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Jerry Lawler

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Jerry O'Neil Lawler (born 29 November, 1949) [1], wrestled in the various Memphis territories as Jerry 'The King' Lawler.

The lynchpin of the territory, he was the only wrestler to appear in every year that Jerry Jarrett promoted the area, and at times held a financial interest in the company.

Lawler made his professional debut in Memphis in 1970. He had been working as a radio announcer and his artistic ability, previously seen on Memphis television when Lance Russell displayed his artwork, drew the attention of a local wrestling promoter, who offered to train him in exchange for free publicity. [2]

By 1977 he was one of the area's most popular wrestlers, and joined Jerry Jarrett's breakaway promotion. For the next 20 years he would be its undisputed star.

From 1983 he shared booking duties with Jerry Jarrett.

In 1985 he filed a restraining order banning Harley Race and the World Wrestling Federation from using the title 'The King' in Tennessee. He had been using the name since 1973, and had trademarked it.

Lawler also competed on a national stage, winning the AWA World Heavyweight Championship and the World Class Heavyweight Championship, creating the Unified Heavyweight Championship.

In 1992 he joined the World Wrestling Federation while continuing to work in the USWA. The two promotions worked together until late 1993 when Lawler was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl. [3] Charges were dropped when the victim recanted her story, and after Lawler pled guilty to a charge of harassing a witness, the promotions resumed a working arrangement in early 1994. Lawler would continue to be portrayed as a face on USWA television and a heel in the WWF.

He remained associated with the USWA until the promotion closed, though for most of 1997 he no longer owned any of the company. Early that year he, along with businessman Larry Burton bought the company from Jerry Jarrett and sold it to a business called XL Sports, finalising the deal in June of that year [4]. When the company went out of business at the end of that year, the three parties had a legal battle.

Lawler's sons Brian Christopher and Kevin Christian were also involved in the territory, and his future wife Stacy Carter appeared in the USWA during 1997.

In 2007 he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Career[]

1977[]

Lawler started life in Jarrett's promotion as a heel, feuding with Bob Armstrong while leading a group called 'Lawler's Army'. The army gimmick was popular in the major cities but received poor response from veterans in small towns and was dropped [5]. He soon moved onto facing Rocky Johnson over the Southern Heavyweight Championship, introducing Abdullah The Butcher as a hired gun to take Johnson out. He didn't succeed, but did cost Johnson the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in a match against Harley Race.

After the demise of his 'Army', Lawler founded another group, where he managed Leroy Brown and Plowboy Frazier.

From July to September, Lawler feuded with Bill Dundee. Their series of matches included a number where a car was on the line, and included Lawler's manager Mickey Poole and Bill's wife Beverley having their heads shaved. At the conclusion of their matches, after which he'd won the Southern Heavyweight Championship and forced Dundee into having his head shaved, Lawler announced his retirement. It was shortly after the death of Elvis Presley and The King announced that life was too short and that he wanted to get into the music business. This kept him out for a month before he returned as a 'face', after Jimmy Valiant attacked him during a concert on Monday 3 October.

1978[]

1979[]

Managed by Jimmy Hart

1980[]

On Sunday, 3 February, Lawler's leg was broken in a pick-up football game in an accident with referee Jerry Calhoun. He was out for almost the entire year, robbing the CWA of its biggest drawcard. Jimmy Hart turned on him in his absence, leading to a feud with Hart after he'd recovered. After a premature return in September he had to sit out again until the last Mid-South Coliseum card of the year.

1981[]

Missed time in December after surgery for an ulcer [6]

1982[]

Managed by Danny Davis from March and Jimmy Hart for one match.

Early in the year he engaged in a rare feud without a heel, against Dutch Mantel for the Southern Heavyweight Championship.

1983[]

1984[]

1985[]

1988[]

Late in the year, Lawler feuded with Kerry Von Erich over the AWA and WCCW Heavyweight Championships. Their first meeting was in a WCCW ring on 9 September. Two weeks later both titles were held up when Lawler and Von Erich were disqualified during a title bout. They had a Texas Death Match rematch at the Star Wars event at the Dallas Cotton Bowl that ended in a controversial finish, with Von Erich awarded the belts after a fast count by a local official.

On 23 October, Lawler won the WCCW title from Kerry Von Erich in Memphis. He lost the belt back in Dallas, Texas on 4 November. On 13 December, the AWA, WCCW and CWA titles were unified on the Superclash III pay-per-view. Lawler won after a referee stoppage due to Von Erich's bleeding.

1990[]

1991[]

1992[]

Appeared as 'King Killer', managed by Nate The Rat, who billed him as a secret weapon to eliminate Lawler, then used him to turn on Richard Lee and The Moondogs

1993[]

1994[]

Lawler stepped down as booker in March due to his WWF commitments. [7]

1995[]

1996[]

Managed by Scott Bowden during a heel turn.

1997[]

External links[]

Shop[]

References[]

  1. ↑ Wikipedia profile
  2. ↑ Slam Wresting profile
  3. ↑ ProWrestlingStories.com
  4. ↑ Casetext.com - XL Sports vs Lawler
  5. ↑ 1977 - The War for Memphis by Mark James
  6. ↑ World/American Wrestling Results - December 1981
  7. ↑ Wrestling Observer - 4 April, 1994
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