WWE Hall of Famer suffered what he described as a “massive stroke” early last year and is continuing his fight back to full health.
Lawler, 74, spoke about his tribulations recently on Bill Apter’s “WrestleBinge” podcast.
“Well, my health has been a big problem for me lately. I had a couple of strokes,” Lawler said.
“That’s what cost me my deal with WWE, with my commentating because my voice, it’s not perfect, but it’s not good enough to do commentating. So I’m still with them on a [Legends Deal]. Still part of the family… the best part of that is I think four times a year, I get a nice, big check, and that’s good,” Lawler laughed.
Apter asked Lawler if he missed being a WWE announcer, and the answer was relatively surprising.
“No, not a bit,” Lawler said.
“I just went out there and sat down and was myself, and it was just another chapter of my life. When I finished it, 10-15 minutes before it was over, I was thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, how much longer is this gonna last?’ As soon as it was over, I just got up and went about my business. Left the studio and went about being Jerry Lawler.”
In the 1970s and 1980s, Lawler was a top draw in various regional territories, most notably around Memphis.
He joined WWE (then the WWF) as an announcer in 1992 and ultimately formed a legendary partnership with Jim Ross.
Lawler and Ross have effectively become the soundtrack for the WWE “Attitude Era,” and their commentary is a major part of the highlight clips that still go viral to this day.