Well, here we go again. Jerry “The King” Lawler, the 75-year-old wrestling icon who’s taken more bumps outside the ring than in it lately, has suffered another stroke. The Memphis wrestling legend experienced this latest health setback last Friday at his Florida condo, forcing him to cancel his scheduled appearance at HorrorHound Weekend in Cincinnati.
Let’s be brutally honest here – Lawler’s body has been through more drama than a Monday Night Raw storyline. This isn’t exactly uncharted territory for the wrestling veteran who’s become frustratingly familiar with hospital rooms and medical terminology that most people his age never want to learn.
The stroke count alone is enough to make your head spin. This marks his second stroke in just two years, following a “massive stroke” in 2023 that landed him in the ICU and affected his left side. Before that, he suffered another stroke back in 2018. It’s like his cardiovascular system is running its own heel turn storyline, and we’re all just watching helplessly from the sidelines.
But wait, there’s more. In September 2012, Lawler collapsed during a live broadcast of Monday Night Raw in Montreal after suffering a heart attack. That particular incident was so severe it nearly killed him, yet somehow he managed to return to commentary just two months later. He has had a total of 3 strokes in his life as a result.
According to his caregiver, Jerry “The King” Lawler has been medically cleared to return home to Memphis after being treated in Fort Myers, Florida. He’s expected to take the rest of September off to rest and recover, which sounds reasonable until you remember this is a man who returned to work two months after a heart attack that nearly ended his life. His caregiver mentioned that his daughter is helping transport him back to his primary residence, where he’ll spend the next few weeks getting back to normal.
The wrestling world has rallied around The King once again, though you can sense the collective anxiety in the air. How many times can one person’s body rebel before it decides to call it quits permanently? It’s the question nobody wants to ask but everyone’s thinking. WWE, despite not renewing Lawler’s broadcasting contract earlier this year, still maintains him on a Legends deal. He was last seen on television back in February, enjoying a SmackDown taping in Tennessee with nothing but smiles.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth that nobody in wrestling wants to acknowledge: at 75 years old, with multiple strokes and a heart attack on his medical resume. The King has already defied medical odds more times than anyone should have to, yet he keeps getting back up like it’s the third act of a feel-good sports movie.
The wrestling industry has a complicated relationship with aging legends. We want them around forever, serving as living links to the sport’s golden eras, but we also have to watch them navigate the brutal realities of time and genetics. Lawler’s situation forces fans to confront the fact that their heroes aren’t invincible, despite spending decades convincing us otherwise.
For now, The King is expected to make a full recovery, and his representatives maintain optimism about his prognosis. Wrestling fans worldwide are pulling for Jerry Lawler, hoping that this latest health scare is just another obstacle he’ll overcome with the same resilience he’s shown throughout his legendary career. Because if there’s one thing The King has proven over the years, it’s that he doesn’t stay down for long – even when life delivers its most devastating finishing moves.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!