J.R. Comments on Raw, Vince McMahon, the Tag Team Division, More

Closing moments of Raw felt like some of the great moments during the Attitude Era. Table destroyed, monitors out, bodies hitting the floor, stiff shots, and a crazed crowd. Great nite at the office.

Mr McMahon was amazing especially at his age and lack of recent ring time. I'm not kissing butt but just stating a fact. @cmpunk is special. Controversial? Yes...but damn special.

Sheamus and Wade a arrest literally beat the hell out of each other much like I'll see in Dallas Saturday when OU battles Texas.

Second week in a row that Wold Champ Sheamus rose to the occasion, last week it was against Damien Sandow.

Barrett has returned from injury a different man as it relates to aggression & physicality. That mindset will get one places.

WWE tag team biz is becoming viably relevant. Opportunity awaits several duos. Will they realize such and seize the fleeting moment?

Notice some, not many, talents, content, seemingly, w/ their 'spots.' That mindset poisons the water. Solve problem or eliminate it. End of story. Gaining more respect for @JohnCena daily. His elbow is a legit mess. John is a genuine, tough SOB. Enjoyed working w/ @michaelcole & @jclayfield (JBL) on Raw. Nice fireworks w/ the big Texan & Cole is simply a helluva navigator. Not sure what the future holds collectively for the 3 of us but I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts. My best 'guess' is that @jerrylawler will return sometime in November but that's personal assumption. King is doing great and anxious to get back in the game.

Recap of JR Appreciation Night After Raw: Triple H & Vince Appear, Lawler Appears Via Video

After Raw went off the air tonight, the real Jim Ross appreciation night took place. Vince McMahon came out first and spoke, followed by Triple H. There were special appearances by Cowboy Bill Watts and Danny Hodge, along with the entire roster coming out to applaud Jim Ross along with the audience.

Sheamus then gave JR a "voice of the WWE" award, and then pre-recorded messages from Jerry Lawler and Oklahoma Sooners coach Bob Stoops aired on the Titan Tron.

Videos

Video: Triple H Discusses Jerry Lawler's Heart Attack on Raw

Paul Levesque, WWE's executive vice president of Talent and Live Events, better known as WWE superstar Triple H, discusses the night Jerry The King Lawler had a heart attack during WWE Monday Night Raw in Montreal.

Rey Mysterio & Triple H Very Upset at Raw

Regarding the RAW in Montreal where Jerry Lawler had a heart attack, it's said that Triple H and Rey Mysterio were noticeably crying when Lawler was being worked on.

source: wrestling observer newsletter

Jerry Lawler Gives Health Update at Press Conference

WWE Hall of Famer and the longtime "King of Wrestling" Jerry Lawler held press conference in his native Memphis, TN this afternoon from his home to discuss his recent health issues.

Jerry Lawler, wearing a WWE shirt, fielded questions from the local media. He first talked about how he was feeling today. Lawler talked about the heart attack, noting that the CPR saved his life and the WWE doctor, Dr. Sampson, must have the "strength of Sampson" because Lawler sure felt it.

He noted his ribs are sore from the CPR and his throat is sore from having tubes in his throat but he feels fine and hasn't had any other chest pain since the attack.

When he returned to Memphis, Lawler went to see another cardiologist. He was told that if he was going to have a heart attack, it was as good as you could happen. It was a two small arteries at the bottom of his heart and not his major arteries. One needed a stent and the other was cleared via an angioplasty. Lawler was told that part of the part of the heart he had the attack in can heal itself and he can get back to normal.

When it comes to wrestling, Lawler said he's thought about that a lot. He said that it's going to be months before he can even consider it and it's going to be something they monitor. He said he didn't get the sense of really having a heart attack as he black out almost immediately and didn't have the pain that he's seen his father go through (his dad had seven heart attacks). He said he will probably feel he can get back to his old activities faster than he should.

Lawler said that his heart attack was probably a hereditary thing as he's never drank or smoked. His father died from one when he was oinly 59 and his brother has had open heart surgery.

Lawler said you can't even "comprehend" the outpouring not just in Memphis but worldwide from all the fans. With all the WWE exposure and socal media, it's been from all corners of the world. He said that anyone who knows him knows he is all about Memphis. He said that his girlfriend ran into the Mayor in the grocery store last night and he sent Lawler a get well note. When you are that well known and that well loved, it's hard to ever think about leaving Memphis.

Lawler said that he was told his health outlook right now is very good. He said that his doctor told him the Montreal hospital was one of the top five cardiac hospitals in the world and that the WWE doctor and EMTs kept it from being much worse than it was. He was told there was no permanent damage and the main thing he was advised was to change his diet and exercise more. He doesn't need to be seen again for six weeks.

Lawler noted that he's heard from so many wrestlers, including Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan and there is a brotherhood that watches out for each other. He said that he feels he can return to the ring and does want to try and go back and do it again. He said that since the business is what it is, he feels it won't be as dangerous to return as you might think.

Lawler said the only time he's ever had any discomfort in his chest in his life was a few days before the heart attack in Aruba. He said it was just a little discomfort for 4-5 minutes and thought it was just indigestion. He said that the entire day of Raw, he felt fine all through going over the show. He can remember the first segment of Raw now and that's it. He doesn't remember the match he wrestled prior to the heart attack. He continued after the match broadcasting and he doesn't remember any of it. He watched the video and said it was like watching a match from 10 years ago that he doesn't remember.

The last thing he remembered was CM Punk and Bret Hart talking in the ring and then he woke up in the hospital. Lawler said he didn't see a bright light or any dead relatives, which Michael Cole joked to him was because Lawler was going "in the opposite direction." He said he feels fine.

His blood pressure today was the lowest he can ever remember it ever being in his life. He's on a monitor until tomorrow to follow him until tomorrow morning.

That completed the media conference.

Jerry Lawler's Return to RAW

Michael Cole revealed on tonight's RAW that Jerry Lawler returned home to Memphis, TN earlier today. He went on to announce that he will have an exclusive interview with Lawler on next week's show.

WWE Deserves Praise for Handling of the Lawler Situation

From Mike Johnson of pwinsider.com:

This past Monday very easily could have gone down as one of the saddest, most tragic nights in the history of professional wrestling - the death of a virtual living legend minutes after wrestling, all happening on live TV.

Instead, just about everyone who cares about pro wrestling has been releasing one collective sigh of relief as Jerry Lawler is on the mend, recovering from a massive heart attack.

While certain media outlets have wondered whether 62 year old Lawler should have even been in the ring (certainly a question for another day, since a much younger Ric Flair was retired by the company in 2008), the reality is that while the mainstream media has been here before, covering a tragedy surrounding the business, this time, there was one aspect they haven't focused on, possibly because we have as happy an ending as there can be when someone suffers a heart attack.

WWE deserves praise for their handling of not just the Lawler situation but how they have improved their entire Wellness Policy and handling of medical issues for their talent.

More?

Video: Michael Cole Appears on "Fox & Friends," Discusses Reacting to the Lawler's Heart Attack on Raw

CT scan results show no brain damage for Jerry Lawler

WMCTV.com is reporting that CT scan results for Jerry "The King" Lawler show no brain damage as a result of the heart attack he suffered Monday night in Montreal.

"The wrestling icon has been stabilized in a Montreal hospital. Family members tell us he is heavily sedated after having heart surgery Tuesday, but he is responding to them and is even squeezing his girlfriend's hand. This comes after Lawler is said to have gone through an angioplasty procedure earlier Tuesday. Lawler and his girlfriend, Lauryn, were just together in Aruba. The two only returned to Memphis Sunday. Lawler had a fast turnaround flying out the next morning, the day of his heart attack, for Montreal. It reportedly took 15 minutes for paramedics to resuscitate the wrestler."

New update on Lawler Tuesday night - out of sedation, responsive

Stacy Carter, the ex-wife of Jerry Lawler, says Jerry Lawler is being taken out of sedation and is now responsive after heart procedures Tuesday. The concern now is whether Lawler suffered brain damage Monday night following a heart attack.

Carter's full Facebook statement reads: "I have an update on Jerry. The docs are removing his ventilation & taking him out of sedation. He is responsive, which is great!!! It took a while to revive him last night so there's the concern of brain damage. He had some tests done which will show how much if any damage there is due to the lack of oxygen to his brain. Unfortunately, the results won't be in until in the morning. I appreciate all the calls, texts, tweets, & Facebook messages of support & I know Jerry will too. Thanks everybody!!"

Latest update on Jerry Lawler following Tuesday operation

WREG-TV in Memphis is reporting that "as of Tuesday afternoon," Jerry Lawler has undergone an operation to install stents in his arteries. Lawler is currently "heavily sedated" and is "currently using a ventilator," according to the report. WREG says the "hope is to move Lawler off the ventilator as soon as possible."

More on Jerry Lawler

From wwe.com:

Jerry “The King” Lawler suffered a heart attack while commentating during last night’s broadcast of Monday Night Raw in Montreal. We are hopeful Jerry makes a full recovery and returns to WWE in the near future. Our thoughts are with Jerry and his family.

Jerry Lawler Update

At 10:40 PM, Michael Cole announced that Lawler was breathing on his own and was being treated at a local Montreal hospital. Cole did not give further information on Lawler's condition, noting that he was receiving oxygen but could breath on his own. Cole then announced that WWE would not continue to provide commentary out of respect for Lawler. He hoped they would give an update before the show went off the air tonight.

At 10:50 PM, Michael Cole said that "more responsive," "reacting to lights," awaiting CAT scan at ER.

At 11:15 PM, Michael Cole said that Lawler is breathing on his own and his heart is beating on its own. His condition has "stabilized," according to the hospital.

Jerry "The King" Lawler collapses ringside at Raw in Montreal

From wwe.com:

During the tag team match between Kane & Daniel Bryan and The Prime Time Players tonight on Raw, viewers may have noticed members of the audience and WWE production team staring toward the commentary booth, as well as the absence of Jerry “The King” Lawler’s voice. WWE.com has learned that the WWE Hall of Famer collapsed at the announcers' table and was tended to in the locker room area by WWE medical staff. Lawler was then taken from the arena to a medical facility in Montreal.

WWE Superstars Comment & Speculate About Triple H Addressing His Future On Raw

Several WWE Superstars took to their Twitter accounts to speculate on what Triple H will say when he kicks off this Monday’s RAW from Milwaukee and address his WWE future. Here are their Tweets below:

Jerry Lawler: “Alotta buzz about what HHH might say tomorrow night on RAW. I sure hope The Game doesn’t decide to hang em’ up. CM Punk, respect = HHH.”

Alicia Fox: “Tweet tweet…. Counting down the hours until HHH tells the Universe that ‘his boots weren’t made to collect dust on a shelf’! #RawForAReason”

Layla: “Anyone as Anxious as I am to hear what HHH has to say tomorrow on #mondaynightRaw ???? #wwe ”

Mark Henry: “triple H is not washed up,all the talk has to stop about that. Only 8 men in this biz can argue they are better yes I’m one.”

Titus O’Neil: “Triple H will be live on #RAW 2address his career&Standing with @WWE Will he Retire?Request a Rematch with Brock Lesnar?Or something else..? @DarrenYoungWWE what do You think HHH will say tomorrow on #RAW ? I think after that Physical Fight with Brock,He Wants 2do it again!REMATCH”

This Day in Wrestling History

Jerry Lawler and Andy Kaufman were on the Late Night Show with David Letterman. Lawler and Kaufman started yelling at each other. Lawler started pushing Kaufman and Kaufman was cussing him out, which led to Andy Kaufman walking off the set. The incident made headlines everywhere and basically gave huge publicity to the two men. We later found out that it was all a work and that they were friends.


July 29, 1982

Kaufman and "The King": 30 Years Later

Andy Kaufman insisted he was never a comedian — he was a performance artist, and his legendary rivalry with the "King of Memphis, Jerry Lawler, was as close to a masterpiece as sports-entertainment has ever seen. Sports-entertainment had never before so prominently featured an actor at Kaufman’s degree of fame, and his involvement paved the way for celebrities in rings for decades to come.

In 1982, Kaufman was one of the most controversial actors in show business, starring as the lovable Latka Gravas on the sitcom “Taxi,” and having appeared on polarizing “Saturday Night Live” segments. But Andy always had been fascinated by the world of professional wrestling, and through an odd turn of events, he ended up entangled in one the industry’s most bitter rivalries with WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler. Their conflict escalated from local Memphis, Tenn., television to an infamous duel on the July 28th edition of “Late Night with David Letterman,” solidifying its place in not only the annals of wrestling history, but also all of pop culture. One day after the historic 1,000th episode of Raw, WWE Classics sat down with Jerry Lawler to celebrate the 30th anniversary of this other important moment in television history...More?

source: wwe.com

Jerry Lawler Reveals Vince McMahon Upset Over Top 50 Stars DVD

During a Q&A session Sunday afternoon, Jerry Lawler revealed that Vince McMahon was upset over WWE's recent Top 50 Superstars of All-Time DVD release because he did not want a 1-50 ranking so as to avoid ruffling feathers with the order. Lawler and Jim Ross noted it's a subjective list and impossible to rank 1-50 without establishing criteria.

This Day in Wrestling History

Andy Kaufman dies of kidney failure due to large cell carcinoma in Los Angeles, California. Kaufman is best known in the wrestling world for his 1982 match with Jerry Lawler at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee, and subsequent expletive-laden appearance with Lawler on the Late Show with David Letterman.
May 16, 1984

This Day in Wrestling History

Rodrick James "Jess" McMahon, grandfather of wrestling mogul Vince McMahon, promotes a boxing match between Jess Willard and Jack Johnson in Havana, Cuba.
April 5, 1915

Happy Birthday to Diamond Dallas Page
April 5, 1949

Andy Kaufman met Jerry Lawler in a Grudge Match at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis Tennessee.
April 5, 1982