Jerry Lawler: WWE Announcer Collapses At Ringside, Rushed To The Hospital
Jerry Lawler was rushed to the hospital after collapsing at a World Wrestling Entertainment show in Montreal on Monday night and remains in serious condition.
The wrestling legend and WWE announcer passed out ringside and had to be given CPR in the locker room of the arena, CNN.com reported. He was then rushed to the hospital, leaving co-host Michael Cole to address fans and let them know that Jerry Lawler’s collapse was indeed real.
“This is not part of tonight’s entertainment,” Cole said. “This is a real-life situation.”
The 62-year-old Jerry Lawler was able to breathe on his own in the emergency room, but Cole noted that “this is an extremely serious situation.”
Cole later updated viewers that Jerry Lawler was responding to tests and was being given a CT scan at the hospital.
Jerry Lawler made his rise through the professional wrestling ranks in the 1970s, making a name for himself first in Memphis, Tennessee before moving on to the Mid-South Wrestling circuit, CNN.com noted. He gained nationwide fame after a 1982 fight with comedian Andy Kaufman.
The pair later appeared on Late Night With David Letterman, getting into a fight that ended with Jerry Lawler slapping Kaufman as the show went to a commercial break. It was later revealed that the fight was all a set-up between the friends.
Cole gave fans an update on Lawler halfway through Monday’s WWE show, then said there would be no additional commentary on Monday Night Raw out of respect for Lawler, CBS Sports reported.
Jerry Lawler’s collapse prompted words of sympathy from his longtime broadcasting partner, WWE legend Jim Ross:
I’m shaken by the news of my friend Jerry Lawler’s medical emergency in Montreal. Hands shaking. Prayers for the King. I feel helpless.
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) September 11, 2012
Jim Ross made another Twitter post that there were no new updates but that Jerry Lawler would be going through additional tests throughout the night.
