Jerry Lawler Health Update: WWE Legend Expected To Leave Hospital This Weekend, Could Return For RAW

Jerry Lawler has spent several days in the hospital battling a painful intestinal disorder, but the WWE legend is expected to be released this weekend and theoretically in time to return for WWE RAW.

On New Year’s Eve, reports emerged that Lawler had spent several days in the hospital facing a bout of diverticulitis, a condition in which the lining of the digestive system becomes inflamed, leading to bouts of fever and nausea.

Though the condition is painful and can lead to weight loss or other nasty side effects, in Lawler’s case it isn’t too serious and he’s expected to be released shortly.

“It’s believed right now that Lawler will be released from the hospital within the next few days,” EWrestlingNews reported in a health update on Jerry Lawler on Thursday afternoon.

WWE star Brock Lesnar also battled diverticulitis during his time in the UFC, and lost close to 30 pounds during his ordeal. Lesnar eventually needed to have part of his colon removed, prompting his exit from the UFC.

As Lesnar described, the condition was incredibly painful.

“I have a high threshold for pain, higher than most guys, and I couldn’t deal with it,” Lesnar wrote in his book Death Clutch (via the Canadian Press). It felt like I had taken a shotgun blast to the stomach, and then someone poured in some salt and Tabasco and stirred it all up with a nasty pitchfork.”

Jerry Lawler has faced other health problems in the last few years. In September 2012, he collapsed ringside during a show in Montreal and was rushed to the hospital in serious condition. Doctors determined that the wrestling legend suffered a heart attack.

He was able to return several months later.

If the timeline for his latest health scare is correct, it would put Jerry Lawler out in time to return to his duties on WWE’s RAW. Last week he had WWE Hall of Famer Booker T. Booker step in to take over announcing duties on WWE Main Event.

But with no further health update on Jerry Lawler beyond his expected hospital release date, it may not be likely that he is recovered well enough to pick return to action. The WWE has yet to release a statement on when Lawler will return.