Mole’s Main Event: Jerry “The King” Lawler

Hey guys!

After a vacation and some technical difficulties, we’re back!

I was going to continue with my countdown this post, but I feel it’s necessary to discuss the recent events involving Jerry “The King” Lawler.  As many of you may know, Lawler suffered a heart attack during a live broadcast of RAW in Montreal this past Monday.  He received immediate medical attention and is currently in stable condition and responsive in a Montreal hospital.

While some of the newer fans see Lawler as a washed-up, “weep-wooping” color commentator, The King of Memphis is one of the cornerstones of professional wrestling.  He’s most well known for his feuds with Andy Kaufman, Bret Hart, Curt Henning and countless others.

Besides the obvious, two things upset me about Monday night.

First, I’m upset at how the WWE portrays worked shoot instances.  It all started with the death of Owen Hart during the 1999 “Over the Edge” Pay Per View.  Commentators Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler looked straight into the camera and delivered news in a very somber tone before going back to the action at hand.  The show went on, as Hart would have wanted it.

From then on, anytime something in the storyline involved someone being “taken out” badly, they would use that same camera angle and the same tone, as if milking the emotions of Hart’s death.  They’ve cried wolf so many times with this technique that many people believed that Lawler’s health scare was part of the storylines.  Sadly enough, this has happened before (see Ric Flair in WCW around 1998).  A man nearly lost his life on live TV, and our society immediately assumes it’s fake.  Dat ain’t right, yo.

Second, Lawler is 62.  What in the hell is WWE thinking putting him in the ring?  Granted, Lawler looks great and is in fantastic health for his age.  But, he’s wrestling guys half his age and he’s about to be eligible for social security.  I think there is a little bit of both sides to blame here.  Unlike Ric Flair, Lawler’s got enough money to coast on commentating for the rest of his career.  However, he still considers himself a wrestler and he still wants to go out there and perform.  WWE is to blame because they let a man in his early sixties go out in front of over 15,0000 people and take flat back bumps against kids in their late-twenties in the prime of their careers.  I’m all for nostalgia, but at this point, there needs to be a cut-off point for people who can wrestle in the WWE.

While Lawler is stable and responsive, he’s not out of the woods yet.  Everyone say a lil’ prayer for the King tonight, Lord knows he needs it.

Until next time, this is Mole’s Main Event.  Out.

 


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